Gondola (Suspended Working Platform) Inspection, Examination And Test
Prior to commencement of daily work, all the suspension ropes and safety ropes should be inspected by a competent person. he ropes should be in safe working condition before they are put into use.
MaintainX
03/07/2023
Gondola (Suspended Working Platform) Inspection, Examination And Test
Prior to commencement of daily work, all the suspension ropes and safety ropes should be inspected by a competent person. he ropes should be in safe working condition before they are put into use.
Inspection by Competent Person
Prior to commencement of daily work, all the suspension ropes and safety ropes should be inspected by a competent person (regulation 19(2) of the SWPR). The ropes should be in safe working condition before they are put into use. The inspection should ensure that no bolts are loose or have been removed and that all connections are sound.
Every suspended working platform should be inspected in the immediately preceding 7 days before its use by a competent person. A statement to the effect that it is in safe working order should be entered into an approved form (Form 1) by the competent person (regulation 19(1) of the SWPR).
The visual and physical inspection is to find out if there are any items having abnormal wear and tear, malfunction, oil leakage, overheating, corrosion, unusual noise, dislocation, misalignment, visual cracks, overloading, abnormal slackening or elongation, and excessive vibration etc. Any defect discovered during the inspection should be recorded in the maintenance log book and thereafter effectively remedied immediately.
The inspection should cover the following:
(a) any apparent defect in the hoist mechanism, wire ropes and shackles;
(b) any abnormal function of the braking system, the automatic safety device;
(c) the condition of the outriggers, socket for the davit arm, parapet wall clamp, the tie-back;
(d) any defect in the power cable, control button, and plug;
(e) incorrect fitting of lifeline and safety harness and their anchorages; and
(f) the condition of guide rails and toe-boards of the working platform.
During the inspection, functional test of the following items should also be carried out by the competent person in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
(a) all operational control including emergency stop;
(b) communication system;
(c) manual descend facility;
(d) all limit switches;
(e) all electrical wiring and earthing component;
(f) automatic safety devices; and
(g) braking systems.
Thorough Examination by Competent Examiner
Every suspended working platform should be thoroughly examined by a competent examiner in the immediately preceding 6 months before it is put into use. A certificate in the approved form (Form 2) should be obtained from the competent examiner to certify that the suspended working platform is in safe working order (regulation 20(1) of the SWPR).
Every thorough examination of a suspended working platform should be to detect significant defects of critical parts before they result in the failure of the working platform structure, anchorage system, suspension gear or a safety device.
All critical parts of the working platform structure, anchorage system, suspension gear and safety devices should, where accessible, be examined for failures, cracks, broken members, deformation, corrosion or excessive wear.
The frame, decking, weld and other joints of the working platform structure should be closely examined for corrosion, cracks, and general deterioration.
The whole length of every wire ropes including safety ropes should be thoroughly examined for wear, damage and corrosion in order to ensure the safety of the rope system. Particular attention should be paid to tucked splices and those sections of rope lying close to terminal fittings.
When examining a winch operated suspended working platform, the working platform should be lowered to the lowest level and all parts of the rope, including those that remained spooled on the drum, should be carefully examined.
The anchorage system, including the outriggers, tie-back ropes, turnbuckles, imbedded eye-bolts, anchor bolts or other roof fixing or structure should be carefully examined for corrosion and defects.
Rollers and guide pulley should be checked to see that they are free to rotate.
All lock nuts, cotter pins and other retaining devices should be replaced if they are found to be defective or missing. All load bearing bolts should be re-tightening
All critical parts of every winch, climber and drive mechanism should be thoroughly examined, including the adjustment of all brakes if necessary.
All electrical components and earthing capacity should be checked and tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s specification by a qualified electrician
Non-destructive test should be carried out if necessary to determine or confirm whether the load bearing capacity of the suspended working platform system is adversely affected to the extent that a repair must be immediately carried out, and that the safe working load may have to be reduced.
Functional tests of the following devices should be conducted under the maximum safe working load:
(a) all operational control including emergency stop;
(b) manual descend facility;
(c) all limit switches;
(d) automatic safety devices; and
(e) braking systems
Test and Thorough Examination by a Competent Examiner
Every suspended working platform should be load tested and thoroughly examined by a competent examiner during the preceding 12 months before its use. A certificate in an approved form (Form 3) containing a statement to the effect that the suspended working platform is in safe working order made by the competent examiner should be obtained in respect of the suspended working platform after such examination (regulation 20(2) of the SWPR).
Every suspended working platform has to be further load tested and thoroughly examined by a competent examiner when the suspended working platform has subsequently undergone:
(a) substantial repair;
(b) re-erection, including erection following its removal to a different location;
(c) adjustment to any member of the suspended working platform, being an adjustment which involves changes in the arrangements for anchoring or supporting the suspended working platform; or
(d) failure or collapse.
A certificate in an approved form (Form 3) containing a statement to the effect that the suspended working platform is in safe working order made by the competent examiner should be obtained after the examination (regulation 20(3) of the SWPR).
Test Requirements
Prior to any overload test, a thorough examination by a competent examiner should be conducted as mentioned in clause 8.2 to ensure that the suspended working platform is suitable for the overload test.
Every suspended working platform should be subjected to a load test carried out at the site of installation.
The proof load for testing of a suspended working platform should be 150 per cent of the safe working load.
The proof load for testing of a rope, chain or lifting gear should be at least twice the safe working load
Where a wire rope is tested, a sample of the rope should be tested to destruction, and the safe working load should not exceed 1/8 of the breaking load of the sample tested.
Overload device function test should be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruction. The amount of overload used should be in line with the manufacturer’s recommendation.
A drop test should be carried out at the safe working load on every suspended working platform to test that the automatic safety devices are capable of stopping and holding the load at the slope of the working platform specified by the manufacturer.
Proof load test, overload device function test and operational test should be conducted at or near ground or landing level. Before conducting the tests, a thorough examination should be carried out by the competent examiner to ensure that no defective parts, malfunction of devices or loose components are present in the suspended working platform.
After the proof load test, drop test, overload device function test and operational test, the suspended working platform should be thoroughly examined by the competent examiner to ensure the safe working order of the suspended working platform. The thorough examination should include those items as stated in clause 8.2.
When conducting the tests, the area under which the test is to be carried out should be cleared of all persons. No person is allowed to remain on the working platform during the tests.
Display and Keeping of Certificate
Source: MaintainX (Community Member)