RFID and NFC for Lifting Accessories: Safety and Traceability of Periodic Inspections

The Client

A client managing a large fleet of lifting accessories — slings, chains, hooks, harnesses — is legally required to carry out mandatory periodic inspections on each component. This is a direct regulatory obligation: lifting accessories are subject to regular checks to guarantee the safety of operators and of the work environments in which they are used.

The Challenge

Traceability of periodic inspections was entrusted to paper records or to labels that deteriorated rapidly, exposed to impacts, abrasion and outdoor environments. The result was a concrete risk of losing control over inspection deadlines: when the inspection history lives on a sheet of paper or on a label that becomes unreadable after a few months, the risk is not only organisational — it is a direct risk to workplace safety.

The tag therefore had to solve a problem of physical durability before an informational one: it had to withstand continuous mechanical impacts, abrasion from daily handling and prolonged outdoor exposure, remaining readable throughout the accessory's entire working life — often several years of intensive use.

The Wintag Solution

Wintag developed an NFC tag with a fastening system specifically designed to withstand impact and abrasion, built to accompany the lifting accessory throughout its entire working life. The tag is able to record the history of inspections and maintenance, turning the periodic inspection into a permanent digital record instead of a paper note at risk of being lost or becoming illegible.

The choice of NFC technology responds to a concrete operational need in the field: reading with a simple smartphone, with no need for dedicated readers, allows the technician carrying out the inspection to consult and update the history directly on site, during the inspection of the accessory.

The Results

Managing the lifecycle of lifting accessories is now simplified: inspection deadlines are always under control, and documentation is always available and legible in the event of an inspection or regulatory check. The benefit translates into a direct advantage for workplace safety, as well as a more organised management of the entire accessory fleet.

Technology Used

For applications on lifting accessories — slings, chains, hooks, harnesses — Wintag designs NFC tags with mechanical fastening resistant to impact and abrasion, sized according to the type of accessory and the conditions of use (indoor or outdoor environment, handling frequency, exposure to weather). The inspection history can be managed via a dedicated app or integrated into the safety management systems already in use by the client.

Do you manage accessories subject to mandatory periodic inspections and want to leave paper behind? Let's talk: we can design together the NFC solution suited to your accessory fleet.