R 408.14923 Inspections; records; removal from service; proof testing.

Rule 4923. (1) In addition to the inspection prescribed by R 408.14912, an employer shall designate an employee to make a thorough periodic inspection of an alloy steel chain sling in use on a regular basis. An employer shall determine the regularity of inspection based on all of the following factors: (a) Frequency of sling use. (b) Severity of service conditions. (c) Nature of lifts being made. (d) Experience gained on the service life of slings used in similar circumstances. The designated employee shall inspect an alloy steel chain sling at least once every 12 months. (2) The employer shall make and maintain a record of the most recent month in which each alloy steel chain sling was thoroughly inspected and shall make the record available for examination. (3) The employee designated to make the inspection of an alloy steel chain sling shall make a thorough inspection for all of the following: (a) Wear. (b) Defective welds. (c) Deformation. (d) An increase in length beyond acceptable limits established in this part. If the defects or deteriorations are present, then the designated employee shall immediately remove the sling from service. (4) The employer shall ensure that, before use, each new, repaired, or reconditioned alloy steel chain sling, including all welded components in the sling assembly, is proof-tested by the sling manufacturer in accordance with ASME B-30.9 “Slings,” 1990 edition, as adopted in R 408.14901. (5) The employer shall retain a certificate of the proof test and shall make it available for examination. (6) If the chain size at any point of the link is less than that stated in Table 1, the employer shall remove the chain from service. TABLE 1 MINIMUM ALLOWABLE CHAIN SIZE AT ANY POINT OF LINK Chain size (inches) Minimum allowable chain size (inches) 1/4 13/64 3/8 19/64 1/2 25/64 5/8 31/64 3/4 19/32 7/8 45/64 1 13/16 1 1/8 29/32 1 1/4 1 1 3/8 1-3/32 1 1/2 1-3/16 1 3/4 1-13/32