28
©
2019
Columbus McKinnon Industrial Products GmbH
I
NSPECTION BEFORE INITIAL OPERATION
According to the existing national/international accident prevention or safety specifications, lifting units must be checked
• At least once per year by a competent person
• According to the risk assessment of the operating company,
• Before the initial start-up,
• Before restart following a shutdown
• After basic alterations.
Actual operating conditions (e.g. operation in galvanizing facilities) can dictate shorter inspection intervals.
The checks are essentially visual and functional, which should guarantee that the unit is in a safe condition and if necessary, faults and
damages caused by e.g. improper transport or storage, can be identified and remedied.
The condition of components with regard to damage, wear, corrosion or other changes must be assessed, and the completeness and
effectiveness of the safety devices must be determined.
Competent persons may be, for example, the maintenance engineers of the manufacturer or the supplier. However, the company may
also entrust the inspection to its own appropriately trained specialist personnel. The inspections have to be initiated by the operating
company.
Initial operation and recurring inspections must be documented (e.g. in the CMCO works certificate of compliance).
Paint damage should be touched up in order to avoid corrosion. All joints and sliding surfaces should be slightly lubricated. In case of
heavy contamination, the unit must be cleaned.
O
PERATION
Installation, service, operation
Operators delegated to install, service or independently operate the hoist must have had suitable training and be competent. Operators
are to be specifically nominated by the company and must be familiar with all relevant safety regulations of the country of use.
Inspection before starting work
Before starting work inspect the hoist/trolley, chains and all load bearing components every time for visual defects. Furthermore test the
brake and make sure that the load and hoist/trolley are correctly attached by carrying out a short work cycle of lifting and lowering resp.
travelling in both directions. Selection and calculation of the proper suspension point and beam construction are the responsibility of the
operating company.
Daily checks by the regulator
• Check the proper fastening of the Yale electric rope winch.
• Check the working of the UP and DOWN as well as the EMERGENCY STOP buttons.
• Check the working of the optionally installed gear limit switch: Have the set load heights been observed reliably?
Weekly checks
As damaged ropes endanger work safety, the wire rope must be checked for damage once per week (in accordance with Chapter
"Checking, Repair and Maintenance"). Replace if necessary.
To increase the life span of wire ropes, ensure cleanliness and mild lubrication.
Checking the eye hook
Check the eye hook for deformities, cracks, damages, abrasion and signs of corrosion.
Checking the gear limit switch (optional)
The settings of the gear limit switch are to be checked and, if necessary, adjusted to the concerned spatial situation.
Checking the slack rope switch (optional)
The deposition of a load during the lowering operation is to be simulated so that the load hook is unloaded and as soon as it is easy to
reach, maintained during permanent unloading. The slack rope switch must detect this unusual situation and deactivate the rope winch.
Then, the control allows movement only in the opposite direction (lifting).
NOTE: Normally, the slack rope switch responds only to an unloaded rope during the lowering operation!
Attaching the load
Attach the load to the hoist using only approved and certified slings or lashing devices. Never use the wire rope as sling rope. The load
must always be seated in the saddle of the hook. Never attach the load to the tip of the hook. Do not remove the safety latch from the
load hook.
Increasing the load capacity by suitable pulley blocks.
If the single max. nominal load capacity in direct pull is not sufficient, it can be multiplied by the use of return pulleys/wire rope blocks
based on the pulley block principle. The load is then distributed to several rope falls. The following requirements must be fulfilled:
• A competent person must establish that the load capacity of the return pulley is adequate.
• The return pulley must be provided with a device which prevents unintended opening.
• The return pulley must be rated for the same temperature range as the hoist.
• Only use hooks with a safety latch.
• The diameter of the return pulley must be at least 12 times the nominal rope diameter.
• The groove depth of the return pulley must be at least 1.5 times the nominal rope diameter.
• The return pulley must be provided with a rope guide ensuring that the rope remains in the groove of the return pulley also in the event
of slack rope.
