What is the purpose of load charts in rigging?

• A. They provide rated capacities for equipment configurations, hoist capacity, number of legs, and angle effects to guide selection.
• B. They show weather conditions.
• C. They show the load weight.
• D. They show maintenance schedules.

Answer: (A)

Load charts show how much weight a lifting setup can safely handle in different configurations and angles. They give the rated capacities for the equipment (like the hoist or crane) under specific arrangements, including how many legs the sling uses and the angle of those legs. This information lets you pick a configuration that can safely lift the load and shows when to derate capacity because certain angles or arrangements reduce the effective capacity. In short, the charts translate geometry and rigging setup into real, safe working loads so you don’t exceed what the gear can handle. Weather, just the weight, or maintenance schedules aren’t the purpose of these charts.