Monday 27 January 2014

A Look At Overhead Crane Inspections

By Eliza Mendoza


Overhead crane inspections must be performed by all companies that posses lifting equipment as per the requirements set by departments of safety, occupation and healthy administration. It is highly beneficial to conduct comprehensive and disciplined inspections. For instance, if assessments are undertaken as required there will be reduced cases of fatality or injured personnel. The equipment productivity will also be maintained and the service life of the equipment prolonged.

A program or plan will enhance effective assessments as it will guide the officials of a given plant on how to handle the task. A quality assessment program is composed of a controlled document known as manual and it contains work instructions and procedures. Since with time changes are experience in technology and legal matters, the manual is supposed to be revised periodically to accommodate these changes. By composing a manual, it will be possible to have a systematic way of examining. The book serves as a reference as far as scrutiny processes are concerned.

If a construction firm has a manual for guiding scrutiny exercises, then seamless transitions when managers are changed will be realized. The document will help train fresh recruits and identify existing plans to incoming management. The handbook is supposed to outline the responsibilities as well as authorities of various personnel.

The manual provides details on the different forms of inspections that should be performed on various cranes found in that particular plant. It is from it where assessors obtain details on how to document findings and also keep records. The book should give the process to be followed on reporting faults identified to the plant engineer.

It is only a certified inspection engineer who is supposed to monitor the program meant to control inspection processes. Before a report is kept in records, the engineer should review it to ascertain that the examination was well performed. A good way of making sure that the assessors stick to the minimum quality standards is through the engineer conducting random inspections himself.

Throughout the assessment period, all the people involved in the process are supposed to follow the safety measures outlined by the company as well as the state and local authorities. The plant personnel should be notified in advance that there will be a scrutiny process. If there are other cranes in the field that will remain in operation, the proper measures should be put in place to ensure that they do not hit the one being inspected. Any stored mechanical energy like suspended load blocks should be released.

Safe and close access to all the parts of a given crane is required at time of examination. Where possible, the crane is supposed to be placed in an area with good lighting and away from production processes. An inspector will be require to assume various postures such as standing, bending, sitting, kneeling and also squatting so as to achieve his duty. A good examiner is the one who has physical agility to walk on runway parts, climb tall ladders and go up the bridge or trolley.

At time of overhead crane inspections, the worker involved should have adequate two way radio sets to enhance proper communication. They will require protection materials which include gloves, dust mask and coveralls. The management of a given firm is supposed to supply assessors with all tools and instruments they require for the work.




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