Inspections lifting equipment

An inspection may also be required at suitable intervals for certain types of lifting equipment, following the identification of significant risk to the operator or other workers by a competent person. Unless indicated otherwise by the manufacturer, it will be appropriate to continue inspecting lifting equipment, such as hoists and excavators, at weekly intervals. For the majority of lifting equipment the driver should be competent to carry out the regular inspection. 

The EU Directive 95/63/EC, the Amending Directive to the Use of Work Equipment Directive (AUWED), lays down wide-ranging requirements for the provision, management and use of mobile, self-propelled and remote-controlled work equipment, inspection of work equipment, provision and use of lifting equipment, and the management of lifting operations. 

Inspection of equipment (lifting, emergency, and fall arrest) at least biannually, and... 

There are very few factories that do not have some form of lifting equipment the hoist being the most common form. The hand-operated block and tackle is rarely used for production needs today, but is often the mainstay of the maintenance department for moving equipment. The Factories Act requires a high standard of inspection to be carried out regularly, but there remains the hazard of abuse or bad operation. 

These types of heavy lifting equipment are very sophisticated and time has only increased their complexity. Thus, only those with unique experience and training should be allowed to operate and maintain these types of lifting devices. When failure of equipment or operator occurs, the outcome is often catastrophic. Cranes, hoists, and derricks should be inspected regularly and well maintained to preclude their failure during performance (see Figure 25.6). 

All lifting equipment must be examined regularly (Regs. 10, 28, 34, 46) with safe means of access provided for those carrying out the inspection (Reg. 17). The safe working load must be clearly indicated (Regs. 29, 45) and jib cranes must have an automatic safe load indicator (Reg. 30) which must be tested. The specified safe working load must not be exceeded (Reg. 31). 

A detailed summary of the thorough examination and inspection requirements of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations is given in Chapter 20. 

The equipment should be inspected at suitable intervals between thorough examinations. The frequency and the extent of the inspection is determined by the level of risk presented by the lifting equipment. A report or record should be made of the inspection which should be kept until the next inspection. Unless stated otherwise, lifts and hoists should be inspected every week. 

Outline the requirements relating to examinations and inspections of lifting equipment used to lift persons. 

Specific statutory (or thorough) examinations of, for example, lifting equipment or pressure vessels, have to be carried out at intervals laid down in written schemes by competent persons - usually specially trained and experienced inspection/insurance company personnel. 

Inspections must be determined and carried out by competent persons. An inspection will vary from a simple visual external inspection to a detailed comprehensive inspection which may include some dismantling and/or testing. However, the level of inspection would normally be less than that required for a thorough examination under, for example, LOLER for certain items of lifting equipment. 

Is the equipment inspected by any outside body and certificates on file (for example, CE marking, lifting equipment test certificates, pressure systems regulations, and other items) ... 

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 ... 

Regularly. Inspect all lifting equipment to ensure that they are in safe condition. 

With the use of equipment to self-unloading as lifting equipment is mandatory periodic inspection of the Office of Technical Inspection. Operation of this equipment without a valid certificate of technical test is punishable by a fine, an administrative and stopping the vehicle registration document. The vehicle is permanently associated with the device. Thus, if it is a taillift, it blocks the possibility of using a load box vehicle. 

Is lifting equipment (where provided) adequately maintained, inspected and marked with safe working load ... 

There are some exceptions to these inspection requirements where other legislation details a particular inspection regime. Examples are the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). 

All lifting equipment has been tested and inspected. In order to ensure that all lifting equipment has been tested within the prescribed time period, some companies use a color code. If the current color is blue, then only items that have a blue tag can be used. 

The equipment used for lifting and special handling is inspected, tested, identified, and recorded. 

Special attention to safety requirements is necessary when performing site inspections. These include aspects in relation to the dosage form and activities observed (e.g. radioactive pharmaceuticals, hazardous materials, laboratory reagents, equipment and apparatus, explosions, personnel lifts, ladders, glassware, freezers, steam, radiation, microbiological hazards, viral and biological products and waste, and other relevant possible hazards). 

Week 4 Audit all equipment in your cell fora lockout procedure Discuss the mechanical lifting devices in your cell and inspect them Think about where to put your hands...and where not to put your hands while working with tools/ machinery Demonstrate how you get a HMIS label for a secondary container... 

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