1. “Understanding the Importance of Proper Equipment Inspections”
Jeffrey Hammons
VP Risk Management
AmQuip Crane Rental LLC

2. Introduction
The inspection and maintenance of equipment should be managed in the same way as any other business activity is, if not carried out effectively, it can have severe safety, compliance, legal and financial implications for a business.
The consequences of improper equipment inspections can be unrecoverable….

3. Accidents
“Crane Inspector May Have Been At Fault”

4. Regulatory
US Labor Department's OSHA proposes $176,000 in fines against Stowe Woodward LLC for hazards at Concord, NH, plant. Eleven serious violations with $49,000 in fines involve a lack of frequent crane inspections.
OSHA cites Mississippi manufacturer with 40 safety and health violations. The company is being cited for 32 serious safety violations with $54,826 in proposed penalties. The violations are associated with failing to install guardrails along open platforms; failing to train workers on lockout/tagout procedures regarding energy sources; failing to conduct periodic inspections of crane, crane hook and hoist chains;
OSHA cites three Ohio-based companies for failing to protect workers from safety and health hazards. Twelve serious safety violations.…..”conduct annual crane inspections, remove defective web slings from service”….

5. Legal Rigging Contractor Is Acquitted in the Collapse of a Crane
Crane Owner Is Cleared of All Charges in Fatal Collapse
Cranes Today. (December 2000). "Mitsubishi faces $99m damages as court finds it to blame for Big Blue's collapse“
Operator in fatal midtown crane collapse involved in two prior accidents, a crane operator licensed by the city of New York since 1996, was questioned in two previous lawsuits where co-workers were injured while he was at the controls. In both court cases, he described alarming circumstances where cranes were given cursory inspections and computerized safety systems were bypassed.

6. Reliability & Asset Longevity
To ensure proper credit is given for the next slide please Note: Dan Snook with MTU/Mercedes and Brian Hill with Manitowoc Crane Care put the slide together I am using them for the purposes of this presentation.

7. Maintenance recommendations
Why follow the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations?
Decrease cost of operation (Support Billing)
Avoid downtime
EPA compliance
Record keeping
Approval of fluids, lubricants, filters are Important (Seasonal)
The engine manufacturers complete many hours of testing for reliability and real world operation. The engineering completed before the engine is built includes the past experience and realization of meeting the customers’ requirements. These requirements include power, fuel economy, and the cost of operation during its operational life. The recommendations put forth by the OEM works with the products tested in order to meet these customers’ demands. The NEW T4i and T4 Final EPA engines require more knowledge, and maintenance is more critical for proper engine operation. The owner and operator should get to know their engines first by reading both the Operating and Maintenance manuals and understanding the recommendations listed. A very important Part of all maintenance is the keeping of records showing proper maintenance was completed. Showing proper maintenance records can assist in warranty processing in case there is a failure.
We all have the mandate to follow the operational guidelines in order to meet the EPA requirements. A poorly maintained engine will NOT operate as designed and can create issues with EPA compliance.
Safety labels and warnings in the manuals should always be followed to create a successful and safe work environment.
The scope and frequency of maintenance work depend primarily on the characteristics of the engines operation, including the expected load and fuel quality including sulfur content. That is how the manufacturers create their maintenance schedules for the purpose of guiding the owner in its proper service.
Unscheduled downtime can be prevented when the recommended Daily inspections and Scheduled maintenance and service are completed as provided by the manufacturer.
The use of fuels, oils, coolants, or parts that do not meet the OEM’s requirements can have a great effect on the results of the maintenance to the engines operational costs. 7

8. Reliability & Asset Longevity

9. Reliability & Asset Longevity

10. Financial Accident Costs;
Reaction to Accident(Direct and Indirect Costs)
Investigation
Cash $ spent under the organization deductible
Insurability
Legal
Reputation
Reliability/longevity of equipment, increased maintenance costs, Warranty
Prequalification Difficulties
Additional Overhead costs such as, LC professionals, Insurance involvement, Development and Implementation of Policy, Best Practices to eliminate potential for future reoccurrence.

11. Types of Inspections

12. Types of Inspections
Modified Cranes — Anytime a crane is modified, the modification must be inspected by a qualified person. According to (a), modifications or additions which affect the capacity of a crane or safe operation of the crane are not permitted except when the manufacturer has reviewed and approved the modification. The manufacturer must provide updated load charts, manuals, procedures, or labels as needed.  If the manufacturer refuses or fails to review the modification request within 30 days, a registered professional engineer (who is qualified with respect to the crane and modification) can approve the modification, but must provide the same information that the manufacturer would have provided. In addition, cranes can be modified if the original safety factor of the crane is not reduced.
EXAMPLE: adding aluminum walkway to the top of lattice boom

13. Types of Inspections
Repaired/Adjusted Cranes —Anytime a crane has had a repair to a component that relates to safe operation, it must be inspected by a qualified person prior to initial use.
EXAMPLE: Repairing damaged lacing
Post Assembly —After assembly is completed, the crane must be inspected by a qualified person. Tower cranes must also have a pre-assembly inspection and require a test lift to complete post assembly inspection.
Shift inspection —OSHA no longer requires a daily inspection;  instead shift inspections must be done by a competent person. This inspection is not required to be documented, recall rope requirements.
Monthly Inspection —The monthly inspection is simply a documented shift inspection done by a competent person. The employer is responsible for maintaining the last three monthly inspections, and they must be made available to an inspector.

