EXPERT COLUMN | LEEA
Technical Committee
ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFICATION?
Bernie Winter, from the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) Technical Services, looks into who is responsible for adding a unique identification number to an item of lifting equipment.
with tracking the equipment’s usage history, inspections and certifications. Supply legislation does not require
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a manufacturer of lifting equipment to mark a product with a unique identification unless they have specified one. Use legislation, on the other hand, requires the duty holder to have lifting equipment Inspected and/ or thoroughly examined and issued with a report, which must identify the equipment without ambiguity so that defects can be remedied efficiently. In the case where a duty holder has
many items of a similar generic form of lifting equipment it is considered best practice to give each piece its own unique identification number, which is then recorded on each thorough examination report, thus ensuring the report is traceable to the equipment without ambiguity. However, it is important to note that
there are other methods of ensuring that the equipment on a report can be identified correctly, such as location for single items, or colour coding for multiple items grouped in a specific area.
MAKING YOUR MARK An unambiguous means of identification that can be cross-referenced to the associated documentation is one of three key details marked on lifting equipment that has been satisfactorily verified in accordance with the product specification and has passed the subsequent thorough examination. The other two details are the Working
Load Limit (WLL) / Safe Working Load (SWL) or rated capacity and any other marks required by the standard being worked to and by legislation. As spelled out in LEEA’s Code of Practice
for the Safe Use of Lifting Equipment (COPSULE), which can be downloaded at
leeaint.com, suitable means for marking
20 | September 2024 |
www.hoistmagazine.com Bernie Winter.
include plates, metal tabs and textile labels. These are either permanently attached or stamped directly into the equipment, preferably in a non-load bearing or low stress area. Stamping into a stressed area may also be permissible provided that the mechanical properties of the component are not significantly impaired. Where applicable, the position and size of stamping should be as indicated in the relevant standard. When the means of marking is at risk of getting lost, additional information should be used to convey the required information. It is therefore recommended that, where appropriate, the traceable identification mark should also be placed directly onto the equipment in a low stress area, so that in the event of the original means of marking becoming detached, the identity is not lost, and the other information can be recovered from the related documentation. Should any of the required marking become obliterated or illegible, the equipment should be withdrawn from service and referred to a Competent Person for re-marking or, if necessary, for re-verification and re-marking.
t is important for lifting equipment to carry unique identification for safety, maintenance, compliance with regulations as well as to help
Where the user wishes to mark the equipment with information that is liable to change (such as plant location reference and date of examination) it is recommended that a tag is used as the frequent stamping and subsequent obliteration of stamp marks on load bearing components is detrimental and will, at best, shorten the life of the equipment. The SWL of new equipment will be in the metric units of tonnes (t) or kilograms (kg) or imperial units of Tons (T) and Pounds (lb). The generally accepted rule is that a SWL of less than one tonne or Ton are marked in kilograms or pounds respectively. Certain items of lifting equipment
are marked with a grade or quality mark, particularly where this information is required for safe use. While serial numbers are usually stamped or engraved on a nameplate or a conspicuous part of the equipment, there are several automated data capture alternatives, which will reduce manual errors. Attaching a barcode to equipment allows information to be retrieved quickly and easily by scanning the code. Quick Response (QR) codes are similar but can store more information and they can be scanned with a smartphone for easy access to data. Attaching Radio- frequency identification (RFID) tags gives access to detailed information. These tags are durable and can be read from a distance – and through obstructions. Electronic Identification Systems, such as embedded sensors and IoT (Internet of Things) technology provide real-time data on equipment status monitoring and data collection. LEEA Members wishing to submit their technical enquiries to the Technical Triage can now only do so through the LEEA chatbot, which is available on the homepage of
leeaint.com and the Connect App as the technical advice email mailbox technicaladvice@leeaint. com has now closed.
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