Edge Radius Management Tool RAD-MAN™
How to Use a RAD-MAN™
Check – Inspect – Protect your lift using the valuable RAD-MAN tool from Lift-All. This edge radius management tool will help you make sure your lift is safe.
The Lift-All Edge Radius Management tool (RAD-MAN) assists in the evaluation of loads to be lifted with either roundslings or web slings by providing an easy way to measure the radius of a load edge.
Did you know a sling can fail or become damaged from contact with edges or burrs?
Check the suitability of your edge radius before you lift using Lift-All‘s easy to use RAD-MAN Tool.
The RAD-MAN can measure the radius of edges at 90° or less and help prevent lifting accidents caused by the cutting of slings.
INSTRUCTIONS
Utilize these three easy steps to ensure your lift setup is safe:
- Step one – choose a side. Side A can provide a measurement of the edge radius. Side B shows the required minimum radius suitable for direct contact with various Tuflex roundslings, before the use of protection becomes necessary.
- Step two – position the RAD-MAN over the edge that will be in contact with the sling.
- Step three – determine the measurement or appropriate Tuflex roundslings shown on the RAD-MAN. Your measurement is the first point at which the tool comes in contact with the edge.
For this example, the RAD-MAN first comes in contact at EN800. This means any round sling smaller than EN800 is suitable for the lift. Any sling larger than EN800 will require suitable cup protection to keep the lift safe.
If at any point you are unsure of the reading, sling protection is the best option. Refer to the safety bulletin packaged with your sling for edge radius information.
Remember, an edge does not have to be sharp to cause damage. You can keep every lift safe, if you check, inspect, and protect every time. Check the edge radius, inspect the sling for damage, and protect the sling with Lift-All sling protection products.
Contact Lift-All sales or our customer service team today to get started.
For additional information on calculating allowable minimum edges when using a sling at less than its’ rated capacity, please refer to Lift-All Technical Bulletin RS-48 or contact the Lift-All Engineering Department.
What is the RAD-MAN tool?
The RAD-MAN tool measures how sharp a corner is. Sometimes a corner is not sharp enough to cut the sling, but it is rough enough to scrape it. This is when you use Wear Protection instead of the heavy-duty Edge Defender or Sling Shield.
While the other tools stop a sharp edge from slicing, Wear Protection is a thinner layer meant to stop friction and rubbing. If your RAD-MAN shows the edge is rounded but rough, Wear Protection keeps your sling from wearing out early without the extra bulk of thicker pads.
With our expert sales team, we will guide you with the help of the RAD-MAN tool.
Here are some rules of thumb with how the RAD-MAN tool works with our Sling & Wear Protection pieces.
Edge Defender Sling Sleeve
The RAD-MAN gauge is a precision tool used to measure the roundness of a corner. If a corner is too sharp, it can act like a knife and cut through a lifting sling under pressure. By using this gauge, workers can see exactly how sharp an edge is before they start a lift. If the tool shows the edge is dangerous, the Edge Defender Sling Sleeve is placed over the sling. This tough sleeve acts as a shield for the synthetic fibers, absorbing the friction and protecting the sling from being sliced.
Edge Defender
The standard Edge Defender is utilized when a rigger identifies a sharp edge that exceeds the safe radius of an unprotected synthetic sling. This engineered pad is designed to sit between the load and the sling to distribute compressive forces and prevent the edge from making direct contact with the load-bearing fibers. It is the primary choice for typical industrial loads where the edge is stationary and the risk is primarily focused on static cutting.
Edge Defender Flex Plus
The Edge Defender Plus is specified for more extreme environments where standard protection might be insufficient. This version is built with enhanced material density and reinforced construction to handle higher pressure loads and more aggressive edge profiles. It is particularly effective when the rigging system may experience slight movement or when the edge is exceptionally thin, creating higher localized stress. The Plus version provides a greater margin of safety for heavy-duty manufacturing or construction lifts where the risk of severance is elevated.
Sling Shield
The Edge Defender conforms to the shape of the load to absorb shear forces. In contrast, the Sling Shield creates a fixed one-inch radius that will not compress under extreme weight. Using the RAD-MAN ensures riggers choose the right tool: the flexible Edge Defender for irregular shapes or the rigid Sling Shield for high-capacity, structural radius support.
Wear Protection
While the other tools stop a sharp edge from slicing, Wear Protection is a thinner layer meant to stop friction and rubbing. If your RAD-MAN shows the edge is rounded but rough, Wear Protection keeps your sling from wearing out early without the extra bulk of thicker pads.