FAQ >> Construction and Maintenance of Cranes and Lifting Appliances

Construction and Maintenance of Cranes and Lifting Appliances

  • Construction and Maintenance of Cranes and Lifting Appliances Cranes and lifting appliances must be of good construction and be properly assembled. This means that they must be of good design which includes, amongst other things, being well built for the purpose for which they are intended to be used, and be put together properly.
  • The erection and dismantling of cranes and lifting appliances must only be carried out under the supervision of a competent person. This means a person who is fully conversant with the safe and correct procedures to be adopted to ensure the correct erection or dismantling sequence. In these cases manufacturers instruction manuals must always be available and followed. This is particularly relevant in the case of tower cranes where erection and dismantling must be carried out strictly in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
  • The erection of jibs on cranes, especially mobile cranes, must follow the sequence described in the manufacturers instructions and each section must be identifiable with the crane in which it is normally used. The jib section must have been tested when assembled on the crane and only genuine manufacturers parts must be used. This is particularly important in relation to the use of bolts which are usually made from high tensile steel or other similar material. Substitution by mild steel bolts may result in failure.
  • Each part of a crane or lifting appliance which can affect the safe working of the crane or lifting appliance must be a) of good design, b) properly made, c) of sound material, d) of adequate strength for the purpose for which it is used, e) free from patent defect, and f) properly maintained. These requirements also apply to any means used for anchoring, fixing or supporting and stabilising the crane or lifting appliance, the failure of which could also affect its safe working.
  • "Maintained" is defined in Regulation 1 of the Regulations and means:- "Maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, and in good repair".
  • This definition describes a result to be achieved rather than a means of achieving it. The word "maintained" is employed to denote the continuance of a state of working efficiency.
  • A "patent defect" is a plain obvious defect - one that can be noticed.

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