While many equipment outlets follow a 90-day inspection schedule for equipment in use in accordance with this ANSI standard, the OSHA inspection mandate for such equipment is less specific.
“Although ANSI standards are technically voluntary, it is in every company’s best interest to comply with them,” the new publication states. The document, developed by the American Rental Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, The Scaffold Industry Association, the Associated Equipment Distributors and the International Powered Access Federation, also says, “Noncompliance can equate to negligence and legal liability in the event of an injury.”
New Jersey-based Trico Lift, which helped author the document and provides equipment fleets to many process industries, has been conducting routine quarterly inspections on the company’s rentals and on customer-owned equipment in the field for more than 10 years. The company also originated a program involving the recording of inspection dates on decals affixed to the outside of each lift unit.
According to company officials, regular equipment maintenance and inspections as well as proper operator training, are necessary for 100% compliance and reliability.
