LEEA Lifting Accessories Diploma

• The LEEA's Lifting Accessories Diploma is a globally recognized standard for lifting equipment personnel.
• The diploma is essential for:
• Testers
• Inspectors
• Examiners
• Repairers
• Maintainers
• It is required for those responsible for assessing lifting equipment for statutory examinations.

Unit 1 Core Areas

• Working on-site
• Examiners' tools and equipment
• Types of examinations
• Slinging Accessories

Unit 2 LAC Diploma Topics

• Non-fixed load attachments
• Recommended further reading and resources

Learning Outcomes

• Students gain knowledge to perform thorough examinations of lifting accessories.
• Students will validate the fitness of lifting accessories for continued service.
• Students learn to apply necessary conditions during examinations.
• Students can use information from various sources to analyze lifting equipment suitability.

Working On-Site

• Professionals in the lifting equipment industry are expected to mitigate risks and ensure safety.
• Maintaining the highest professional standards is paramount.
• Competence in technical abilities and service standards is expected.
• LEEA's goal is to eliminate accidents, injuries, and fatalities in the lifting and height safety industries.
• A LEEA Diploma in Lifting Accessories (Global) and a TEAM Card are awarded after training.
• TEAM Card holders perform to the best of their ability meeting LEEA's 'competent person' standards.
• LEEA encourages using member companies with qualified individuals for safe lifting equipment handling.

Examiner/Inspector/Tester Responsibilities

• Lifting equipment examiners/inspectors/testers employed by LEEA members share a responsibility to continue raising standards in the lifting equipment industry.

Pre-Job Information

• Before going to a customer's site, pause and consider important factors.

Representing Your Employer

• Ensuring a professional representation of your employer involves answering key questions.

Reporting and Signing In

• Essential steps include signing in, meeting contacts, exchanging information, agreeing on terms, and establishing communication.

LEEA Expectations

• LEEA members represent the highest industry standards.
• Serving as ambassadors for their company and profession.
• Personal behaviors should be exemplary.
• Competencies are maintained through continuous professional development (CPD).

During the Job Considerations

• Examination area should be clean and free of contaminants.
• Ensure adequate equipment access.
• Equipment should be reasonably clean, as well as having the means to clean local areas.
• Examiners need visual aids, tools, and adequate lighting.

During the work tasks

• Conduct a job safety analysis/risk assessment, recording any changes.
• Determine if a work permit is required.
• Confirm equipment identity against the worksheet instruction.
• Isolation (lock-out/tag-out) and cordoning off the work area as necessary.
• Toolbox talks, talk to equipment operators

Equipment Information

• Accurate recording of equipment information (location, serial numbers, ID, safety marking) must be done.
• All findings and defects must be detailed in the report.
• Area safety must be maintained by being aware of all surroundings
• JSA/risk assessment may need changes if new control measures are needed due to changing hazards.

Sign Off Meetings

• Pre-arranging a sign-off meeting with the customer is important to ensure:
• Checks on work area, and customer satisfaction
• Availability for presenting report summary
• Removal of work permits and control measures
• The Customer to carry out checks on the equipment

Completing the Job: Returning Equipment

• Put isolated equipment back into service.
• Replace all machinery guards.
• Conduct post-examination running and operational checks.
• Determine if color-coding is needed.
• Stow equipment in designated, safe areas.
• Remove barriers and signs from cordoned areas.

Communication After Job Completion

• Inform equipment users about completed work and return to service.
• Safety-critical issues are to be included with your recommendation to the owner.
• For equipment removal from service, quarantine and mark "DO NOT USE".
• List repairs needed and a timeline for completion.

Debrief and Exit

• A debrief meeting should be held to present the report summary.
• Customer satisfaction must be ensured before site departure.

Tools

• Examiners/inspectors/testers require hand tools for visual checks of lifting accessories.
• Selections of tools depends on the nature of the job.
• Broader tool requirements include access equipment like MEWP, scaffolding.
• Tools required may also include for hoisting/lowering spares, and cleaning/testing equipment.

Equipment and Training

• Proper training and PPE usage are required when using all supplied equipment.
• Maintenance of hand and power tools should be done so they are safe and operable

Measuring Equipment

• Calibration of measuring equipment should be done in accordance with relevant standards and verified by LEEA during compliance audits.

Lighting

• Well-lit inspection areas (natural or artificial light) so defects can be identified.
• Use of torches or portable lighting may be required.

Cleaning

• Inspection areas should be clean and free of contaminants.
• Basic cleaning materials (rags, brush, PH neutral fluids) are recommended so that items being inspected are clean.

Additional safety

• Data sheets and chemical warnings must be followed for any product during JSA/risk assessments.

