If you’re in the market for lifting equipment for sale, understanding South Africa’s lifting equipment usage regulations before you make a purchase will go a long way to improving your operations’ safety and ensuring compliance.
The majority of these regulations are governed by the Driven Machinery Regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
We break down South Africa’s lifting equipment usage regulations below.
Operator Training And Certification
Anyone operating lifting equipment must receive the necessary training relevant to the type of machine they will be using. Some equipment might require the operator to hold a certificate from an accredited training provider, as stipulated in the National Code of Practice for Training Providers of Lifting Machine Operators.
Regular Inspection And Testing
All lifting machines that are actively being used, as well as any associated equipment, need to undergo thorough examinations and performance tests by a certified lifting machinery inspector before their initial use. Further inspections are required every 12 months.
Additional inspections are required if the machine has been disassembled and reassembled at any stage for maintenance or refurbishment purposes.
Load Indicators And Limiting Devices
Any power-driven lifting machine with a lifting capacity of more than 5,000 kg must be equipped with load indicators that display the mass of the load being lifted. Plus, load-limiting devices need to be installed to automatically prevent the machine from lifting loads that exceed its safe working capacity.
Maintaining Records
Anyone using lifting equipment needs to maintain thorough and detailed records of the machine’s performance tests, examinations, modifications, and any repairs that have been carried out over its lifespan.
These records should be readily available upon inspection and are necessary if the machine is involved in an accident. Having the right records on hand could make or break your case in terms of culpability in the event that your lifting equipment is involved in an accident.
If you’re looking for lifting equipment for sale, Sterling Access offers safe, reliable models to suit multiple purposes. Take a closer look at our lifting equipment range or get in touch with us now to find out more.
