STANDARD OPERATING INSTRUCTION

Inspection and Maintenance of Lifting

Equipment Procedure

1 October 2012

INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LIFTING EQUIPMENT

Title

Inspection and Maintenance of Lifting Equipment

System

People and Wellbeing

Reference Number

SOI-GVW-313

Approved By

Manager Operations

Date Approved

1 October 2012

Next review date

1 October 2015

Note: With each edit to this document, the following must be completed. Also if a document is
being reviewed and there are no changes, it should be noted that the review was undertaken
and the next review date updated.
Details of Review/Changes
Date

Description

Modified By

1/10/09

Document reviewed

30/10/12

Updated to new template

Last modified: 1 October 2012

Approved By
Manager
Operations

Christina H

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Peter K

Reference Number: SOI-GVW-31

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INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LIFTING EQUIPMENT

1.0

Purpose and Scope

To detail the requirements for the inspection and maintenance of lifting equipment to
protect the health and safety of employees who may use such equipment. This
procedure applies to all GVW workplaces.

2.0

References
OH&S Regulations (Plant) 2007;

3.0

AS 1380 - 1998

Fibre Rope Slings, Part 2: Care and use;

AS 3775 - 2004

Chain slings grade T, Part 2: Care and use;

AS 1666 - 2009

Wire rope slings, Part 2: Care and use;

AS 1438.2 - 1998

Wire coil flat slings, Part 2: Care and use;

AS 1353.2 - 1997

Flat synthetic-webbing slings, Part 2: Care and use;

AS/NZS 1891.4 - 2000

Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices. Part: 4

Selection, use and maintenance; and

AS 4991 2004

Lifting Devices

Definitions

SH&W
OH&S
AS
Competent Person

4.0

Safety, Health and Well-Being

Occupational Health and Safety
Australian Standard
A person with relative theoretical knowledge (minimum is the
completion of a Dogger, Rigger or Rope, Chain and Sling
Inspection Course), with suitable practical experience and
access to the appropriate testing equipment.

Responsibilities and Authorities

4.1

SH&W Coordinator
Shall review this procedure every 3 years, in consultation with operations staff
and the OHS Committee.

4.2

Operations Manager
Shall approve this procedure after appropriate consultation.

4.3

District Manager
Shall ensure that:

appropriate training is provided to staff carrying out inspections of lifting

equipment;

funds are sought for any necessary replacement of lifting equipment;

resources are provided to carry out inspection of lifting equipment;

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INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LIFTING EQUIPMENT

4.4

inspections are carried out by a competent person in accordance with

the relevant frequency requirement contained in this procedure.

Work Coordinator
Shall ensure that:

4.5

inspection records are completed and appropriately stored;

only suitably trained competent persons carry out statutory inspections;

arrangements are made for the repair or disposal of damaged or faulty

items.

Employees
Shall ensure that:

5.0

lifting equipment is visually inspected before each use;

before use inspections are carried out; and

lifting equipment that is found to be damaged or faulty is removed is

tagged out with a Do Not Operate tag and removed from service.

OHS Hazards and Controls

Hazards:
Plant and Equipment Hazards:

Striking, crushing from collapsing loads, falling due to

faulty or damaged lifting equipment

Hazardous Materials Hazards:

Spill, exposure to hazardous substance from collapsing

loads

Dangerous Goods Hazards:

As above

Environmental Hazards:

As above

Atmospheric Hazards:

As above

Controls to Consider:
Nil

6.0

Other Resources Required

Nil

7.0

Procedure
7.1

Types of Lifting Equipment

Periodic visual inspections shall be carried out for the following types of lifting
equipment in accord with this procedure and/or the manufacturers
specification:

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INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LIFTING EQUIPMENT

7.2

Lifting Chains and Chain Slings;

Webbing Slings;

Flexible Steel Wire Rope (FSWR);

Fall Arrest Belts and Harnesses;

Confined Space Entry Tripods;

Confined Space Entry Retrieval Systems (for example: Rolgliss or

Winches); and

Fibre Ropes (including Tag Lines and Life Lines).

