This post was originally written by Ryan Graham from Work Safety QLD and posted on Falcon Cranes website. 

Keeping up with the compliance of lifting gear on your construction project can sometimes seem like a complicated task; in this post we have outlined best practices and clarified what is required by law in Queensland.

Initial Inspection Prior To First Use

Industry best practice is to perform a visual inspection on all lifting equipment prior to its first use after receiving it from the supplier to ensure that it is the correct rated capacity and that it will meet your specific requirements.

An inspection certificate is usually supplied when purchasing new equipment to show its manufacture date, serial number and the date of initial inspection.

In addition to visual checks prior to first use, it is a legal requirement that all lifting, rigging and height safety equipment you use must be inspected and tagged by a “competent person” at regular intervals which we have outlined below.

Round and Web Slings

In Queensland, round and web slings must be visually inspected by a “competent person”, at least once every 3 months.

Lifting Cages & Fabricated Lifting Devices

Lifting cages and custom fabricated lifting devices must be load tested and fitted with a data tag when they are first manufactured. After this initial third party test, these items must be visually inspected by a “competent person”, at least once every 12 months.

Height Safety Equipment

In Queensland, height safety equipment must be visually inspected by a “competent person”, at least once every 6 months.

Concrete Clutches

In addition to a visual inspection by a “competent person” at least once every 12 months, concrete clutches must also be load tested every 12 months in Queensland.

Chain Slings and Shackles

Finally, Chain slings and Shackles must be visually inspected by a “competent person” at least once every 12 months in Queensland.

Additional Inspections Depending On Usage

Whilst carrying out these legally required inspections to the above schedules, it is important to note that depending on how often the equipment is used and workplace conditions, it may be necessary to carry out additional inspections to ensure that the equipment is safe to use.

Falcon Cranes procedure, and part of our daily pre-start check for operators, is that a visual inspection be carried out on all lifting equipment prior to EACH use, as it may not be in the same condition as last time it was used.

Have you ever been caught out with confusing lifting equipment laws? Let us know in the comments section below!

This Post Is Part Of A Series: 101 Toolbox Topic Ideas For The Construction Industry
Do you struggle to come up with toolbox talk ideas each week to discuss with your workers? Fear no more, Work Safety QLD is here to the rescue with 101 Free Toolbox Talk Ideas for the Construction Industry.

You can view the original post written by Ryan Graham from Work Safety QLD posted on Falcon Cranes website here