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Writer's pictureBundit Suriyaburaphakul

The Significance of Initial Inspections

Danny Bishop emphasizes the significance of performing pre-use inspections as we continue to lead the way in advancing industry best practices below-the-hook. While riggers typically recognize the importance of in-service or frequent inspections of slings and rigging hardware before and during use, as well as periodic inspections mandated by various standards at least once per year, many companies in material handling industries tend to neglect the crucial initial inspection.


What is the initial inspection?


According to the ASME B30.26 Rigging Hardware and ASME B30.9 sling standard, the designated person must conduct an inspection before using any new, modified, repaired, or altered sling or rigging hardware. It is crucial to ensure that the correct product with proper identification and without any defects is received and operates correctly before adding it to the rigging inventory or releasing it for field use.


ASME mandates that a qualified person must inspect any altered, modified, or repaired product, provided the manufacturer permits such changes, to ensure it is not hazardous when in use.


It is also recommended that an initial inspection be conducted whenever slings or rigging gear are relocated from one job site to another. It is unwise to assume that the equipment was inspected after its previous use, and risking the deployment of defective equipment back into service is not worth it.


It's important to contemplate the possibility of damage or wear and tear to the sling or rigging hardware from its previous use, such as overloading or cracks, nicks, and sharp gouges. One should not assume that the equipment was shipped in perfect condition by coworkers. To ensure safety, take a few extra minutes to conduct a visual inspection upon receiving the equipment. The stakes are high when it comes to lives and loads, and it is essential to prioritize safety.


In the initial inspection, what specific aspects or factors are you searching for?


While this article does not aim to cover the rejection criteria for all types of available slings or rigging hardware, it is generally understood that you would inspect for evident defects, equipment unsuitable for the intended job, incorrect orders, unauthorized modifications, lack of proper identification such as missing capacity or load rating identification, missing tags, or name and trademark of the manufacturer, among others.




The realization that continuous negligence in this aspect exists implies that there may be slings and rigging hardware currently in use, maybe even on your worksite, that are unsuitable for deployment, which is a chilling thought.


As a final point, here are some questions of the "did you know" nature.


Did you know?


According to the B30.9 standard, written records of the initial inspection are mandatory for alloy chain and metal mesh slings, and the report should encompass the condition of each individual sling. However, written records are not necessary for wire rope and synthetic slings during the initial inspection.


Moreover, OSHA 1926.1412 (b)(1) stipulates that an initial inspection of the crane load hook must be performed after an equipment repair or adjustment.


The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), a reputable organization based in the UK, outlines the inspection requirements for lifting equipment before its first use in Section 1.3.4.7 of their Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Lifting Equipment.


This is just a brief overview of the significance and obligation of the initial inspection. For complete details, refer to OSHA and ASME or the relevant standards in your area.

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