Annual Inspections
Cranes and lifting devices have to be inspected at least once per year in most jurisdictions.
For example, in Ontario, Canada, Regulation 851, Section 51 states that “a lifting device shall…be thoroughly examined by a competent person…at least once a year”.
In Ontario, a Pre-Start Health and Safety Review (PSR) must be done on most cranes and lifting devices before they are used in production. Step 1 of all annual inspections of a lifting device is to ask whether a PSR exists for the device in question. If there is no PSR (nor an exemption from a PSR), then the inspector should suggest to the owner that a PSR is necessary.
If there is no PSR, then at a minimum, there should be a drawing stamped by a Professional Engineer with a capacity listed.
Crane Inspection Checklist:
- drawing stamped by a Professional Engineer
- capacity labels in place
- CSA or ESA-approved hoist
- check means of locking crane out
- fasteners appear tight and torque-marked
- usually 2 methods of loosening prevention on fasteners
- safety cables in place for articulating cranes
- ceiling-hung cranes have sway-bracing
- welds on frames of cranes appear strong and without defects
- travel along rails is smooth; no hangups at splices
- close inspection of trolleys and end trucks
- check of hoist cable or chain for fraying or wear
- hoist starts and stops without overshoot
- air balancers: check for drift up or down, check for reaction on loss of air pressure, check for overspeed brake
- check tractor drive wheels for wear
- festooning in good order, no hangups
- festooning trolleys are protected at end-of-travel
- floor lags are tight and undamaged
- check for wear on I-beam rails
- hoist moves easily in North-South-East-West directions
- etc
End Effector Inspection Checklist:
- drawing stamped by a Professional Engineer
- capacity labels in place
- check means of locking crane out
- fasteners appear tight and torque-marked
- usually 2 methods of loosening prevention on fasteners
- welds on end effector components appear strong and without defects
- gripper equipped with anti-tie-down, functioning correctly
- load sense inhibits release as designed
- gripper has tight grasp of load
- check grip adequacy for various part shapes
- check gripper pads for wear
- check air and electrical lines for wear or damage
- etc
Hooks and Tongs Inspections Checklist:
- drawing stamped by a Professional Engineer
- capacity labels in place or stamped into metal
- fasteners appear tight and torque-marked
- usually 2 methods of loosening prevention on fasteners
- welds appear strong and without defects
- load is held tightly
- check grip adequacy for various part shapes
- check gripper pads for wear
- check wear on shackles, chain and connector links
- etc
Call us for your next crane and lifting device annual inspection….we offer prompt service to work around your schedule.