Wanting advice on LOLER with respects to slings

[AdrianH]

I am sure that some of you here use lifting gear professionally, so hope you do not mind me picking your brains.
Back in March time'ish the climbers (who have all been trained by recognised bodies), bought in some metal straps for lifting operations, Typically sub 50kg, things like antennas, microwave dishes etc to the tops of towers.
We hire in things like capstan winches when needed but keep our own ropes, a few pulleys and these slings in particular the slings are steel wire with eyelets and crimp bands

Similar style to the image above.

Now for some reason I have always thought that these would need load testing, but I think that is down to my ignorance. I have some documentation making it's way to me, but believe it should be inspections checking for kinks, necking, broken strands, rust, etc on them and that it is not required to load test. Is this correct?

They are typically stored in the building, dry and out of harms way, would have certification when bought etc.

I am about to raise a non conformity, probably on myself as I have missed these items, the lads do visual inspections, but I need to formalise our record keeping and a formal procedure for the checks/inspections, on these, any ropes, pulleys etc.

At the moment there is just an entry into a ticket system to say they need inspecting and an climber says they have inspected

As said the lads have been trained and passed tests on use etc, they tell me that inspections are all that is needed, but I am keen that we do not fall behind on the record keeping, so before my documentation arrives at work some time I thought it worth a question as to what is industry norm.

Adrian

 

[rtbcomp]

No images

 

[Pete.]

Lifting accessories by law need a thorough inspection every 6 months with the results recorded and uniquely identified. Visual inspection every time you use them (not recorded) and a weekly inspection (recorded) are both good working practice.

 

[Hitch]

Are they purpose made and CE marked? Not something theyve made up specially...

 

[Pete.]

This happened on the site next door last week. Don't let it be you....

 

[AdrianH]

Sorry for the missing image, I just added another instead.

To catch up with the points raised, the lads do inspect them, and I appreciate every 6 months as they are accessories, but one thing the lads do not tend to grasp is how formal some records need to be done, the company purchased two packs of slings, various matched lengths etc, sold by a rigging company, so they are not home made. I could not see any individual markings on each piece, so that may need me to fit tags of some form, I will have to check when back in the office for any serial numbers etc.

They are infrequent use, but I would rather not rely on an inspection before use, as I know that if a rush job came in they would just be picked up and used, so need to tie this down before it goes on for too long.

Adrian

 

[WorkshopChris]

I use nylon slings and straps the serial numbers are recorded on a spreadsheet for inspection purposes, the shackles just have a coloured cable tie that changes colour every 6 months, but they are not uniquely identifiable, i suppose a tag wit a number but that may get caught up.

Lifting accessories by law need a thorough inspection every 6 months with the results recorded and uniquely identified. Visual inspection every time you use them (not recorded) and a weekly inspection (recorded) are both good working practice.

How are your shackles identified, i imagine engraving may invalidate them do you paint on a number?

 

[Pete.]

Sorry for the missing image, I just added another instead.

Usually called wire bonds (round these parts anyway). Your records don't need to be anything special. Date, identifier, condition and person doing the inspection. You can knock it up in word in a few minutes

 

[WorkshopChris]

They are infrequent use, but I would rather not rely on an inspection before use, as I know that if a rush job came in they would just be picked up and used, so need to tie this down before it goes on for too long.

As far as i am aware the person who sets the rigging is responsible for the inspection before use, i would not pick up and use a sling i had not visually inspected regardless of any documents or inspection regime.

 

[AdrianH]

Not sure what I am looking at there Pete, just looks like a mess of rope or wire on the floor?

Typical weights as mentioned are sub 50Kg, the lads have RAMS for the work they do, they get trained by XI, who's sister company probably sold them the kits. I am keen to make sure that the procedures I put down are suitable for the tasks they do and not onerous, or I find that people switch off and fudge records and I rather that not happen.

I am also planning that if we see any faults they are withdrawn from use.

Do you use light oil on these to keep rust at bay or does that attract grit?

 

[Welderpaul]

How are your shackles identified, i imagine engraving may invalidate them do you paint on a number?

Hard stamped.

 

[Pete.]

Not sure what I am looking at there Pete, just looks like a mess of rope or wire on the floor?

