Shift and Monthly Inspections
A competent person must visually inspect the equipment each shift the equipment is used. Taking apart equipment components and booming down is not required as part of this inspection unless the results of the visual inspection or trial operation indicate that further investigation is needed. The monthly inspection is the same for most equipment.
- If the inspection shows a safety device is not working properly, the equipment must not be used.
- If it shows an operational aid is not working properly, the equipment may be used for a limited period (7 or 30 calendar days depending on the type of operational aid) as long as specified temporary alternative precautions are taken.
- For the other items covered by the inspection, if the deficiency is serious enough to be a safety hazard, it must not be used until the deficiency is corrected.
Shift inspections need not be documented, however monthly inspection do need to be properly documented and maintained for a minimum of three months.
Before the equipment can be used, it must be inspected by a qualified person to ensure it is configured in accord with manufacturer equipment criteria.
- qualified person may be the A/D director
- where manufacturer equipment criteria are unavailable, a qualified person must determine if a registered professional engineer (RPE) is required to assist
Corrective Action
If a qualified person who conducts an inspection identifies any deficiency in any of the items inspected and determines the deficiency constitutes a safety hazard, the equipment must be taken out of service until the deficiency is corrected.
If a qualified person determines, even though not presently a safety hazard, the deficiency needs to be monitored, the employer must ensure the deficiency is checked in the monthly inspections.
Severe Service Inspections
Where the severity of use/conditions is such that there is a reasonable probability of damage or excessive wear (such as loading that may exceed rated capacity, shock loading exceeding the rated capacity, or prolonged exposure to a corrosive atmosphere), the employer must stop using the equipment and a qualified person must:
- Inspect the equipment for structural damage to determine if the equipment can continue to be used safely.
- Determine if any items/conditions must be inspected during an annual inspection (if so, a qualified person must inspect those items/conditions).
Inspection of Non-Regular Equipment
Equipment which has been idle for three months or more must be inspected by a qualified person in accord with the requirements for monthly inspections before being used.
Inspection of Modified Equipment
Equipment with modifications or additions which affect the safe operation of the equipment (such as a safety device or operational aid, critical part of a control system, power plant, braking system, load-sustaining structural components, load hook, or in-use operating mechanism) or capacity must be inspected by a qualified person, prior to initial use.
Note: Under Standard 1434, any such modification/addition must be approved by either the manufacturer or a RPE. The inspection must assure the modifications or additions have been made in accord with the approval and must include functional testing of the equipment.
Inspection of Repaired/Adjusted Equipment
Equipment with a repair or adjustment to ensure safe operation must be inspected by a qualified person, prior to initial use. This requirement applies to adjustment to a safety device or operator aid, critical part of a control system, power plant, braking system, load-sustaining structural components, load hook, or in-use operating mechanism
A qualified person must determine if the repair/adjustment meets manufacturer equipment criteria (where applicable and available). Where manufacturer equipment criteria are unavailable or inapplicable, a qualified person must determine if a registered professional engineer (RPE) is needed to develop criteria for the repair/adjustment.
If an RPE is not needed, the employer must ensure the criteria is developed by a qualified person. If an RPE is needed, the employer must ensure criteria is developed by the RPE. The inspection must determine if the repair/adjustment meets the criteria developed by the RPE or qualified person and must include functional testing.
