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

American Society of Mechanical Engineers B30.26-2015, Chapter 26-3 Compression Hardware

Manufacturer's specifications for the type and style of Wedge Socket.

Manufacturer's referenced standards

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

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

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

An employer must identify responsibilities for the user of Wedge Sockets

The use of Wedge Sockets 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 Wedge Sockets you are using?

A Wedge Socket body and wedge must be marked with its manufcturers name or trademark.

A Wedge Socket body and wedge must be marked with its size

A Wedge Socket body and wedge must be marked with its model, if required to match the wedge to the body.

What are the training requirements for Wedge Socket users?

How does your company monitor the training requirements for Wedge Sockets?

How have users been trained in the requirements for Wedge Sockets?

Training records should be kept to show users were trained in the requirements of Wedge Sockets

Manufacturer's specifications for the Wedge Socket must be available to users

Where are your manufacturer's specifications for the Wedge Sockets kept?

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

Have employers identified hazards associated with the use of Wedge Sockets?

Have users identified the hazards associated with the use of Wedge Sockets?

All new Wedge Sockets shall have an initial inspection completed by a designated person

Prior to and during use all Wedge Sockets shall have a frequent inspection completed by a designated person

How often are frequent inspections completed?

What must be checked on a frequent inspection?

All Wedge Sockets must have a periodic inspection completed by a designated person

How often are periodic inspections completed?

What must be checked on a periodic inspection?

How does your company identify a Wedge Socket has had a periodic inspection?

Wedge Socket identification missing

Wedge Socket identification illegable

Pitting or corrosion

How much pitting or corrosion is allowed

Bent, twisted, distorted, stretched, elongated, cracked, or broken components.

Nicks or gouges

Reduction of the original catalog dimensions

How much reduction is allowed?

Unauthorized welding or modification

Unauthorised replacement components

Insufficient number of Wire Rope Clips

Improperly tightened Wire Rope Clips

Indications of damaged wire rope

Indications of wire rope slippage

Improper assembly

Evidence of heat damage

How much heat damage is allowed?

Weld spatter or arc strikes

How much weld spatter is allowed?

Other conditions, including visible damage, that cause doubt as to continued use

Compression hardware having suitable characteristics for the type of application and environment shall be selected in accordance with the recommendations of the compression hardware manufacturer or a qualified person.

The rated load shall not be exceeded

Compression hardware that appears to be damaged shall not be used until inspected and accepted as usable

Before installing a Wedge Socket on plastic coated or plastic impregnated wire rope, consult the Wedge Socket manufacturer, wire rope manufacturer, or a qualified person

The live end of the wire rope in the wedge socket cavity shall be in alignment with the socket’s pin

The assembler shall match the proper wedge with the socket for the wire rope to be installed

Wedges shall not be interchanged between different manufacturers’ sockets or models.

The length of the dead-end tail of the wire rope shall be as required by the manufacturer or a qualified person.

The dead-end tail of the wire rope extending beyond the Wedge Socket shall be secured in a manner recommended by the Wedge Socket manufacturer or a qualified person

The dead end of the wire rope shall not be secured to the live end of the wire rope such that it restricts the movement of the live end

After assembly, the connection shall be loaded to fully seat the wedge before use.

The wedge sockets should not be side loaded.

Contact with sharp edges that could damage the Wedge Socket should be avoided.

Shock loading should be avoided.

Impacts can dislodge the wedge from the body and should be avoided.

Rigging using Wedge Sockets should not be dragged on an abrasive surface.

All portions of the human body shall be kept from between the load and any other rigging during lifting or load handling activities.

Personnel should stand clear of the suspended load.

Personnel should stand clear of rigging when it is under tension.

Personnel shall not ride rigging hardware.

Are Wedge Sockets stored correctly when not in use ?

Are Wedge Sockets subjected to mechanical damage?

Are Wedge Sockets subjected to corrosive actions?

Are Wedge Sockets subjected to extreme heat?

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.