Powered Platforms

Chapter 296-870, WAC

Effective Date: 01/01/07
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WAC 296-870-300

Inspection, Testing and Maintenance

 For printing

Your Responsibility

To make sure powered platforms are inspected, tested, and maintained to keep them in safe operating position

Maintenance

WAC 296-870-30005

Initial installation and after major modification inspection and testing

WAC 296-870-30010

Before use inspections and tests

 WAC 296-870-30015
Periodic inspections and tests WAC 296-870-30020
Reshackling and resocketing wire ropes WAC 296-870-30025
Disabling safety or electrical protective devices WAC 296-870-30030

 

WAC 296-870-30005

Maintenance

You must

  • Make sure all parts of the equipment that affect safe operation are maintained in proper working order so they are able to perform their intended functions. This includes, but isn't limited to, all of the following.

    - Roof systems including roof track systems, tie-downs, or similar equipment
    - Building face guiding members including T-rails, indented mullions, or equivalent guides located in the face of a building
    - Brackets for cable stabilizers.

  • Take out of service any equipment that isn’t in proper working order.
  • Make sure the following parts are kept clean:

    - Control or power contacts and relays

    and

    - All other parts whose proper function would be affected by dirt or other contaminants.

WAC 296-870-30010

Initial installation and after major modification inspection and testing

You must

  • Make sure a completed powered platform installation has been inspected and tested by the building owner:

    - Before it was first placed into service

    and

    - Before it was returned to service after major modification was done.

  • Make sure the inspection and tests determined that:

    -All parts of the installation met the applicable requirements of this chapter
    and

    - All safety and operating equipment functioned as required.

WAC 296-870-30015

 

Before use inspections and tests

 

You must

 

  • Complete the inspections and tests contained in Table 1, Before Use Inspections and Tests, before allowing persons to use the platform.

 

Table 1
Before Use Inspections and Tests
What When Inspection and test requirements
Working platforms and their components
  • Before every use
    and
  • After each occurrence which might affect the platform’s structural integrity
 Inspect for visible defects
Suspension wire ropes
  • Before every use
    and
  • After each occurrence which might affect the wire rope's integrity
 Visible inspection by a competent person for defects and gross damage
Governors and secondary brakes Before use each day Test before use. If testing isn't feasible, visually inspect the brake to make sure it's free to operate
Hoists Each day before lowering personnel below the top elevation of the building Test in the lifting direction with the intended load to make sure it has sufficient capacity to raise personnel back to the boarding level



WAC 296-870-30020

Periodic inspections and tests

You must

  • Make sure the building owner has completed and documented the periodic inspections and tests shown in Table 2.
  • Make sure any documentation required by Table 2, Periodic Inspections and Tests, is readily available for your own review and that of the director or an authorized representative.
  • Make sure suspension wire rope is used and maintained as specified in the wire rope manufacturer’s recommended procedures.
  • Remove from service a wire rope that has any of the following:

    • - Broken wires exceeding three wires in one strand or 6 wires in one rope lay

    - Distortion of rope structure such as would result from crushing or kinking

    - Evidence of heat damage

    - Evidence of rope deterioration from corrosion

    - A broken wire within 18 inches (460.8 mm) of the end attachments

    - Noticeable rusting and pitting

    - Evidence of core failure. This could be indicated by a lengthening of rope lay, protrusion of the rope core and a reduction in rope diameter

    - More than one valley break (broken wire)

    - Outer wire wear exceeds 1/3 of the original outer wire diameter

    - Any other condition which the competent person determines has significantly affected the integrity of the rope.

Table 2
Before Use Inspections and Tests
What to inspect When to inspect Inspection and test requirements Building owner documentation
Related building supporting structures Intervals not exceeding 12 months Inspection by a competent person

Keep a certification record of each inspection and test that includes all of the following:

- Date of the inspection

- Signature of the person who performed the inspection

- Number, or other identifier, of the building support structure and equipment which was inspected
All parts of the equipment including control systems

Intervals specified by the manufacturer or supplier, but not to exceed 12 months

Inspection and test, where necessary, by a competent person to determine:

- They are in safe operating condition and

- Parts subject to wear, such as wire ropes, bearings, gears, and governors have not worn to such an extent as to affect the safe operation of the installation

 

 
Working platfrom
  • Every 30 days

    or

  • Before each work cycle if the work cycle is more than 30 days
 Maintenance inspection and test by a competent person following procedures recommended by the manufacturer

Keep a certification record of each inspection and test that includes all of the following:

- Date of the inspection and test

- Signature of the person who performed the inspection and test

- An identifier for the platform installation which was inspected
Governors and secondary brakes Intervals specified by the manufacturer or supplier, but not to exceed 12 months

Inspection and test by a competent person. Results need to confirm:

- The initiating device for the secondary braking system operates at the proper overspeed

and

- The secondary brake is functioning properly

If any hoisting machine or initiating device for the secondary brake system is removed from the equipment for testing, reinspect all reinstalled and directly related components before returning the equipment installation to service

 

 

 
Suspension wire ropes
  • Once a month for ropes in service

and

  • Before they are returned to service for ropes that have been out of service for 30 days or more
 A thorough inspection by a competent person

Keep a certification record of each monthly inspection that includes all of the following:

- Date of the inspection

- Signature of the person who performed the inspection

- Number, or other identifier, of the wire rope which was inspected



WAC 296-870-30025

Reshackling and resocketing wire ropes

You must

  • Make sure the nondrum ends of hoisting wire ropes are reshackled or, if the rope uses poured socket fastenings, resocketed at intervals not exceeding 24 months.
  • Make sure enough rope is cut from the end of the rope during reshackling or resocketing to remove any damaged or fatigued portions.
  • Make sure resocketed ropes meet the requirements of Suspension wire ropes and rope connections, WAC 296-870-70085.
  • Make sure limit switches affected by resocketed ropes are reset if necessary.

WAC 296-870-30030

Disabling safety or electrical protective devices

You must

  • Make sure no person renders any required safety devices or electrical protective devices inoperative unless necessary for tests, inspections, or maintenance.
  • Restore any disabled devices to normal operating condition immediately after the test, inspection or maintenance is completed.