Givens Engineering provides PSR services for manipulators. Industrial manipulator arms are lifting devices where an articulating arm moves up and
down and supports a load at the end of the arm. Because industrial manipulator arms
are lifting devices, they require a PSR (or PSHSR) in the province of Ontario.
When is a Manipulator PSR Required?
A PSR is a Prestart Health and Safety Review which is required by the Ontario Health and Safety Act, Reg 851, Section 7 for “a travelling crane or other lifting device suspended from or supported by a structure”.
MOL guideline suggests that industrial manipulators are exempt from PSRs even though they are lifting devices supported by a structure. However, almost all manipulators are equipped with grippers that have 2-hand control, which triggers a PSR under item 2 of section 7.
How Does a Manipulator PSR Start?
The starting point for a PSR on a manipulator and end effector is to determine if there is a drawing, sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in Ontario, that accurately represents the lifting system. If no such drawing exists, most engineers will not begin the PSR.
What Happens During a Manipulator PSR?
The PSR would consist of a site visit to look at the manipulator and how it is installed, followed up by a report.
The report would consist of 3 parts:
- Scope of Work, describing the manipulator requiring the PSR and delineating what surrounding equipment is not part of the PSR.
- Observations and Deficiencies, which is the bulk of the report, contains written observations, layouts, photographs, etc., and ends with a list of deficiencies, if there are any.
- Letter of Compliance, which is what a Ministry of Labour inspector will ask to see as proof that a PSR has been done, and which usually states that the manipulator is compliant with the Occupational Health and Safety Act providing that a number of deficiencies are corrected.
Safety Measures for Industrial Manipulators
Almost all manipulators have an elaborate end effector, usually operated entirely by pushbuttons. As with any end effector, the question of accidental releases in mid-air must be addressed. There are no hard rules that dictate whether a secondary interlock should prevent accidental released or not. However, at Givens Engineering, we believe that all end effectors must have load-sensing to prevent accidental releases. In fact, we have patented a pneumatic load sense device, the LSDA, that may be the most sensitive on the market.
Special attention must be paid to the method of attachment of the jib crane base to the floor. A drawing, sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in Ontario, must show exactly how the base is anchored to the floor, along with some specifications for the floor. The PSR cannot be completed without this essential specification.
Ensure Health and Safety with an Industrial Manipulator PSR
Not sure if your manipulator requires a PSR? Contact us to get your questions answered or to get a quote for a PSR report.
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