Yeah it's a mess on the floor coz it snapped and dropped the block from about 30 feet up, then the 4 drops of rope unravelled on top of it.

 

[Pete.]

Shackles we buy new for every job and if they don't have a plastic tag I just identify them with a marker pen. TBH in demolition you rarely have to worry about a 6 month inspection for slings and shackles, nothing ever gets to 6 months old. I just ordered four 2 ton slings but I only need 2. The other 2 are so I don't have to stop work whilst waiting for the replacements for the first 2

 

[AdrianH]

Sorry responses are coming quick and fast, so i am missing them whilst typing.

As far as i am aware the person who sets the rigging is responsible for the inspection before use, i would not pick up and use a sling i had not visually inspected regardless of any documents or inspection regime.

I appreciate they should have a visual before use, I always did for my harnesses and restraints before I used mine back in the day, but they were not recorded back then,

I hope to god we never have any accidents, that anyone does not get hurt in anyway, so I will be trying to put in place an inspection routine that will be followed because it makes sense.
In the procedure I assume I will need to specify what they are looking for with regards to possible faults and withdrawal from service etc.

Yeah it's a mess on the floor coz it snapped and dropped the block from about 30 feet up, then the 4 drops of rope unravelled on top of it.

We have Ainscough heavy Cranes a few miles away from us, I climbed up one of the central columns of a crane in the yard to check out a radio in the cab, bloody big thing it was, I would be nowhere near that thing when in use.

Adrian

 

[Pete.]

Here's what I use. I had to edit it actually to change the 'new' to an inspected date, after the inspection certs turned up a couple of days after the gear did.

 

[WorkshopChris]

As the bulk of my lifting gear is used infrequently i have 3 large lidded buckets marked up Purple,Yellow & Green for storage each containing a copy of the relevant inspection info.
I have been considering sealing the lids with a inspected by & on (insert date /name) label. As there is no point doing regular inspections on kit that is not regularly used.

 

[AdrianH]

Thanks Pete,

Each climber has his own kit, harness restraints etc and they are now keeping there own D-rings clips, shackles etc as personnel items, so I am trying to make their kit personalised, with serial numbers, date of purchase end dates etc.

The lifting bits are in two separate kits so I should be able to do documents to cover them as you have shown there.

One of the hardest things for me is finding out when they buy these things in, the climbing is not a project I look after, just have to catch up when I find out.

thanks all for your help, I am realising it is not an onerous task to do in reality.

As the bulk of my lifting gear is used infrequently i have 3 large lidded buckets marked up Purple,Yellow & Green for storage each containing a copy of the relevant inspection info.
I have been considering sealing the lids with a inspected by & on (insert date /name) label. As there is no point doing regular inspections on kit that is not regularly used.

Chris that is similar to what I do on some communal harnesses and restraints. They are not being used now as we have moved to personal kit for the climbers, but there are a few of use that may from time to time need a harness for roof work or in the basket of a MEWP; So the items are inspected and then placed in clear bags and taped over with security tape, that makes it easy to see if they have been used between inspections.

Adrian

 

[WorkshopChris]

One of the hardest things for me is finding out when they buy these things in, the climbing is not a project I look after, just have to catch up when I find out.

I have used the companies below before.
http://www.slingsandstraps.co.uk/lifting-slings/duplex-1ton/
http://www.handystraps.co.uk/categories/lifting-slings/duplex-slings/

 

[AdrianH]

Whilst on the subject and I appreciate you are all not necessary riggers/climbers yourselves: We have sealed rescue kits, contain rope, descenders, D-rings etc for climbing down a tower! to rescue an injured climber, industry has it that the bags are sealed with a security seal, so you can not inspect the contents, only the fact that the bag is still sealed so has not been used, on some towers when under management supervision, if the seal is broken potentially access could be refused.

I know i use a similar system as mentioned above, but would have thought during it's lifespan to have to actually check out the gear properly?

Adrian

 

[addjunkie]

Those steel short strops look to me like safety strops rope access guys use when they are hanging off something with sharp edges. The normally work to IRATA regs if I remember correctly which has a section for lifting using RAT equipment, though I would assume is still covered by LOLER.