3.8.2 Installation Pre-use Inspection/Thorough Examination

The extent of pre-use inspection or thorough examination required will to some degree depend on the type of hoist used and the installation conditions. Hand operated chain hoists are commonly used as a portable tool for temporary installation in order to effect a limited lifting operation, e.g. in maintenance applications. Hook suspension hoists are designed and intended for the user to erect onto a suitable suspension point or trolley for use in such applications. It is therefore the user’s 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 the installation prior to use to ensure the correct attachment of the hoist.

Hand operated chain hoists with built in trolleys are designed and intended for permanent installations, often requiring an amount of dismantling and reassembly, which may call for a higher degree of examination to be made by a Competent Person (See 3.7 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 hoist was manufactured and by the requirements for the overall installation, e.g. runway, which form a part of the thorough examination and which may differ from those of the hoist. The proof load for hand operated chain hoists will usually be 150% of the working load limit unless the standard to which the hoist is manufactured to states otherwise. Functional testing at the WLL and a light load test to ensure the integrity of the brake may also form a part of the examination. Test loads should be applied by operating the machine through such a distance as to ensure that all load bearing parts are stressed at least once.