Safety, Inspection, and Maintenance
Inspection types
The crane must be inspected before each shift by a competent person, monthly, annually in a comprehensive inspection by a qualified person, after assembly or climbing, after repairs or modifications, and after severe service such as a lightning strike, overload, or impact. Each type has its own scope and its own record. Document date, examiner, deficiencies found, and corrective action; a deficiency that creates a safety hazard puts the crane out of service until corrected.
What gets inspected
Wire rope for broken wires, kinks, bird-caging, crushing, corrosion, and diameter loss; sheaves and drums for groove wear; hooks for throat opening, twist, and latch function; brakes and clutches; structural members and welds for cracks; bolts and pins for torque and security; anchorage and foundation for settlement or movement; ballast security; limit switches (hoist high, trolley, slew), moment limiter, and anti-collision; anemometer; grounding and lightning protection; lubrication and hydraulic leaks.
Traps
Confusing who may perform each inspection; assuming a daily walk-around replaces the monthly or annual; and believing a rope is acceptable because it "looks fine" when removal criteria are met by wire breaks.
Worked example
Rule of thumb for rope: a common removal criterion for 6×19 running rope is six randomly distributed broken wires in one lay, or three broken wires in one strand in one lay - but the manufacturer's and applicable standard's criteria govern and take precedence. Any rope showing kinking or heat damage is removed regardless of wire count.