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

American Society of Mechanical Engineers B30.21-2014, Lever Hoists.

Manufacturer's specifications for the type and style of Lever Hoist.

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

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

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

An employer must identifiy responsibilities for the user of a Lever Hoist.

The use of Lever Hoists 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 Lever Hoist you are using ?

A Lever Hoist must be marked with its rated loads

A Lever Hoists control actuators must be marked with the direction of resultant motion

A Lever Hoist must have attached product safety label or labels in compliance with ANSI Z535.4

A Lever Hoist must be marked with the manufacturer's name

A Lever Hoist must be marked with the manufacturer's model or serial number

What are the training requirements for Lever Hoist users ?

How does your company monitor the training requirements for Lever Hoists ?

How have users been trained in the requirements for Lever Hoists ?

Training records should be kept to show users were trained in the requirements of Lever Hoists

Manufacturer's specifications for the Lever Hoist must be available to users

Where are your manufacturer's specifications for the Lever Hoists kept ?

Have employers identified the hazards associated with the use of Lever Hoists ?

Have users identified the hazards associated with the use of Lever Hoists ?

Prior to initial use all, new, altered, or modified Lever Hoists shall have an initial inspection completed by a designated person.

At defined intervals all Lever Hoists shall have a frequent inspection completed by a designated person

How often are frequent inspections completed ?

All Lever Hoists must have a documented periodic inspection completed by a designated person

Records of periodic inspections must be available to users.

How does your company identify a Lever Hoists has had a periodic inspection ?

All Lever Hoists that have been idle for a period of more than one month but less than one year must be given a frequent inspection

All Lever Hoists that have been idle for a period of more than one year must be given a periodic inspection

Before the first use of each shift a Preoperational Inspection shall be performed

What must be checked on a Preoperational Inspection

Load Chain that has gouges, nicks, weld spatter, corrosion, or distorted links.

Load Chain for feeding smoothly into and away from the sprockets.

Incorrect reeving of load chain

The operator shall not operate a hoist that bears an "Out-Of-Order" sign.

The load shall not be applied to the tip of the hook.

The hoist shall not be operated unless chain is properly seated..

The operator shall not release the hoist lever until the ratchet and pawl is engaged or the brake has set, and the lever is at rest.

The operator should avoid carrying loads over people.

Preventative maintenance of Lever Hoists should be based on the recommendations outlined in the manufacturer's manual

Load chain should be kept clean and free from any coating or deposit that will build up and change the dimensions of the load chain or reduce flexibility. The cleaning process shall not damage the chain, and any solution used in the cleaning process shall be acid-free.

Load chain should be lubricated as specified by the hoist manufacturer or by a qualified person.

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. When operating a lever hoist, the operater can use as much force as required on the lever hoist handle.

Hoists shall not be operated by other than the hand-power of one operator. Hoists shall not be operaterd with an extension on the lever. Most manufactuerrs have a maximum allowable force that can be applied for full load rating to be achieved.

Misconception 3. The lever hoist chain can be wrapped around the load when lifting.

The hoist chain shall not be wrapped around the load

Misconception 4. The lever hoist chain can be used to craddle the load when lifting.

The hoist chain shall not be wrapped around the load or be used to craddle a load.

Misconception 5. If fitted with a slip clutch this is set at 100% of the rated load.

The setting of a slip clutch when fitted to a lever hoist can vary massively from manufacturer to manufacturer. It can be as high as 160% - 200% of the WLL and can vary due to use and condition of the lever hoist.

Misconception 6. Latches on the lever hoist hooks can be in the open postion when applied to a load or rigging.

When a hook is fit with a latch the latch is there to retain slings or rigging under no load conditions. Latches must be closed and must not be affected by the rigging when lifting.

Misconception 7. When using lever hoists as a balancing leg on a multiple point lift, a back up sling should be used in case of a lever hoist failure.

This is sometimes a site specific requirement but there is no legislation to say this is a requirement

Misconception 8. Lever hoists are not affected by varying temperatures.

All lever hoists are affected by temperatures and the manufacturer must be consulted to see what temperature ranges the hoist can be used within are.

Misconception 9. Lever hoists can only be used as a lifting device and not be used as a balancing leg in a multi-leg lift.

Lever hoists may be used as a balancing leg or as a sling in a multi leg lift as long as it is within its rated capacity and meets the requirements of the manufacturer as to its application. Many lever hoists have a design factor of 4:1. In cases where a 5:1 design factor is required in a multi leg lift and a lever hoist is used, the capacity of the lever hoist may have to be de-rated to achieve a 5:1 design factor.

Misconception 10. Lever hoists can be used with the hoist out of line as long as the chain is in a direct line.

The lever hoist shall not be operated until the hoist body, load block and load chain are directly in line with the direction of loading to avoid side pulling.

Misconception 11. It is acceptable to operate the lever hoist while the load is suspended when the lever hoist is being used in a multiple sling lift to balance a load.

The operator shall not apply a load to the hoist until the operator and all other personnel are clear of the load