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

American Society of Mechanical Engineers B30.20-2018, Below the Hook Lifting Devices, Chapter 20-2 Vacuum Lifting Devices.

Manufacturer's specifications for the type and style of Vacuum Lifting Device.

Manufacturer's referenced standards

Users must be trained in the selection, inspection, cautions to personnel, effects of environments, and rigging practices associated with Vacuum Lifting Devices.

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

If a user is not competent in the selection, inspection, cautions to personnel, effects of environments, and rigging practices associated with Vacuum Lifting Devices 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 Vacuum Lifting Devices 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 Vacuum Lifting Devices?

An employer must identify responsibilities for the user of a Vacuum Lifting Devices.

The use of Vacuum Lifting Devices 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 Vacuum Lifting Device you are using?

A Vacuum Lifting Device must be marked with the manufacturer's or repairer's name and contact information

A Vacuum Lifting Device must be marked with a model number

A Vacuum Lifting Device must be marked with a serial number

A Vacuum Lifting Device must be marked with its weight

A Vacuum Lifting Device must be marked with its electrical power requirements (when applicable)

A Vacuum Lifting Device must be marked with its pressure and volume of compressed air required (when applicable)

A Vacuum Lifting Device must be marked with its rated load

A Vacuum Lifting Device must be marked with its ASME BTH-1 Design Category

A Vacuum Lifting Device must be marked with its ASME BTH-1 Service Class

A repaired Vacuum Lifting Device must be marked with its date of repair

A Vacuum Lifting Device must have attached product safety labels according to ANZI Z535.4 - 2011

Vacuum Lifting Device manual shutoff valves shall be marked to show operating position.

A Vacuum Lifting Device controls shall be clearly marked describing resulting motion or function of the lifter.

What are the training requirements for Vacuum Lifting Device users?

How does your company monitor the training requirements for Vacuum Lifting Devices?

How have users been trained in the requirements for Vacuum Lifting Devices?

Training records should be kept to show users were trained in the requirements for Vacuum Lifting Devices

Manufacturer's specifications for the Vacuum Lifting Devices must be available to users

Where are your manufacturer's specifications for the Vacuum Lifting Devices kept?

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

Have employers identified hazards associated with the use of Vacuum Lifting Devices?

Have users identified the hazards associated with the use of Vacuum Lifting Devices?

All new and reinstalled Vacuum Lifting Devices shall be inspected by a designated person prior to initial use

All altered or repaired Vacuum Lifting Devices 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 Vacuum Lifting Devices must have a documented periodic inspection completed by a designated person

How does your company identify a Vacuum Lifting Device has had a periodic inspection?

Damaged or inoperable controls

Condition of vacuum pads

Meters, indicators or pumps for proper operation and condition.

Structural members for deformation, cracks, and excessive wear.

Output of the vacuum generator

Vacuum pad seal rings that have cuts, tears, excessive wear, or presence of foreign particles.

Vacuum lines and connectors with leakage, cuts, kinks, or collapsed areas. 

Vacuum reservoirs with leaks or visual damage.

Decrease in vacuum level by more than the manufacturers specified rate 

Missing or illegible operating control markings

External evidence of looseness, wear, deformation, cracking, or corrosion.

Extermal evidence of damage to supporting structure, motors, controls, or other auxiliary components.

Missing or illegible product safety labels

Vacuum Lifting Devices shall only be operated by trained, designated persons, which includes, designated persons, trainees under the supervision of designated persons, maintenance and test personnel, and inspectors.

Rated loads cannot be exceeded

The Vacuum Lifting Device must be applied to the load in accordance with the instruction manual

Lifting ropes or chains must not be kinked or twisted

The load must be correctly distributed

The temperature of the load should not exceed the maximum allowable

Vacuum Lifing Device swinging should be kept to a minimum.

There should be no sudden acceleration or deceleration of the load

The Vacuum Lifting Device or its load must not come into contact with any obstructions

Avoid passing the load over people

Do not use the Vacuum Lifting Device to side pull or slide a load

If power is lost, workers in the vicinity must be warned, and the load landed if possible 

Vacuum lines must be free from kinks and twists, and nopt be looped or wrapped around or over moving parts

Pad contact surfaces must be clean and free of loose particles.

Before lifting the vacuum must be at the required level

Loads should be raised a few inches to establish correct application and stable vacuum levels exist for the Vacuum Lifting Device.

Vacuum Lifting Devices must be correctly stored when not in use

Suspended loads must not be left unattended

The operator shall not ride, or allow others to ride the load or lifting device

Loads must be guided to avoid endangering hands or body parts as the load is lowered, or if it drops. 

Vacuum Lifting Devices shall not be used if tagged "Out of Service" or designated as nonfunctioning

"Out of Service" tags shall not be removed without approval of the person placing them or a designated person.

Missing or illegible markings or tags shall be replaced

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

Only Qualified persons shall perform adjustments and tests

All moving parts that require lubrication as per the manufacturer should be lubricated at a frequency and level required 

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

After adjustments and repairs the Vacuum Lifting Device must not be returned to service until it has been inspected

Dated records of repairs and replacements should be made

Any hazardous condition disclosed during inspection must be corrected before normal operation of the Vacuum Lifting Device is resumed

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.