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Inspections

1.5 hours

Learning Objectives

  • •List the pre-shift inspection items required for a pile driving rig under 230 CMR 6.00 and OSHA 1926.603
  • •Describe the inspection schedule and documentation requirements for derricks under OSHA 1926.1436
  • •Identify the removal-from-service criteria for wire rope, boiler components, and rigging hardware
  • •Explain the process for documenting and reporting equipment defects found during inspection

Topics Covered

  • •Daily (pre-shift) inspection required by 520/230 CMR 6.09: all pile driving equipment inspected before start of work
  • •Pile driving inspection items: leads, stop blocks, hammer, cushions, hoses/safety chains, boiler/pressure vessel, steam/air lines
  • •Steam and air hose safety chain: at least 1/4-inch diameter chain or cable securing each steam or air hose to the hammer
  • •Two shutoff valves required on steam lines to the hammer: one must be a quick-acting lever type within easy reach of the operator
  • •Boiler inspections: must meet ASME Power Boilers (Section I) standards; annually certified
  • •Derrick daily inspection: check guy tension, wire rope, shackles, hook, blocks, boom connections, mast foot
  • •Derrick annual inspection: gudgeon pin (cracks, wear, distortion); foundation support capacity
  • •Cableway inspection: track cable condition and sag, traction cable, carriage wheels and connections, tower anchorage
  • •Wire rope removal criteria: 6 broken wires in one lay (running rope); rope diameter reduction; kinking; bird-caging; corrosion
  • •Chain sling inspection: stretch (>3% elongation), cracks, nicks, gouges, deformed links — remove from service
  • •Hook inspection: throat opening, twist, cracks; latch must function properly
  • •Documentation: defects found must be logged; unsafe equipment must be tagged out and repaired before use
  • •Tag-out procedure: equipment with known defects must be tagged "Do Not Operate" and removed from service
  • •Return to service: only after defect is corrected and verified by a competent person

Resources

OSHA 29 CFR 1926.603 — Pile Driving Equipment

osha

Required

OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1413 — Wire Rope Inspection

osha

Required

OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1436 — Derricks

osha

Self-Check Questions

Question 1: Under 230 CMR 6.09, how frequently must all pile driving equipment be inspected?

  1. A. Weekly
  2. B. Monthly
  3. C. Daily before the start of work(correct)
  4. D. After each pile is driven
Show Explanation

Explanation:

230 CMR 6.09 requires daily inspection of all pile driving equipment before work begins. The licensed operator is responsible for conducting and documenting this inspection, and unsafe conditions must be corrected before any operation begins.

Question 2: OSHA 1926.603 requires steam or air hoses on pile driving equipment to be secured to the hammer with a minimum chain or cable diameter of:

  1. A. 1/8 inch
  2. B. 3/16 inch
  3. C. 1/4 inch(correct)
  4. D. 3/8 inch
Show Explanation

Explanation:

OSHA 1926.603 requires at least 1/4-inch diameter chain or cable to secure steam and air hoses to the hammer, preventing whipping if the hose joint fails. This minimum size is a frequently tested specific number.

Question 3: A steam line to a pile driving hammer requires how many shutoff valves, and what type must one of them be?

  1. A. One valve, any type
  2. B. Two valves; one must be a quick-acting lever type within easy reach of the operator(correct)
  3. C. Two valves; both must be ball valves
  4. D. Three valves; one must be remotely operated
Show Explanation

Explanation:

OSHA 1926.603 requires two shutoff valves on steam lines, and one must be a quick-acting lever type within easy reach of the operator so the line can be shut immediately in an emergency.

Question 4: During a pre-shift inspection of a guy derrick, you notice one guy wire has visible kinking. What is the correct action?

  1. A. Straighten the kink and continue operations
  2. B. Reduce the load to 75% of rated capacity
  3. C. Remove the rope from service and replace it before operations begin(correct)
  4. D. Tag the rope and inspect it again at the end of the shift
Show Explanation

Explanation:

Kinking is a removal-from-service condition. A kinked rope has permanently damaged internal wire geometry — its strength is compromised even after straightening. Replace the rope before any operations proceed.

Question 5: A derrick hook shows that the throat opening has spread by more than 15% from its original dimension. What action is required?

  1. A. The hook is acceptable if no cracks are visible
  2. B. The hook must be removed from service immediately(correct)
  3. C. The hook can be used for loads up to 50% of its rated capacity
  4. D. Reduce the hook's rating and stamp the new capacity on it
Show Explanation

Explanation:

A hook with a throat opening spreading beyond 15% of the original size is deformed and must be removed from service. Deformed hooks cannot be rerated or repaired in the field — replace the hook.

Question 6: Equipment with a defect found during inspection must be:

  1. A. Repaired when convenient, but may continue operating at reduced capacity
  2. B. Tagged "Do Not Operate" and removed from service until the defect is corrected and verified by a competent person(correct)
  3. C. Only restricted from use if the defect involves the load-bearing system
  4. D. Reported to the DOL within 24 hours but may continue operating
Show Explanation

Explanation:

Any unsafe defect found in inspection requires an immediate tag-out and removal from service. The equipment may not return to service until the defect is corrected and a competent person verifies it is safe to operate.

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