A  thorough examination on chains and lifting equipment.

First it must be understood that there are several reasons for thoroughly examining lifting equipment at vari­ous stages of its life. Initially it is necessary to check new equipment for any defect (although LOLER exempts equipment that has not been used before and, in the case of lifting equipment for which an EC declaration of conformity could, or should have been drawn up, the employer has received such a declaration made not more than 12 months before it is put into service). Furthermore, for any equipment which has to be installed, a thorough examination is necessary to establish that it has been done correctly and is safe to operate. Once in service, the equipment must be thoroughly examined at intervals to ensure that it remains safe to use. Finally, equipment should be thoroughly examined in the event of any exceptional circumstances which might adversely affect its safety, such as accidental damage or shock loading.

 Although the term thorough examination is used to cover the process in all these instances, the procedure involved will vary according to the circumstances. Under previous legislation, thorough examination did not encompass any testing of the equipment. With LOLER, it has broadened to include any testing which the examiner considers is appropriate for the purpose of the particular thorough examination. These include procedures such as proof load testing, non-destructive testing, light load testing and operational testing.

The some inspection systems define thorough examination as a “visual examination carried out by a competent person carefully and critically and, where appropriate, supplemented by other means such as measurement and testing, in order to check whether the equipment is safe to use.” As such it is clearly distinct from the routine service, repairs and in-service inspections that also represent essential elements of an effective safety program.
   LOLER requires that thorough examinations are undertaken by a competent person who must be sufficiently independent to act impartially. This is normally achieved by the use of an external organisation. The ACoP (Approved Code of Practice) definitions of competence stress the need for practical and theoretical knowledge and experience.

In-service, LOLER provides two options in terms of the frequency of on-going thorough examinations. The first is for them to take place at maximum fixed intervals: six months for equipment that is used for lifting people, and for lifting accessories; 12 months for other lifting equipment. Alternatively, an examination scheme can be drawn up by a competent person, where intervals are based on the frequency and nature of use, the operating environment, and the rate at which the condition of a particular piece of equipment will deteriorate.

Whatever method is employed, the objective is the same: to determine whether the equipment is fit for the coming period of service. Also, it should be stressed that if a thorough examination reveals a defect that involves an existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury, the competent person has a legal duty to send a copy of the report to the HSE or other enforcing authority. This is because to have got to the point where there is such a risk means that there is either a problem with the design or manufacture of the equipment, or with the maintenance regime. In either case there is a clear need for further investigation.

In general terms, in-service inspections are more frequent, and less intensive, than the higher level thorough examination. Typically they involve a visual check supplemented, if appropriate, by simple operational tests. As such, in-service inspections should be done by or other deterioration that might affect a piece of equipment’s fitness for use so that action can be taken to remedy the problem before the risk becomes immediate or imminent.

Where the safety of lifting accessories is concerned, it must always be remembered that the simplest items often present the bigest potential risk. unlike lifting machines such as an electric overhead travelling crane, where relatively little can go wrong in the short term unless it is overloaded or deliberately misused, something like a sling is exposed  to the possibility of damage every time it is used. Even when employed well within its safe working load, because the sling may connect to the load by wrapping around or passing through it, and may be used at an angle or in a choke there are a lot more opportunities for an error which might leave it less safe the next time it is used. Consequently ,through examination should never be seen to obviate the equally important need for routine in-service inspection, undertaken every time accessory is lifted.  
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