Just for info:
My winch has a manufacturers noted stall of 9.5kg running 12volts. In actuality on a test rig it will far exceed this. Published stall figures are simply figures; actual real world figures vary so much it's quite scarey.
In it's present guise my winch has an increase of more than 25% HP and 1000rpm no load on the motor (think snatch loadings).
When teaching winching and recovery techniques the process allows for working form the weight of the vehicle as a know factor.
There are two calibration schools of thought on recovery that lead the way; the first is the British Military Recovery Manual - very clever but far to complicated. Gradings for soil types; workable as percentages of VM; allowances for each degree of slope.
The second is the American Military concept. Three grades. Nice and simple; 100%, 200% and 300% of VM. 300% equates to a door handle level mire. Something that rarely happens. I like this system because it 'rounds up' the figures nicely and it's simple to teach.
It's worth remembering that the kit we use is rated on lifting not on pulling so there is a much greater allowance for excess of SWL. Even on lifting SWL has a factor of 3, 5 or 7 depending on manufacturer.
I haven't worked Stateside for many years so I'm not up to date with your HS&E stuff. We use LOLER as a guideline
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg290.pdf but it is not mandatory as there is no true lifting involved
All our strops and ropes should be marked with an inspection tag for manufacture date, SWL, WLL, and the BSS mark (note 'should' not must)
I always allow for split loads on shackles - ie the use of a bridle
I always use individually tested 'c' shackles
However if my max weight 3 tonne 110 is only stuck up to the axles I only require approx 100% of weight in pulling power to move it (give or take and don't forget the tree root wedges on the back axle that I can't see) so a 4.75 SWL shackle is fine for the double line pull....
It's rare that anyone gets stuck that bad - yes it does happen but it's rare. In reality few people are dumb enough to sit spinning tyres and digging the vehicle further into the bog. You lose forward motion, try to reverse and fail, try again in a different gear or ratio; hey presto it's recovery time! Few people are dumb enough not to have pre-empted the situation and prepared...
I use synthetic rope. Not just becuase it's lighter, easier and safer but it makes for a nice 'fuseable link'. It will fail before the recovery points or the big heavy shackle. It's light enough to keep a spare or two in the back of the truck as well. Even my extension rope is a five minute job to turn back into a winch rope.
I'm a great believer in 'Snatchum Straps' and very careful use of KERR. I have three KERR in the truck when going somewhere boggy. One ful length and two half length. They make very good tow ropes as well - the spring takes out the jerking and snatching on long distance tows very nicley
I always cary a couple of Waffle Boards
http://www.tracmat.com/ I have two very short ones and two that are 53" long for those special times
My recovery kit fits into two Arco Buffalo Bags
http://www.arco.co.uk/products/31B1002/335563/Buffalo+Hard+Bottom+Tool+Bag
Easy to carry, cheap and the plastic base has many uses...
As for pulley blocks or snatch blocks (the former is the correct name) I will only use Black Rat. They are the same as the old ARB pulley blocks. Not only are they very strong but they are easily field stripable. The are also well machined so as to avoid snatch on the synthetic cable
Just my pennyworth