5.8.2 Installation Pre-use Inspection/Thorough Examination

The degree of pre-use inspection or thorough examination required will to some degree depend on the type of lifting and pulling machine used and the installation conditions. Lifting and pulling machines are commonly used as a portable tool for temporary installation in order to effect a limited lifting operation, e.g. on construction sites. Some machines are designed and intended for the user to hook or shackle directly onto a suitable suspension point in such applications. It is therefore the users responsibility to ensure the adequacy and suitability of such suspension arrangements. It will usually be sufficient for a suitably qualified and experienced person to inspect simple installations of this type to ensure the correct attachment and alignment of the machine and rope. However, lifting and pulling machines are also used for more complex installations and permanent installations, indeed some machines are specifically designed for such applications. These installations may call for a higher degree of examination to be made by a Competent Person (See 5.7 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS)

Where the Competent Person deems a proof test is necessary as a part of his thorough examination, the test load applied will be governed by the standard to which the lifting and pulling machine was manufactured and by the requirements for the overall installation, e.g. supporting structure, which form a part of the thorough examination and which may differ from those of the machine. The proof load for lifting and pulling machines using a gripping action on the wire rope will usually be 150% of the working load limit, unless the standard to which it was manufactured states otherwise. (BS EN 13157: 2004 only requires a dynamic test of 1.1 times the WLL). This load should be applied by operating the machine and the load should remain steady for a period of not less than 30 seconds without causing any permanent distortion to the equipment or slipping of the rope.