Before Use Inspection

Before using lifting equipment employees shall carry out a visual

inspection which shall encompass the following:
-

Checking for excessive wear of the item;

Checking for obvious damage or defects;

Checking of harnesses and belts for excessive wear;

Checking the operation of fall arrest locking mechanisms; and

Checking the length of ropes and slings for serious cuts and
abrasions.

Where an item is identified as defective refer to 7.3.

Only persons who have completed the following training may carry out
inspection of lifting equipment.
Lifting Equipment
Lifting Chains and Chain Slings
Webbing Slings
Flexible Steel Wire Rope (FSWR)
Fall Arrest Belts and Harnesses
Confined Space Entry Tripods
Confined Space Entry Retrieval Systems (for
example: Rolgliss or Winches)
Fibre Ropes (including Tag Lines and Life Lines)
7.3

Training
Dogger, Rigger or Rope, Chain
and Sling Inspection Course
Dogger, Rigger or Rope, Chain
and Sling Inspection Course
Dogger, Rigger or Rope, Chain
and Sling Inspection Course
Confined Space Entry Course
Confined Space Entry Course
Confined Space Entry Course
Dogger, Rigger or Rope, Chain
and Sling Inspection Course

Defects
If any of the following defects are visible, the lifting device shall be tagged with
a Do Not Operate tag, withdrawn from service and referred to a competent
person:

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INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LIFTING EQUIPMENT

a)

7.4

Markings that have become detached or illegible. In such cases the

lifting device may be returned to service after being assessed by a
competent person that iti.

Is in good condition; and

ii.

Has been remarked following verification of its identity and

capacity.

b)

Cuts, nicks, gouges, cracks excessive corrosion, heat damage, bent or

distorted components or any other defects; and

c)

Signs of overloading, such as any visible deformation of components.

Repairs
Any repairs shall be carried out by a competent person with reference to the
original manufacturers specifications and any appropriate standards.

7.5

Periodic Inspection and maintenance of lifting equipment

Inspections shall be carried out in accordance the relevant Australian
Standard or Manufacturers Specification at the frequency specified below by a
competent person experienced in the inspection of lifting equipment:

Lifting Equipment
Lifting Chains and Chain Slings
Webbing Slings
Flexible Steel Wire Rope (FSWR)
Fall Arrest Belts and Harnesses
Confined Space Entry Tripods
Confined Space Entry Retrieval Systems (for example:
Rolgliss or Winches)
Fibre Ropes (including Tag Lines and Life Lines)
Gatic lid lifters
7.6

Frequency of Inspection
3 Monthly
3 Monthly
3 Monthly
6 Monthly
6 Monthly
6 Monthly
3 Monthly
12 Monthly

Records
7.6.1

Inspection Records
An Individual Inspection record shall be kept for each lifting item
(either hard copy or electronic data base). This shall be used to
record the results of inspections. Individual items must be able to
be readily identified against the record, in some instances this may
require additional non-destructive markings on the item to
differentiate them from other identical items.

7.6.2

Lifting Items Register

All Items of Lifting equipment must be entered into a Register
which shall include the following information:

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INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LIFTING EQUIPMENT

Item description;

Goulburn Valley Water Identification Number;

Serial Number details, Safe working Loads, etc.; and

Item Location.

Lifting Items Registers will be maintained by each relative District.

7.7

8.0

New Items

All new lifting equipment must be inspected prior to use. This is to assist
in identifying any manufacturing faults or damage during transit;

An individual record must be developed for each new item; and

Details of the new item must be entered into the Lifting Items Register.

Appendices
Refer to SharePoint for copies
Inspection Record: Fibre Rope QF-GVW-313 (a)
Inspection Record: Belts and Harnesses QF-GVW-313 (b)
Inspection Record: Flexible Steel Wire Rope QF-GVW-313 (c)
Inspection Record: Lifting Chain / Chain Slings QF-GVW-313 (d)
Inspection Record: Webbing Slings QF-GVW-313 (e)

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