How is the Safe Working Load (SWL) of a wire rope defined?

The Safe Working Load (SWL) of a wire rope is defined as the breaking strength of the rope divided by a safety factor. This calculation allows operators to determine a load limit that can be safely handled without risk of failure. The breaking strength represents the maximum load the rope can sustain before it fails, while the safety factor is applied to include a margin of safety, accounting for variables such as environmental conditions, wear and tear, and dynamic forces that may act upon the rope during use.

By employing this formula, operators can ensure that the loads lifted are within a range that maintains safety and prevents accidents. This approach emphasizes the importance of understanding both the physical properties of the lifting equipment and the necessity to operate within defined safety limits based on real-world conditions.

In this context, other options do not provide a correct representation of how SWL is properly determined. For example, working strength typically does not refer directly to the breaking strength, and the concept of maximum load minus a safety factor doesn't align with how SWL is generally calculated. Hence, the emphasis on breaking strength divided by the safety factor is what supports the correct understanding of how to assess the Safe Working Load of wire rope.