3.10.3 Maintenance

Routine preventive maintenance should be carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions in addition to any requirements of the particular site due to the conditions of service. In any event attention should be given to the following points:

  1. Attention should be paid to the lubrication of the load chain. When applying lubricant, care should be taken to ensure that it penetrates between the bearing surfaces on the inside of the links, as failure to do so will considerably reduce the service life of the load chain. Under certain conditions, the use of a wet lubricant may be undesirable because of either (a) the risk of contaminating other goods or products or (b) a dusty atmosphere where dirt is liable to mix with the lubricant and adhere to the chain. In these cases it is possible to use a suitable dry lubricant spray. Details are available from hoist manufacturers or suppliers.

    Note

    Caution is required when applying lubricant to any hoist as excessive or careless lubrication may lead to lubricant penetrating the brake which can subsequently fail under load.

  2. The brake pawl of a hand chain hoist is normally spring operated and usually has the additional safety feature that in the event of the pawl operating mechanism failing during a vertical lift, gravity will fully operate the pawl so that the load is sustained. The pawl operating spring(s) should therefore be regularly checked to ensure it is still operating.

  3. No person other than a Competent Person or someone under the supervision of a Competent Person should dismantle the hoist or replace the load/hand chain.