Answers to common questions...

Protect your Employees, Equipment and Liability Exposure
with proper Overhead Crane and Hoist Inspections

For more than 30 years, industrial manufacturers across the United States have counted on Crane America Services to provide the most reliable crane repair and maintenance services available today.

 

Why should I have my cranes & hoist inspected?

Hoist and crane equipment can be very dangerous and become a liability concern if routine inspections are overlooked. Proper inspections will provide the crane using organization with the following benefits:

Improved safety:
Regular frequent and periodic inspections done at intervals meeting or exceeding ANSI B30.2 requirements will assure a safer working environment for employees.

Compliance with regulations:
OSHA requires that inspections be performed per the OSHA code 1910.179 and relevant industry standards.

Reduced exposure to potential liability:
Proper frequent and periodic inspections performed by qualified inspectors and done routinely as determined by ANSI and CMAA requirements will reduce your legal exposure to liability suits arising from accidents involving improperly inspected equipment. With increased self insurance requirements and higher insurance deductibles of many companies today, proper inspections are a must.

Reduced unplanned downtime:
Proper inspections will identify mechanical and electrical components before they fail. This allows their planned replacement when the crane can be placed out of service, rather that delaying production with an emergency breakdown when production is in full force.

Increased equipment life:
Inspections with preventive maintenance included increase equipment life by identifying and allowing correction of low lubrication levels or brake wear that could result in the destruction of the equipment if left unattended.

 

How often do I need to have my cranes inspected?

Hook and Wire rope or Chain Condition must be inspected and documented at least monthly.

A "frequent" visual and operational inspection must be performed on a daily to monthly basis depending on service, environmental and application factors as determined by a qualified individual.

A "periodic" detailed visual and operational inspection must be performed on a quarterly to annual basis determined by service.

If the ANSI B30.2 service class is "Heavy" and the number of shifts the crane is operated is 2 or more than the crane must be inspected at least 2 times a year. (Heavy service is use at 85 to 100% of rated load or in excess of 10 lift cycles per hour as a regular specified procedure.)

If the ANSI B30.2 service class is "Severe" the crane must be inspected at least 4 times a year. ("Severe" service is use at normal and/or heavy use in an abnormal environment such as high or low ambient temperatures, exposure to adverse weather, corrosive fumes, dust or moisture laden atmospheres, and hazardous environments.)

 

Do my cranes need to be load tested?
Yes!

An "Initial" load test with a periodic inspection must be performed by a qualified person at 125% of the rated capacity prior to new crane and hoist equipment being placed into service. The certificate or report outlining this load test must be maintained with the equipment records for the life of the equipment. If this certificate is missing or the initial was never performed the equipment should be placed out of service until another initial inspection can be performed.

When major repairs have been performed that involve the load bearing components of the crane or hoist another load test must be performed to 125% of the rated load.

 

Can my company inspect our own cranes?
Yes! - BUT!!!

The person responsible for performing the inspections must be "Qualified" however. One of the greatest concerns a company should have if they are inspecting their own equipment is the ability to prove the qualifications of their inspector if an accident and injury occurs. If proper qualifications cannot be proven in the courtroom, the potential liability is tremendous. See the next question for what constitutes a qualified inspector.

 

What is a "Qualified Inspector"?

Per the CMAA, a qualified Inspector of cranes must have a minimum of 2000 field hours of experience related to the maintenance, servicing, repairing, modifying and functional testing of cranes and associated hoisting equipment. This experience should provide a working knowledge of how to identify deficiencies in mechanical, structural, electrical systems and components of cranes. Under no circumstance should an individual be permitted to perform inspections who has not received appropriate training and cannot fully demonstrate a working knowledge of applicable codes and regulations of the equipment being inspected.

 

Am I at risk if I don't have my cranes inspected often enough?
Yes!

Many crane users are under the mistaken assumption that cranes only need inspected once a year. This misperception is often a result of the sales efforts of unqualified crane service companies not looking after the best interest of customers.

This misinformation often results in non-compliance and a potentially fatal situation with failure to properly inspect equipment with a high service class.

If an accident occurs and the equipment should have been inspected more often based on the equipment's service class than the inspection records dictate, than a real potential for a liability suit for negligence exists.

With insurance deductibles rising, the cost of overlooking proper inspection intervals has also increased dramatically.

 

How do I make sure that I have a proper inspection program?

The owner of the equipment is responsible to ensure that the equipment is properly maintained and inspected. The appointed person responsible for managing the inspections should make sure the following three conditions are met:

 

Make sure that your internal or outsourced inspectors are truly "qualified". The Crane Manufacturer's Service Committee has a guideline for the inspection of cranes.

 

CMAA Specification 78 - Standards and Guidelines for Professional Services Performed on Overhead Traveling Cranes and Associated Hoisting Equipment http://www.mhiastore.org/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=158

 

Make sure that the qualified inspector spends the proper amount of time to properly inspect the unit. Items that are not inspected properly could be a safety hazard.

 

Make sure that your cranes are inspected often enough to catch problems before they occur. OSHA minimum requirements of annual periodic inspections will not insure that your equipment is truly safe in most cases as most crane and hoist manufacturer's require inspections on a more frequent basis. If you do not perform inspections based upon the manufacturer's minimum requirements you are not meeting OSHA's requirements. Review the manufacturer's inspection requirements for minimum inspection and maintenance and adjust upward if the unit is used excessively or for multiple shifts .