ABSTRACT
Typically, environmental practitioners are called upon to make calculations involving the use of various trigonometric functions. Consider slings, for example; they are commonly used with cranes, derricks, and hoists to lift a load and move it to the desired location. For the environmental professional responsible for safety and health, knowledge of the properties and limitations of the sling, the type and condition of material being lifted, the weight and shape of the object being lifted, the angle of the sling to the load being lifted, and the environment in which the lift is to be made are all important considerations to be evaluated before the safe transfer of material can take place. Later, we put many of the following principles to work in determining sling load and working load on a ramp (inclined plane)—that is, to solve force-type problems. For now, we discuss the basic trigonometric functions used to make such calculations.
