Inspection and Maintenance

Crane inspection and maintenance are essential to safe equipment operation. Operator safety can be improved and operator injury can be avoided if the equipment is properly inspected and maintained. In addition, manufacturing productivity can also be improved with scheduled maintenance to maintain proper equipment functionality and to help avert breakdown repairs. Failure to complete crane and hoist inspections and proper equipment maintenance could lead to serious injury, death or destruction of property. 

Hoist

Required Inspections: 

The below inspections must be documented and filed. 

  1. Daily/Pre-Use Inspections: A qualified person shall visually inspect the crane's or derrick's controls, rigging and operating mechanism prior to the first operation on any work shift. 
  2. Quarterly Periodic Inspections: Periodic inspections shall be conducted at least four times a year, evenly spaced or as close to evenly spaced as scheduling permits through the year. 
  3. Annual Inspection: Tests and examinations shall be conducted annually by a currently licensed certificating agency or designee listed in the certificating agency license, and a certificate shall be issued by the certificating agency.

Any unsafe conditions disclosed by the inspection requirements shall be corrected promptly. Defective components of equipment which create an imminent safety hazard shall be replaced, repaired or adjusted prior to use.

Note: Check crane manufacturers recommendations for specific inspection formats for inspections.

 

Resources and References