New ISO Standards on crane inspections

Standards New Zealand Media Release

8 June 2009

New ISO Standards on crane inspections to lift the safety level of cranes worldwide

Newly published International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standards on crane inspections aim to reduce the potential danger involved in the operation of cranes, reduce the risk of accidents to those people involved in a lifting operation and those in the vicinity, and to reduce the risk of damage to property.

These ISO Standards, and related cranes Standards referenced in the Department of Labour Approved Code of Practice for Cranes, are available from Standards New Zealand.

Competency requirements for crane inspectors

Cranes – Competency requirements for crane inspectors, ISO 23814:2009, specifies the competency required of persons who carry out periodic, exceptional, alteration, and thorough inspections of cranes. The Standard aims to achieve a uniformly high competency of crane inspectors worldwide. In some countries, there may be additional regulatory requirements that must also be taken into account.

Crane inspections

To ensure cranes are operated safely, their proper working and operational conditions need to be maintained. Therefore, all cranes are required to undergo inspections to detect deviations from safe conditions so they can be put right. The inspections are the responsibility of crane users or owners.

• Cranes – Inspections – Part 1: General, ISO 9927-1:2009, specifies the inspections to be carried out on cranes, excluding inspections carried out prior to first use. It covers inspection, methods of inspection, inspection personnel, precautions for inspection, and results of inspection.

• Cranes – Inspections – Part 3: Tower cranes, ISO 9927-3:2005, specifies the regular inspections to be carried out on tower cranes. It covers daily inspections, frequent inspections, periodic inspections, and thorough inspections.

Department of Labour Approved Code of Practice for Cranes

An Approved Code of Practice for Cranes is available from the Department of Labour website, http://www.osh.govt.nz/order/catalogue/crane-acop2001.shtml. It references the following New Zealand, joint Australia/New Zealand, and ISO Standards:

AS/NZS 1170.2:2002 Structural design actions – Wind actions.

NZS 1170.5:2004 Structural design actions – Earthquake actions.

AS/NZS 1554 Structural steel welding set.

ISO 4309:2004 Cranes – Wire ropes – Care, maintenance, installation, examination and discard.

ISO 8083:2006 Machinery for forestry – Falling-object protective structures (FOPS) – Laboratory tests and performance requirements.

NZS 4711:1984 Qualification tests for metal-arc welders.

NZS/AS 2359.1:1995 Powered industrial trucks – General requirements.

NZS/BS 2573.1:1983 Rules for the design of cranes – Specification for classification, stress calculations and design criteria for structures.

NZS/BS 2573.2:1980 Rules for the design of cranes – Specification for classification, stress calculations and design of mechanisms.

You can order these Standards from the Standards New Zealand website www.standards.co.nz – enter the number of the Standard as the keyword in the search panel. Hard copies of Australian and British Standards referenced in the Approved Code of Practice for Cranes can also be ordered from Standards New Zealand by emailing enquiries@standards.co.nz or calling 0800 782 632 during business hours.

Standards New Zealand members receive a 20% discount. For information on becoming a Standards New Zealand member, email membership@standards.co.nz or call 0800 735 656 during business hours.

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