Types of Examination

• There are 3 levels of inspection:
  • Pre-Use Inspection
  • Interim Inspection
  • Thorough Examination

Pre-Use Inspection Details

• Carried out by the operator before using equipment.
• Operator visually checks for defects or damage.
• Issues must be reported to maintenance/inspection personnel before operation.

Interim Inspection

• Determined by risk assessment (frequency and extent).
• Focuses on critical components that may become problematic.
• Frequency determined by risk assessment and manufacturer's literature.
• Often done with planned maintenance or after repairs.

Thorough Examination Details

• Visual examination by a competent person.
• Supplemented by testing and measurements.
• Verifies equipment's fitness for continued service.
• Checks equipment suitability and the inspection/maintenance regime.
• A safety net to identify inadequacies in inspection/maintenance.
• Root cause of defects should be investigated and rectified.

Testing Notes

• The term 'testing' includes proof load testing, operational testing at lower loads, non-destructive testing.
• The period between thorough examinations should be established by a competent person by the statutory requirements.
• Thorough examinations are done after installation and after unusual events like repairs, collisions, etc.
• Examinations should identify potential dangers and advise on appropriate action.

Defined Examination Scope

• Regardless of the type of examination, competent persons should work to a predefined scope.
• The predefined scope should be clear with acceptance/rejection criteria for assessing equipment fitness.
• Examiners must account for items such as:

Inspection Intervals

• Specifies intervals for examination in accordance with laws/reports.
• Intervals should reflect anticipated deterioration and failure risks.
• Scope of examination should be specific.
• Generic scopes can be written for specific models.
• The scope should include ancillary equipment like wire ropes.

Supplementary Testing

• It happens in support of thorough examination.
• Testing extent/nature determined by competent personnel
• Tests should follow manufacturer's instructions, standards, and regulations.
• Test areas require caution to protect personnel/property.
• Load testing should have clear area for lifting and moving test weights.

Testing

• Common tests to supplement examination include:
• Operation testing
• SWL & deflection tests
• Proof load testing
• Light load testing
• Calibration checks
• Insulation and continuity testing
• Pressure tests
• Non destructive testing

Documentation

• After each examination, complete a formal report and record.
• Examiners should record data on the job on paperwork .
• Contemporary records should be dated and kept for reference.
• If the report is authenticated by another, the record is available to verify accuracy.
• The user should be notified of defects for action/prevention; if it is an danger, prevent further use.

Textile Slings: Fibre Ropes

• Fiber rope slings are less popular these days
• Fiber rope slings are in general service but is still used in the maritime industry

Composition

• Slings are produced from cut lengths of 3, 4 or 8 strand rope which is then hand spliced.
• They are bulky, rough, and create a hard contact point with the load.
• Rope slings are less pliable than other types of textile slings

Identificaiton

• International system of colour-coded labels are helpful
• Uses visual identifiers

3 strand 'hawser' laid rope

• Constructed from three strands of yarns spun from fibres.
• The strands are twisted together (laid) in right hand lay; this is known as a 'Z' direction of lay.

8 strand 'plaited' rope

• Constructed from eight strands of yarns spun from fibres.
• The strands are laid together in pairs, each alternative pair consisting of two left hand (‘S’ twist) strands and two right hand (‘Z’ twist) strands respectively.
• The eight strands contain the same number of yarns as the three strand rope of equivalent size.
• Weights and breaking strengths of both constructions are the same size for size.

Fiber rope sling

• A flexible sling, comprising one or more parts of identical fibre rope, terminating in spliced eyes with or without thimbles and fittings, or in the case of an endless sling, joined to itself with a splice.

Multi-leg sling

• Fiber rope sling assembly, consisting of two, three or four identical legs attached to a master link.

Splicing Requirements

• All splicing to be done by trained/competent splicers and comply with the following in short splices using 3 and 4 strands laid ropes:
• All tucks of the splice shall be against the lay of the rope
• For polyamide, polyester multifilament ropes & polypropylene monofilament ropes, either five full tucks shall be made; alternatively, four full tucks with all of the yarns in the strands.
• Shall be made, followed by a further tuck with not more than half of the material cut out of each strand and a final tuck with not less than a quarter of the original strand material
• For polypropylene fibrillated film/staple ropes and natural fibre ropes, make not less than four full tucks, each with all yarns in the strands

Splices

• The ‘Liverpool splice’ should not be used because it is unsafe and can easily come apart.
• The length between splices is that it had to be 20 x rope diameter

Thimbles and Fittings Standards

• Thimbles used to form thimble, or hard, eyes, shall follow the standard and have corrosion resistant finish.
• Steel thimbles should have plating/galvanization for corrosion resistance.
• Thimble (hard) eyes for fibre rope slings is something that is recommended.
• Using heart-shaped thimbles will prevent the sling from being used in the choke hitch.
• Soft eyes / thimbles of a shape and size suitable for reeving may be used