When you operate cranes, hoists or slings, the margin for error is razor-thin. A missed defect can halt production—or worse, cause a catastrophic incident. To stay compliant, protect your people and keep equipment uptime high, you need a rock-solid lifting-gear inspection program.
Below you’ll find a practical, step-by-step guide that maps out what regulators expect and what frontline teams actually need in the field. We’ll also show where Inspectionstrack—our oil-and-gas-ready inspection software—fits in.
Safety first: Rigging failures rank among the top five causes of lifting-related injuries.
Cost control: Detecting wear early costs pennies compared with unplanned shutdowns or liability claims.
Bottom line: Frequent, well-documented inspections lower risk, trim downtime and strengthen your safety culture.
Core Regulations at a Glance
Standard
Scope
Typical Frequency
Record-Retention Rule
LOLER 1998
UK lifting operations & gear
6 or 12 months*
Keep until next exam + 2 years
OSHA 1910.184
US wire-rope, chain & synthetic slings
Daily visual + Annual thorough
No explicit term, but “readily available”
API RP 2D
Offshore pedestal cranes
Pre-use + Quarterly
Life of the crane
ISO 23813
Mobile cranes
Per manufacturer / risk-based
Life of the equipment
*Six months for personnel-lifting gear; twelve for general lifting.
Key Lifting Gear Inspection Requirements
1. Pre-Use Checks
Visual scan for cracks, distortion or illegible tags
Function test of brakes, limit switches and overload devices
Verification of SWL (Safe Working Load) markings
2. Periodic Thorough Examinations
Non-destructive testing (NDT) of hooks and shackles
Pull or proof-load tests on chains and wire ropes
Lubrication analysis for gearbox internals
Tip: Use color-coded tags or QR-coded stickers so riggers instantly know when the next exam is due.
3. Competent Person Requirement
Regulations insist on a competent person—someone with the knowledge, training and experience to detect defects and assess risk. Document their credentials; auditors will ask.
4. Records & Traceability
Keep certificates, defect logs and repair evidence in one place. Inspectors often cite missing paperwork even when the hardware is flawless.
Are You Inspection-Ready? Quick-Fire Checklist
Requirement
Common Gap
Action to Close
Latest regulation applied
Outdated LOLER/OSHA clauses
Review yearly against standards updates
Competent-person proof
CVs in personal inboxes
Centralize approvals in company drive or Inspectionstrack
Digital photo evidence
Not captured in the field
Mandate photo upload per checklist item
Next-due date alerts
Spreadsheet misses renewals
Set automated reminders in Inspectionstrack
How Inspectionstrack Accelerates Compliance
Inspectionstrack is purpose-built for high-stakes oil & gas lifting operations:
Mobile Checklists: Rig personnel capture photos, notes and signatures—online or offline.
Auto-Scheduling: The system assigns next-due dates based on LOLER, OSHA or your own risk-based interval.
Instant Dashboards: Supervisors spot overdue gear in seconds.
One-Click Reports: Generate auditor-ready certificates without chasing paper trails.
Result: You spend less time on admin and more time ensuring the gear is 100 % fit for purpose.
Common Pitfalls & How to Dodge Them
“We’ll fix it later” culture Solution: Enforce stop-work authority; empower crews to quarantine suspect gear.
Paper-first record-keeping Solution: Migrate to digital forms; link each asset’s history in Inspectionstrack.
Unclear ownership Solution: Assign inspection responsibility by asset category and track KPIs publicly.
Conclusion
Being inspection-ready isn’t just a regulatory checkbox—it’s a competitive advantage that keeps projects on schedule and crews safe. Start with the essentials: conduct thorough checks at the right frequency, document everything, and empower a competent person to call the shots. Then supercharge the process with Inspectionstrack’s digital toolkit.
Ready to eliminate guesswork and ace your next audit? 👉 Book a live demo of Inspectionstrack and see how effortless lifting-gear compliance can be.
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