What happens to synthetic slings with damaged stitching?

When synthetic slings have damaged stitching, they must be removed from service. The stitching in synthetic slings is critical to their strength and functionality; it holds the sling's components together. When this stitching is compromised, it poses a significant safety risk, as the load-carrying capacity of the sling may be severely diminished. Using a sling with damaged stitching can lead to failure during a lift, which can cause harm to personnel and damage to equipment. Therefore, safety regulations and best practices mandate that any sling with visible damage, including stitching, should be taken out of service to ensure that only safe, fully functional equipment is used in lifting operations.