Alberta Occupational Health and Safety. Act, Regulation and Code 2021

American Society of Mechanical Engineers B30.20-2018, Below the Hook Lifting Devices, Chapter 20-6 Clamps.

Manufacturer's specifications for the type and style of Plate Clamp.

Manufacturer's referenced standards

Users must be trained in the selection, inspection, cautions to personnel, effects of environments, and rigging practices associated with Plate Clamps

Can you prove users are competent in the selection, inspection, cautions to personnel, effects of environments, and rigging practices associated with Plate Clamps ?

If a user is not competent in the selection, inspection, cautions to personnel, effects of environments, and rigging practices associated with Plate Clamps they must have direct supervision from a competent worker

If not competent in the selection, inspection, cautions to personnel, effects of environments, and rigging practices associated with Plate Clamps do users have direct supervision ?

Do you have documented policies and procedures in the selection, inspection, cautions to personnel, effects of environments, and rigging practices associated with Plate Clamps ?

An employer must identify responsibilities for the user of a Plate Clamp.

The use of Plate Clamps can create hazardous situations

Have Supervisors taken all precautions to protect the health and safety of every worker under the Supervisors supervision.

Have Suppliers ensured the equipment supplied is in a safe operating condition, and that it complies with this Act, regulation and the OHS Code  

What are the manufacturer's design factors for the Plate Clamp you are using ?

A Plate Clamp must be marked with the manufacturer's name and contact information

A Plate Clamp must be marked with a serial number

A Plate Clamp must be marked with its weight if over 100lbs (45kg)

A Plate Clamp must be marked with its cold current amps (when applicable)

A Plate Clamp must be marked with its rated voltage (when applicable)

A Plate Clamp must be marked with its rated load

A Plate Clamp must be marked with its ASME BTH-1 Design Category

A Plate Clamp must be marked with its ASME BTH-1 Service Class

A Plate Clamp must have attached product safety labels according to ANZI Z535.4-2011

If a Plate Clamp is only designed for anchoring or positoning it shall be marked accordingly

What are the training requirements for Plate Clamp users ?

How does your company monitor the training requirements for Plate Clamps ?

How have users been trained in the requirements for Plate Clamps ?

Training records should be kept to show users were trained in the requirements for Plate Clamps

Manufacturer's specifications for the Plate Clamp must be available to users

Where are your manufacturer's specifications for the Plate Clamps kept ?

How do you ensure users are familiar with the manufacturer's specifications ?

Have employers identified hazards associated with the use of Plate Clamps ?

Have users identified the hazards associated with the use of Plate Clamps ?

All new and reinstalled Plate Clamps shall be inspected by a designated person prior to initial use

All altered or repaired Plate Clamps shall be inspected by a designated person

How often are every lift inspections completed ?

What must be checked on an every lift inspection ?

How often are frequent inspections completed ?

What must be checked on a frequent inspection ?

How often are periodic inspections completed ?

What must be checked on a periodic inspection ?

All Plate Clamps must have a documented periodic inspection completed by a qualified person

All Plate Clamps that have been idle for a period of one month or more must be given a frequent inspection

How does your company identify a Plate Clamp has had a periodic inspection ?

Damaged or inoperable controls, including cams and locking levers

Structural members that are deformed, cracked or have excessive wear

Loose or missing guards, fasterners, bolts, covers, stops or nameplates

Misadjustment of functional operating mechanisms and automatic hold-and-release mechanisms that interfere with the Plate Clamps operation

Excessive wear of friction pads, linkages, and other mechanical parts

Excessive wear at bail and load support clevises or pins.

Excessive pitting or corrosion

Excessive nicks or gouges

Indications of heat damage, including weld spatter or arc strikes

Evidence of unauthorized welding, modification or replacement of components.

Improper assembly

Gripping teeth that are, worn, broken, chipped or clogged

Gripping surfaces that are contaminated, have wear, or lack gripping material

Damaged or distorted pins or springs 

Damage to the body, including cracked weld, bends, twists, stretching, or cracking

Plate Clamps shall only be operated by qualified personnel, which includes, designated persons, trainees under the supervision of designated persons, maintenance and test personnel, and inspectors.

