Daily Inspections & Pre-Operational Checks
Daily inspection items - hooks, wire rope, chain, controls, brakes, limit switches, and drift testing procedures.
- List the items included in a daily overhead crane inspection
- State the criteria for removing a hook from service
- Describe wire rope inspection procedures and replacement criteria
- Explain brake drift testing and sheave groove inspection
Lesson 1
ASME B30.2 Inspection Interval Definitions
Frequent vs. Periodic Inspections
ASME B30.2 - the overhead and gantry crane standard - defines two mandatory inspection classes, each with distinct intervals, scope, and documentation requirements. The appropriate interval for each class depends on the crane's service class: normal, heavy, or severe service.
Frequent Inspection
Interval: Daily to monthly
Scope: Operational mechanisms, limit switches, pneumatic and hydraulic lines, visible wire rope wear
Who performs: Operator or designated person
Focus: Items observable without disassembly during normal operation
Periodic Inspection
Interval: 1 to 12 months depending on service class
Scope: Documented mechanical teardown, micrometer measurements of worn pins, bearings, and shafts
Additional: Analysis of electrical apparatus degradation; examination of deformed, cracked, or corroded structural members
Who performs: Qualified inspector; documented findings required
Service Class Determines Frequency
ASME B30.2 ties inspection frequency to crane service class. A crane in severe service (multiple shifts under heavy loads) requires more frequent periodic inspections - potentially monthly - than a crane in normal service that may only need annual periodic inspections. The employer determines the service class based on actual use patterns.
ASME B30.2 defines two inspection classes. Frequent inspections (daily to monthly) cover operational mechanisms, limit switches, pneumatic/hydraulic lines, and visible wire rope wear. Periodic inspections (1 to 12 months depending on service class) require documented mechanical teardown, micrometer measurements of worn parts, electrical apparatus analysis, and structural member examination. Both classes are mandatory - frequency scales with service class.