The Australian Standards 2550.10-2006 (Extract)
The following is meant, as an aid and further advice should be sort to clarify some of the misconceptions in the market place regarding the timing of inspections for Elevating Work Platforms.
Routine Inspection (quarter or 90day)
Routine inspection and maintenance shall be based upon the working environment, the frequency and severity of use, while the MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) is in service. The inspection shall be carried out at no more than three-monthly intervals unless the MEWP is not in-service.
The inspection shall include all items specified in instructions written in accordance with this Standard for routine inspections.
Periodic Inspection (annual)
A program of periodic inspection shall be carried out. The frequency of periodic inspection shall be based on the working environment and the frequency and severity of use of the MEWP. For all MEWP’s that remain in-service, the inspection interval shall not exceed 12 months.
Enhanced Periodic Inspection
After the first 5 years of service, and every 5 years thereafter, periodic inspections shall be structured to ensure all critical components are inspected, and tested where appropriate within a 5-year period. The scheduling of components for inspection and testing shall be based on the MEWP’s operational history and anticipated future usage, and the criticality and condition of the component. The schedule shall be recorded and updated when altered.
Inspection of the critical components may be deferred till the end of the 5th year of the program, in which case the MEWP shall be subjected to a major inspection.
The sequence of inspection may be altered based on the MEWP’s usage, providing all critical components are inspected in the 5-year period.
Major Inspection
The following categories of MEWP’s shall be subjected to a major inspection and associated maintenance:
1. MEWP’s where the enhanced periodic inspection regime has not been carried out and the MEWP have been in use for a period of ten years
2. MEWP’s that are to be re-commissioned or imported, and that do not have previous continuous working records and maintenance records as specified in AS2550.10-2006 clause 6.6
3. MEWP’s subjected to a 10 year major inspection and have experienced 5 years subsequent use.
The major inspection shall involve examination of those critical components identified by the manufacturer or a competent person. Where necessary, the MEWP shall be stripped down and paint, grease, and corrosion removed from critical components to allow a complete and thorough inspection.
Our interpretation of the standard is as follows,
The standards state that the full list of critical inspections as specified by the manufacturer must be done within a ten-year period. In the past we have completed many major inspections at the ten-year mark, doing all the checks in one large inspection. The new interpretation of the standard has suggested, breaking up the list of checks over a ten-year period and spreading out the cost and down time.
For example-Inspecting critical components such as the slew bearing, chains and sheaves are similar to servicing items such as your cars gearbox or air conditioner, these are not checked every service but are on a schedule to be checked at say 30,000 kms. Only the equipment manufacturer can give the inspection intervals for your unit, and each make and model has its own list of critical items and examination times.
At Access Service Australia, we conduct the normal quarterly or 90 day servicing on all brands of equipment this is a simple check over. Annual servicing is done once a year in place of the quarterly service; it includes additional items, which need to be done once a year such as replacing the hydraulic filters.
The new Enhanced inspection done at the Annual Service includes the Annual Service and a few more additional items as specified by the manufacturer, it can have any number of Enhanced Inspections during the ten year cycle to abide with the manufacturers instructions. If though at the tenth year none of the enhanced inspections have been done, then a ten year major inspection must be preformed to catch up the items missed.