Rated loads cannot be exceeded

Loads must be correctly distributed

Plate Clamps shall not be used to handle any loads for which they are not designed

Plate Clamps shall be applied to the load in accordance with their instruction manuals

Before operating lifting ropes or chains must not be kinks or twisted around each other

Load temperature should not exceed the allowable maximum

What is the minimum and maximum temperature the Plate Clamps can be exposed to ?

Plate Clamps swinging should be kept to a minimum

Shock loading must be avoided

Mechanical damage must be avoided

Do not stand or pass under a suspended load

Do not ride on a Plate Clamps

Do not use the Plate Clamps to side pull or slide a load

Suspended loads must not be left unattended

When locks are provided on Plate Clamps they shall be used.

Rated load must be reduced as required by the manufacturer for lifts other than a straight lift.

Before adjustments are started all sources of power must be disconnected, locked out, and tagged "Out of Servce"

Before repairs the Plate Clamp must be tagged "Out of Servce"

Only Designated persons shall perform adjustments and tests

Only Designated persons, or those under the direction of a Qualifed person shall perform adjustments and repairs

Replacement parts must be at least equal to the original manufacturer's specifications

Any hazardous condition disclosed during inspection must be corrected before normal operation of the Plate Clamps is resumed

After adjustments and repairs the Plate Clamps must not be returned to service until it has been inspected

Dated records of repairs and replacements should be made

Misconception 1. If you have attended a training course you are a competent rigger.

Training is only one part of being competent to carry out your job, you must also be adequately qualified and have sufficient experience.

Misconception 2. Plate Clamps can be used at all temperatures without affecting their capabilities or application.

Temperature ranges can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and must be confirmed by the user. The manufacturers specifications must be reviewed prior to use.

Misconception 3. The thickness of material being lifted does not matter as long as you stay within the ranges marked on the plate clamp.

Some clamps can lift material thicknesses from zero up to the maximum jaw width, but some clamps are restricted to a minimum thickness. Usually as the WLL of the clamp increases the minimum thickness of material it can lift increases. 

Misconception 4. Plate clamps have no minimum weight requirements as long as the jaw is able to grip the material and is within its maximum rating.

Plate clamps are expected to have a minimum amount of weight attached to them when lifting to ensure the jaw engages correctly. This minimum rating can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, the manufacturers specifications must be reviewed prior to the plate clamps use.

Misconception 5. Plate clamps can be used at various horizontal angles when attached to the load.

Universal Plate Clamps are designed to be used at all angles, but not rated at full WLL for all angles. As the clamp is used away from the vertical the rating of the clamp will reduce. How much it reduces at the various angles may differ from one manufacturer to another.

Misconception 6. Load material does not matter.

Plate clamps are designed with a variety of teeth patterns so they can be used on a variety of different materials. There is no clamp that is suitable for all materials as some teeth may not grip some materials safely and others may damage the material they are lifting. 

Misconception 7. Plate clamps can lift multiple plates at the same time.

The majority of plate clamps are not designed to lift multiple plates, as it is impossible to ensure the plates will not slip out from between each other when being lifted.

Misconception 8. Plate Clamps are rated at both vertical and horizontal angles.

Some "universal" plate clamps can lift in both the horizontal and vertical planes, but many plate clamps can only be used for vertical applications.

Misconception 9. Plate Clamps are designed for flipping loads.

Many plate clamps cannot be used for flipping loads as they are restricted to vertical lifting only. Consult the manufacturer specifications for limitations of the plate clamp being utilized.   

Misconception 10. Plate Clamps are designed for vertical lifts only.

Some plate clamps are only designed for vertical lifts but this is not always the case. Some "universal" plate clamps can lift in both the horizontal and vertical planes, consult the manufacturer for the plate clamp limitations.  

Misconception 11. There is no maximum amount of tooth wear.

The teeth along with the camsegment in the jaw are what grips the material being lifted, the amount of wear allowed on these is strictly governed and needs to be monitored. In some cases the allowable amount of wear is as little as 50% of one tooth.

Misconception 12. Plate Clamps can be used without consulting the manufacturers specifications.

The operator shall be instructed in the use of the device by a designated person. Instructions should include the manufacturer's suggested operating procedures. It is an operators responsibility to understand the lifting device's functions and limitations as well as its particular operating characteristics