Derrick crane

[pikeyrm]

Hi all,
I have been trying to find out if our club's derrick crane really needs to have an annual safety inspection.
I am sure I have read somewhere that if lifting minimal weight then an annual test is not compulsory.
Please could you help, we only use it to lift masts and the occasional small engine so maximum would be 400kg.

We as a club only allow "competent" people to use and have "competent" to inspect it, just wondering if we still have to pay an outside company fir a certificate.
Your advise would be greatfully received.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I have been trying to find out if our club's derrick crane really needs to have an annual safety inspection. .

Are you familiar with this handy guide from the HSE?

http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/thorough-examinations-lifting-equipment.htm

LOLER only applies to employers, but you would, I think, be crazy not to implement a similar inspection regime for your crane. 400kg can do an awful lot of damage, and cost an awful lot in damages, if it falls on someone.

What does your insurance company say?

 

[William_H]

If there is not specific legal direction on inspection of the crane and of who can inspect the crane you would still be well advised to produce and publish an operating procedure for the crane. This will if necessary specify that it is used at boat owners risk. It will spell out who can use the crane and what if any trianing will be required. It will spell out what inspections are to be carried out on the crane and equipment and by whom. It will of course also specify the limit on weight to be lifted.
If it is a crane designed for 1 tonne lift and is limited to 400Kg by this document then obviously you have built in a huge safety factor. This can make inspections and periods much more relaxed.
The idea of the manual is to spell out what is reasonable by way of safety procedures. Make it practical to the use required and so as cheap for the club as possible while covering as many possibilities of stupidity etc in operations as possible. This document could then go a long way towards satisfying your club insurance company and could be worth its weight in gold if it ever came to litigation in the face of damage or death. Put he document up on club web site and have hard copy available so there is not excuse for ignorance. A Procedures manual shows that you take safety seriously. PM me if you want more info on manuals olewill

 

[fisherman]

Our 500kg dock crane has to be inspected every 6 months.

 

[trevorr]

Our 250Kg derrick crane also needs inspecting, I think Annually but could be every 6 months.

Trev

 

[johnphilip]

Our 250Kg derrick crane also needs inspecting, I think Annually but could be every 6 months.

Trev

The LOLER regs applicable to employers required the lifting appliance (crane) to be inspected formally once a year but any lifting tackle such as webbing slings or chains must be inspected every 6 months. This used to be organised automatically(and charged for) through our insurers. If the crane was used to lift personnel it too had to be inspected every six months.
The competent operator should also carry out and record intermediate inspections. A lifting plan should be prepared.
These days inspections by HSE are rare until there has been an accident, so make your own judgement. If you are good people who never exceed a 30 limit then toe the line.

 

[prv]

These days inspections by HSE are rare until there has been an accident, so make your own judgement. If you are good people who never exceed a 30 limit then toe the line.

The question is where the line actually is.

The link posted by JumbleDuck specifically states that there is no need for an external organisation to do the inspecting, though this is often done. As long as someone genuinely competent does a bona fide inspection, and is not either inspecting his own work or potentially under undue pressure to sign off things he shouldn't, it suggests that the law is satisfied.

Pete

 

[GHA]

We as a club only allow "competent" people to use and have "competent" to inspect it, just wondering if we still have to pay an outside company fir a certificate.
Your advise would be greatfully received.

Loler is probably the best bet as a guideline, but throughout has lots of "where practicable" and "competent person". One option would be to get load cell from hss and try to break the derreck on a 2:1 load or whatever you decide, you're the competent individuals so down to you, what you want to do is sleep at night. I've been involved with lifting most of my working life and think there's 2 parts to it, make sure whatever it is won't break under specified loads and make sure whoever is using it knows what their doing and no one goes over the SWL and after that the second one, make sure the paperwork is ok is easy.

 

[duncanmack]

What view has the club insurer? Are they aware of the crane? Are the club insured to use it?

At the end of the day the insurer may insist on inspection by someone appointed by them or at least acceptable to them.