Under Construction
For information on who the crane manager is for a particular crane, contact Mike Kincaid.
Crane inventory, inspections and testing is overseen by the Facilities division with assistance from the LBNL crane service vendor.
Each crane or hoist must be inspected by a qualified crane operator before use, during any given work shift. The inspection must be documented on an inspection form, see the crane manager or their designee for assistance. If the crane is not used during any shift, it does not need to be inspected. Cranes with wire rope not inspected within a 30 day calendar period must be taken our of service and the Facilities crane service vendor contacted for re-qualification per Fed/OSHA 1910.170(j)(4)(i), and (m)(2). Chain fall hoists which have been idle for a period of over 6 months shall be given a complete inspection and re-qualification by the Facilities service vendor prior to use again per FedOsha 1910.179(j)(4)(ii).
All rigging components (slings, shackles etc…) must be inspected by a qualified rigger prior to use. All rigging components must be protected from potential damage through using commercially available sling protectors a.k.a. “softeners.”
When new equipment is purchased and received, the recipient must contact the crane maintenance vendor to have the equipment inventoried for inspection and qualification. Do not discard any certification papers received with the equipment. All hoisting and rigging equipment (except when impractical, e.g., shackles, swivel lifting rings, etc.) used at the Laboratory must have a Laboratory proof-load tag attached with a current inspection sticker. The user, supervisor, and operator are directly responsible for verifying the presence of current, proper tagging of hoisting and rigging equipment prior to use.
Each division is responsible for the safety and pre-use inspection of its lifting devices (such as screw pin shackles, hoist rings, commercial equipment, etc.) and for its lifting fixtures (such as spreader bars, special slings, equipment designed at Berkeley Lab, etc.). Berkeley Lab proof-load tags and inspection stickers must be current, where applicable. Special-purpose lifting fixtures must be marked with a Laboratory equipment number and labeled to identify applicable Engineering Safety Notes for fixture design and/or critical/high-consequence/high-value lifts/moves.
All lifting fixtures designed at the Laboratory must be proof-tested to twice their maximum rated loads before being placed in service. A Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) is required after the proof test. The exact type of NDE must be specified in the Engineering Safety Note for the lifting fixture. The rated capacity must be marked on the lifting fixture so that it is clearly visible to the equipment operator.
Where the lifting fixture cannot be proof-tested because it is an integral part or component of the experimental device, equivalent alternative safety precautions acceptable to the Mechanical Engineering designee must be described in the Engineering Safety Note, which delineates the lift procedure.
All lifting device pins of 5 cm (2 in.) in diameter or larger must have a magnetic-particle inspection before they are placed in service. These pins are always part of a lifting device or fixture. Make arrangements with the Facilities Division Crane Maintenance Vendor or the Work Request Center, ext. 6274, to have lifting fixtures inspected.
Active lifting devices and fixtures must be examined by an NDE at least once every four years (or upon request), using magnetic-particle detection or other appropriate methods. Make arrangements to have lifting fixtures inspected with the Facilities Division Crane Maintenance Vendor or contact the Work Request Center, ext. 6274. Records must be maintained by the Facilities Division and NDE organizations. Inactive lifting devices and fixtures must be clearly marked “STOP: DO NOT USE,” and must be load tested and certified prior to renewed use.
The Responsible User must ensure that:
- Proof-testing is performed by the Facilities Division on all lifting fixtures designed at the Laboratory, before they are placed in service
- Adequate test records are kept
- Lifting devices and fixtures are used and maintained correctly
The Responsible Designer must obtain design approval by means of an Engineering Safety Note, as described below. For equipment designed at the Laboratory, the Responsible Designer must provide the user with the information required to operate the lifting device or fixture safely. The Facilities Division will provide a test report to the user upon request.For assistance with Engineering Notes, or design questions please contact mkincaid@lbl.gov.
