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Who should inspect wire ropes and when? - Only trained personnel should carry out an inspection of wire ropes.
- Inspect a wire rope when installing it.
- Inspect wire ropes every working day.
- Keep records of daily inspections.
- Check for abrasions, corrosion, pitting, and lubrication inside rope. Insert a marlin spike beneath two strands and rotate to lift strands and open rope.
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| When should you eliminate the rope from its use? Assess the condition of the rope at the section showing the most wear. Discard a wire rope if you find any of the following conditions: - In running ropes (wound on drums or passed over sheaves), 6 or more broken wires in one lay length; 3 or more broken wires in one strand in one lay.
- In pendant standing ropes, 3 or more broken wires in one lay length.
- Wear of 1/3 of the original diameter of individual outside wires.
- Kinking, crushing, cutting or unstranding, bird caging or other physical damaged that has distorted the shape of the wire rope.
- Heat damage (check for burn marks, discoloration of the metal).
- Excessive stretch or sharp reduction in the rope diameter.
- Knots or splices (except eye splices) in a wire rope.
What can cause a wire rope break? - Wear on areas in contact with hoist sheaves and drums.
- Corrosion from lack of lubrication and exposure to heat or moisture (e.g., wire rope shows signs of pitting). A fibre core rope will dry out and break at temperatures above 120°C (250°F).
- Fatigue from repeated bending even under normal operating conditions.
- Overloading the safe working load limit. Follow manufacturers' charts.
- Mechanical abuse - crushing, cutting or dragging of rope.
- Kinks from improper installation of new rope, sudden release of a load or knots made to shorten a rope. A kink cannot be removed without creating a weak section. Discarding kinked rope is best.
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Document last updated on April 16, 1998
Copyright ©1997-2008 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety
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