During a sudden acceleration of a hoisted load, rigging stress can increase by up to what factor relative to the actual load?

During a sudden acceleration of a hoisted load, rigging stress can increase by up to what factor relative to the actual load?

• A. 1x
• B. 2x
• C. 3x
• D. 4x

Answer: (B)

When a hoisted load suddenly accelerates, the rope or rigging doesn’t just support the weight—it also has to accelerate the mass of the load. That adds an inertial force, so the tension in the lifting line becomes the weight plus this inertial force. In the worst case, if the acceleration is as large as gravity (accelerating upward at g), the inertial force equals the weight, and the tension can reach about twice the actual load. So rigging stress can increase up to double the load during a sudden movement. This dynamic factor is why operators slow starts and stops and why rigging systems are chosen with sufficient capacity to handle shock loading.

When a hoisted load suddenly accelerates, the rope or rigging doesn’t just support the weight—it also has to accelerate the mass of the load. That adds an inertial force, so the tension in the lifting line becomes the weight plus this inertial force. In the worst case, if the acceleration is as large as gravity (accelerating upward at g), the inertial force equals the weight, and the tension can reach about twice the actual load. So rigging stress can increase up to double the load during a sudden movement. This dynamic factor is why operators slow starts and stops and why rigging systems are chosen with sufficient capacity to handle shock loading.