When it comes to lifting and rigging operations, safety is always the first and foremost concern. Even the slightest mishap can cause massive damage and result in fatal injuries to your on-site employees. It’s no surprise that regulatory authorities like OSHA and ASME keep updating their safety regulations periodically.
Regular inspections are one of the most critical steps in ensuring lifting and rigging safety. Regular safety inspections help you identify potential problems before they turn into a catastrophe. Once you have purchased your equipment from a lifting and rigging hardware supplier, you must ensure regular inspections as per local and federal laws.
These steps will help you carry out thorough lifting and rigging inspections.
Table of Contents
Prepare a Lifting and Rigging Inspection Checklist
First things first, you will need to prepare a checklist before the inspection begins. It will help you define the scope of your hardware inspection. This list will change depending on the equipment you want to inspect. For example, if you are inspecting chain slings, you will have to create a checklist like this one.
Check if:
- Chain or components can hinge freely
- There are cracks or break
- There is excessive pitting or corrosion
- There is excessive wear, nicks, or gouges
- The identification is missing or illegible
- There are signs of heat damage
- There are stretched chain links or other parts
- There is weld splatter
You can check relevant ASME standards when creating a checklist. Or you can consult your industrial hardware supplier for guidance as they are generally well-versed with the latest safety regulations.
Keep Records of the Inspections
Records can help you run the entire inspection process smoothly, whether in-house or third-party inspection. If you already have records of previous inspections, keep them handy before your current lifting and rigging inspection begins.
The previous records can help you understand:
- Which equipment was inspected and when
- When you can schedule the next inspection
- What parts you may need to replace or remove from service permanently
If you don’t have old records, start keeping them from now on. It’s never too late to start recording every small inspection detail. Moreover, it may be mandatory to maintain records of the rigging and lifting gear inspections in some cases.
Make sure your record includes details like:
- When and how the inspection was carried out
- Who carried out the inception
- Why it was carried out
- If there was a need for immediate removal of the equipment
Ensure Frequent/Regular Inspections
Lifting and rigging inspections are not a one-time deal. You have to carry them out at different stages.
The first inspection usually occurs when you receive your equipment from the industrial hardware distributor. No matter how reliable the supplier is, you should check all the equipment thoroughly. It will help you identify manufacturing defects or the damage caused during shipping.
Next, you should always visually inspect the lifting and rigging material before each use. If you see any signs of wear and tear, it’s better to remove that gear from use immediately. With this inspection, you can ensure safety on each rigging and lifting job.
The third type of inspection is periodic inspection. If you use the equipment under harsh conditions, you will need to check the well-being of your hardware more frequently. You can conduct these inspections once every month or once every three months.
Remove Dangerous Equipment Immediately
You must remove the rigging and lifting hardware from use immediately if you find signs of wear and tear. Even if you’ve bought the best quality industrial hardware supplies, they are going to show signs of damage eventually. Cutting corners in this regard will compromise the safety of your employees and personnel on the worksite.
Some of the common signs of damage you may find include:
- Kinks and stretch marks
- Excessive corrosion
- Heat damage
- Bent and/or twisting
- Excessive nicks or gouges
- Illegible or missing identification
In other words, if you see permanent deformation, you will have to discontinue that piece of hardware right away. It’s not uncommon for rigging equipment like chains or web slings, hooks, and shackles to get overloaded and damaged. So, you have to be very careful.
Call Reliable Third-Party Inspectors
You will also have to carry out third-party inspections. In this type of inspection, you will need to hire a certified third-party inspector to inspect and certify your equipment for safe use. However, you are going to need a reliable, reputed, and skilled inspector unless you want to get in trouble with safety regulators like the OSHA.
To begin with, never hire the cheapest third-party inspector. They may not be able to provide you with appropriate certifications or even cut corners during the inspection. The latter can result in fatal workplace accidents, which will, in turn, attract penalties and workplace injury lawsuits.
You have to make sure the third-party inspector has experience. They must also have relevant certifications and training. You would better ask them to furnish proof in this regard. Try to hire someone who has worked for companies like yours. And yes, don’t forget to ask how much they charge before signing them up.
The best way to find a trustworthy third-party inspector is to tap into your network. Usually, your lifting and rigging hardware supplier would be the best place to start. They might be able to provide you with a list of reliable inspectors.
Wrap Up
It is necessary to keep your lifting and rigging hardware in excellent working condition. And regular inspections are critical to keeping your hardware working efficiently and your workplace free from accidents. In addition to referring the relevant OSHA and ASME standards, these five tips will help you get the most out of your inspections. The sooner you start inspecting your rigging and lifting equipment, the better.
Author Bio:
I am Randy Gonzales. I am the President of Elite Sales Inc, a rigging equipment and wire rope distribution company based in Miami, Tampa, Houston, and Dyer. I have more than 30 years of experience in the distribution and supply of industrial hardware industry.
