What is the purpose of a sling (rigging strap)?

• A. To secure the entire rigging system to the building frame.
• B. To distribute load and connect to a batten or scenery when direct attachment is not possible.
• C. To adjust line tension automatically.
• D. To replace wire rope in critical loads.

Answer: (B)

A sling’s job is to create a soft, load-distributing connection between the load (like scenery or a batten) and the rigging system, especially when you can’t attach directly to the load. By wrapping, looping, or wrapping around the piece and using fittings like shackles or carabiners, a sling spreads the weight over a larger area and changes the attachment point to fit the geometry of the piece. This protects both the scenery and the rigging from point loads and awkward angles, and it lets you connect to a batten or scenery when a direct attachment isn’t possible.

It isn’t meant to secure the entire rigging system to the building frame—that’s handled by anchors and structural connections. It doesn’t automatically adjust line tension, which is done with turnbuckles or other tensioning hardware. And it isn’t a replacement for wire rope in critical loads; slings are accessories that work with appropriate rigging hardware, not substitutes for primary load-bearing components.