Why are testing and inspections important?
At Ranger, when we say we’re a family business, we don’t just mean we’re family owned and people with the same surname come to work here. We’re proud that’s the case, but what we really mean by it is that family comes before business. Not just our family or the extended Ranger community, but every one of our existing and prospective customers and their partners, husbands, wives, children and relatives. That’s why we take safety so seriously.
When Ranger’s testing and inspection team visit a job site, our priority is making sure the cranes, lifting equipment and rigging gear there is in good enough condition that everyone using it and working in the area can go safely home to their families that night. We don’t remove slings from service for the sake of it or to sell the contractor a new one; we do it so it doesn’t break under load and crush a young construction worker expecting his first child. We don’t conduct safety talks to waste our breath or delay the next critical lift; we do it so everyone arrives back on the job the following morning with life and limb intact.
1. STANDARDS
Many of the standards that are relevant to the lifting equipment marketplace here in Australia are produced by the ME-025 Lifting Tackle committee at Standards Australia—the nation’s peak non-government, not-for-profit standards organisation. Its expertise and main responsibility is the development and adoption of standards in Australia.
Standards Australia also facilitates Australian participation in international standards development. It forms technical committees (ME-025 Lifting Tackle, for example) by bringing together relevant parties and stakeholders.AS 3776:2015 Lifting components for Grade T(80) and V(100) chain slings, for instance, references testing throughout its 50+ pages.
In December 2014 Standards Australia released new standards for chain slings:
AS 3775.1.2014
Chain Slings for Lifting Purposes – Grade T
(80) and Grade V (100).
Part 1: Product Specification
AS 3775.2.2014
Chain Slings for Lifting Purposes – Grade T
(80) and Grade V (100). Part 2: Care and Use
AS 2321.2014
Short-link chain for lifting purposes
AS 3776.2015
Lifting components for Grade T (80)
and Grade V (100)
2. SAFETY
Through a process of consensus, Standards Australia committees develop standards for Australia’s net benefit. The work of Standards Australia enhances the nation’s economic efficiency, international competitiveness and contributes to community demand for a safe and sustainable environment.
AS 3776:2015 says that in order to provide the necessary strength and durability of components, it gives requirements for their design, manufacture and testing to ensure the specified levels of performance are met. A test certificate shall carry information such as type of lifting component, quality grade, nominal size, surface finish, working load limit (WLL), proof force, date of test, and much more.
3. LIABILITY
Australian business owners are responsible for health and safety in the workplace. Previously known as Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), Workplace health and safety (WHS) covers laws and workers’ compensation. Before 2012, WHS laws were known as OH&S laws.
These laws differed across Australian states and territories. To make the laws more consistent across Australia, in 2012 the state and territory governments agreed to develop model laws (WHS Act and Regulations), on which they could base their health and safety laws.
Business owners have legal responsibilities to implement health and safety practices in a workplace as soon as they start business. They need to ensure that the business doesn’t create health and safety problems for employees, contractors, volunteers, visitors, customers or the public. This includes ensuring safe use and handling of goods and substances, in addition to providing and maintaining safe machinery and materials.
4. CERTIFICATION
Certified equipment means it has been tested and meets the required criteria for its safe use. We recommend that any company storing or using lifting and rigging products check that the equipment is supported by proper documentation as outlined in the relevant Australian Standard.
Many of those standards will state that a test certificate should carry the name of the certifying authority or supplier, which is information that should be supplied with enquiries and orders for lifting and rigging gear. Australian companies should only be working with certified lifting equipment, making it important to choose the right suppliers.
Ranger Lifting provides a drop-off service where our National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA)-accredited team will inspect equipment to the applicable Australian Standard, and notify customers of any failed items and the requirements to bring the equipment back up to standard. We will then advise when equipment has been re-certified and is ready for collection. Additionally, our mobile testing services including a fleet of vans, trucks and test beds are fully equipped to test a broad range of lifting, rigging and height safety equipment on-site.
Through a process of consensus, Standards Australia committees develop standards for Australia’s net benefit. The work of Standards Australia enhances the nation’s economic efficiency, international competitiveness and contributes to community demand for a safe and sustainable environment.
AS 3776:2015 says that in order to provide the necessary strength and durability of components, it gives requirements for their design, manufacture and testing to ensure the specified levels of performance are met. A test certificate shall carry information such as type of lifting component, quality grade, nominal size, surface finish, working load limit (WLL), proof force, date of test, and much more.
We take safety seriously.
Business owners have legal responsibilities to implement health and safety practices in the workplace. There could be serious consequences if an incident occurs and uncertified lifting equipment was used.
While DIY inspections might seem like a good idea, there are a lot of risks and costs associated with inspecting and managing lifting equipment in-house.
Have you carefully considered the position of your employees and your business if something goes wrong?
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