14. Types of Inspections
Annual/Comprehensive Inspection —This inspection must be performed by a qualified person and must be documented. Disassembly is required, as necessary, to complete the inspection. In addition, a functional test must be performed.  Any deficiencies must be assessed to determine if they represent safety concerns. If so, the crane must be taken out of service until repairs are made.
Severe Service - Where the severity of use/conditions is such that there is a reasonable probability of damage or excessive wear. The employer must stop using the equipment and a qualified person must inspect the equipment for structural damage to determine if the equipment can continue to be used safely.
Equipment not in regular use inspection —Equipment that has been idle for 3 months or more must be inspected by a qualified person in accordance with the (Monthly) inspection before initial use.

15. Types of Inspections
Lets look at an Rough Terrain (RT) conclusive checklist for identification of key elements

24. Operational Aides and Safety Devices
What devices if inoperable result in a crane being removed from service?

25. Safety Devices
The following safety devices are required on all equipment covered by this subpart, unless otherwise specified:
Crane level indicator
Boom stops
Jib stops
Equipment with foot pedal brakes, must have locks
Hyd. outrigger jacks/Hyd. stabilizer jacks must have an integral holding device/check valve
Equip on rails must have rail clamps and rail stops, exceptions….
Horn
Proper operation required. Operations must not begin unless all of the devices listed in this section are in proper working order. If a device stops working properly during operations, the operator must safely stop operations. If any of the devices listed in this section are not in proper working order, the equipment must be taken out of service and operations must not resume until the device is again working properly.

26. Operational Aides
Operations must not begin unless the listed operational aids are in proper working order, except where an operational aid is being repaired the employer uses the specified temporary alternative measures. Must adhere to the specified time frames for operations and more protective alternative measures specified by the crane/derrick manufacturer, if any, must be followed.

27. Category I devices and alternative measures.
Temporary Alternative Measures (use at least one). One or more of the following methods must be used:
Use a boom angle indicator, clearly mark boom hoist cable that gives operator time, install mirror/remote cameras
Boom Hoist Limiting Device -
Luffing Jib Limiting Device -
Anti Two-Blocking Device -
Same but to address movement of the luffing jib
Telescopic boom – Clearly mark the cable to provide operator time to stop the hoist, use a spotter when extending boom
Lattice boom - Clearly mark the cable that will give the operator time to stop the hoist, or use a spotter.

28. Category I devices and alternative measures.
Must be repaired no later than 7 calendar days after the deficiency occurs. 
Exception: If the employer documents that it has ordered the necessary parts within 7 calendar days of the occurrence of the deficiency, the repair must be completed within 7 calendar days of receipt of the parts.

29. Category II devices and alternative measures.
Temporary Alternative Measures (use at least one). One or more of the following methods must be used:
Radii or boom angle must be determined by measuring the radii or boom angle with a measuring device.
Boom angle or radius indicator-
Jib angle indicator-
Boom length indicator-
Radii or jib angle must be determined by ascertaining the main boom angle and then measuring the radii or jib angle with a measuring device.
Mark the boom with measured marks to calculate boom length, Calculate boom length from boom angle and radius measurements, Measure the boom with a measuring device.

30. Category II devices and alternative measures.
Temporary Alternative Measures (use at least one). One or more of the following methods must be used:
load must be determined from a source recognized by the industry (load's manufacturer) or by calculation method recognized by the industry.
Load weighing/similar devices -
Outrigger/stabilizer position -
Hoist drum rotation indicator -
Required on Equip. manufactured after 11/8/2011
The operator must verify that the position of the outriggers or stabilizers is before beginning operations requiring outrigger or stabilizer deployment.
Mark the drum to indicate the rotation of the drum. In addition, install mirrors or remote video cameras and displays if necessary for the operator to see the mark.

31. Category I devices and alternative measures.
Must be repaired no later than 30 calendar days after the deficiency occurs. 
Exception: If the employer documents that it has ordered the necessary parts within 7 calendar days of the occurrence of the deficiency, and the part is not received in time to complete the repair in 30 calendar days, the repair must be completed within 7 calendar days of receipt of the parts.

32. In Summary
Understand the importance of crane inspections, buying them versus doing them. Who is at risk?
Selection and Prequalification of your 3rd party crane inspection companies, task specific Insurance certificates
Understand OSHA requirements of inspections and when to perform them
How comprehensive should the inspections be?
Have a formal process to capture deficiencies and assign corrective actions, USE IT.
Understand what crane systems, devices failure constitutes removal from service and what your requirements are to continue safely operating the crane are.
Reliability advantages

33. In Summary
Questions

34. Contact Information
Jeffrey C. Hammons Sr.
AmQuip Crane Rental LLC
Vice President, Risk Management
1150 Northbrook Drive, Suite 100
Trevose PA 19053
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