Safety is a key aspect of the lifting industry. While manufacturers of lifting technology are keen to highlight the latest risk-reducing features of their wares, crane owners also need to demonstrate the rigour of their safety and maintenance procedures. These procedures can themselves be risky: overhead cranes are often used in challenging working environments, and lifting equipment may be installed at great heights, with operators having to work in small spaces and close to the ceiling of factories and warehouses. As a result, carrying out maintenance and inspection can be a complex task that requires its own set of safety processes, best practices, and technology.
Much of the guidance for inspection of lifting equipment is taken from LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations), outlined by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Elements of LOLER have been included in other safety regimes, and in multinational companies’ in house procedures.
“We align our inspection process with the requirements of LOLER,” says Steve Hutin, managing director of UK-based lifting equipment supplier Rope and Sling Specialists (RSS), which also carries out inspection of cranes.
LOLER states that: “If your business or organisation undertakes lifting operations or is involved in providing lifting equipment for others to use, you must manage and control the risks to avoid any injury or damage”.
The Work at Height Regulations (2005) from the HSE additionally give operators guidance on best practice when it comes to crane inspection, insisting that: “employers and those in control of any work at height activity must make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people”.
Hutin doesn’t associate extensive risk with the inspection and maintenance process itself but—in accordance with the Work at Height Regulations—emphasises the importance of working with expert lifting industry professionals on such activities.
“Anything related to lifting gear should be treated as a specialist field and not something a ‘Jack of all trades’ can do as a bolt-on service,” he explains. “We always recommend that an end user works with a specialist lifting equipment company on anything related to cranes or hoists. It’s a mistake to approach the supply of any lifting-related product or service with a broad mentality.
“Unfortunately, I’ve seen many examples recently of products declared fit for use that show clear signs of corrosion, cracks, distortion, wear, elongation, missing catches, lack of maintenance, cuts, abrasions, poor assembly—and more!”
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