Defects lifting equipment

Before using lifting equipment for the first time by an employer, it must be thoroughly examined for any defect unless either ... 

The competent person carrying out a thorough examination should have appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be examined to enable them to detect defects or weaknesses and to assess their importance in relation to the safety and continued use of the lifting... 

Every employer notified of a defect following a thorough examination of lifting equipment should ensure that it is not used ... 

Obligations are put on employers to ensure that before lifting equipment is put into use it is thorou y examined for any defects unless the equipment is new, i.e. has not been used before, and it is supported by a valid EC declaration of conformity. V ftth lifting equipment that has to be installed before it can work, the employer must ensure that the safe operation of the equipment is not prejudiced by the manner in which it is installed. This applies particularly to lifting equipment that is moved from one site to another, such as tower cranes. 

In other cases, routae inspections and checking of equipment should be implemented. This should be by the operators or supervisors and should be part of the operating procedures for the equipment. Typical of items checked could be load limiters and indicators on cranes, tyre pressures on mobile lifting equipment, hoist limit switches on the hoisting mechanism of overhead fravelling cranes, the adjustment of brakes on hoists, etc. The inspection may identify otiier defects which could include ... 

Any equipment found to be defective on an inspection should be taken out of service and the employer informed. Defective lifting accessories should be either repaired or scrapped, but defects to lifting machines should be reported to the competent person who may wish to carry out a special examination. 

Defective equipment must be repaired before it is used. The rated load capacity of lifting equipment must not be exceeded. 

With a volume-pneumatic test, mechanics can detect defects in the parts due to incorrect replacement parts, incorrect machining, corrosion, or weak springs. Each of these problems can be discovered by such characteristics as early simmer, only a partial lift or leakage after the test. Defects such as inadvertently installing a spring too strong for the set pressure can be detected by short blow-down or chatter. Competent SRV test craftsmen can pinpoint defects with this type of test equipment. 

If at any time, a powered industrial truck is found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe, the truck must be taken out of service until it has been restored to a safe operating condition. High-lift rider trucks must be equipped with substantial overhead guards unless operating conditions do not permit. Fork trucks must be equipped with vertical-load backrest extensions when the types of loads present a hazard to the... 

I) Conduct a visual inspection of the equipment, base support or ground, and personnel platform, to determine whether the trial lift has exposed any defect or problem or produced any adverse effect. 

Use of defective equipment Equipment used improperly Proper equipment not used Adjusted equipment in operation Serviced equipment in operation Operating without proper authority Work carried out on live or unsafe equipment Wrong speed Improper loading/lifting Workers under the influence of alcohol/drugs Lack of attention/forgetfulness Failure to warn/secure Safety device/equipment made inoperable... 

Operators must also review the rigging to ensure slings and other devices are sufficient to support the load and attach it to the hook. During the lift, safe clearances must be maintained and workers must stay dear of the loads. Periodic inspections of all operating mechanisms, hydraulic lines, hooks, ropes, chains, and related electrical apparatus must be carefully documented. Any damaged or defective equipment must be immediately tagged and removed from service. All repairs and adjustments to this equipment must be performed by well-trained and certified workers. 

Crane latches are needed on crane hooks to provide more safety for those handling loads with cranes or hoists. The purpose of the safety latch on the crane hook is to prevent inadvertent disconnection of the load. A falling load can be deadly. Immediate repair of defective latches is a must for proper employee safeguarding. Crane or hoist hooks that are not equipped with safety latches can be made safer by installing this device. Never weld, drill into, drill through, or modify a crane hook this could cause failure of the hook. Contact the manufacturer of the hook so the proper size of latch can be mounted on the hook, or purchase crane hooks that include special swivel latches for maximum safety. Cranes and hoists can be used in a warehouse to lift product or batteries. 

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