Inspection Programs

By Kyle Rask, NBIS

The importance of a comprehensive inspection program cannot be understated. Regular inspections of your equipment not only help prevent untimely breakdowns and loss of revenue, but can also reveal issues which could lead to a large incident and costly insurance claim.

TYPES OF INSPECTIONS

There are two common categories of inspections, frequent and periodic.

Frequent inspections are performed on a daily to monthly basis, and are mostly done via visual inspection. Frequent inspections can often be performed in conjunction with daily USDOT pre/post trip inspections. These inspections consistently prove vital in identifying hazards, such as dents and signs of cracks, prior to a catastrophic failure which could lead to an incident that results in major property damage and/or loss of life. The inspections can last minutes to hours depending on the requirements of your company’s inspection procedures and protocols.

Companies often set hours of operation intervals on the machine, which trigger certain levels of inspection. Frequent inspections are to be performed by a designated person; for daily or weekly inspections this is most often the operator. Monthly inspections, which usually take more time and are more thorough, are usually performed by a mechanic or technician.

Periodic inspections are done at set intervals and must be performed by a qualified person (certified boom inspector/ welder). The periodic inspection intervals for concrete pump trucks and placing booms per ASME B03.27 are as follows:

• First 5 years – every 2,000 working hours or, at least once per year, whichever occurs first

• 5 through 10 years – every 1,000 working hours or, at least once per year, whichever occurs first

• 10 years and older – every 500 working hours or, at least once per year, whichever occurs first

For periodic inspections, the machine or placing boom will be required to be out of service during the inspection—a few hours to a full day, depending on the size and condition of the machine. This inspection is very detailed and focuses in-depth on the boom and structural components of the machine. A periodic inspection is required to be performed by a qualified person to be compliant with the current ASME standard. For information on how to identify and contact a certified boom inspector in your area, contact the ACPA or your pump manufacturer(s).

REPAIRS

Should a frequent or periodic inspection reveal an issue that will require a repair to the boom or structural components of the machine, the manufacturer should be contacted prior to making any repairs, and all their recommendations should be followed while making them. These repairs should only be performed by a qualified person. If there are no manufacturer’s recommendations available, repairs should be performed per the recommendations of a qualified person.

DOCUMENTATION

All inspections and repairs should be documented. Should the need arise to produce evidence of your company’s inspection program and commitments to comply, whether it be for OSHA, USDOT, or opposing attorneys, having a well-documented inspection program will prove vital. If inspection/repair documentation cannot be provided by the company, the regulator might assume an inspection program never existed at your company.

Recent years have also seen an increase in requests from contractors asking that pump companies produce copies of the most recent inspections prior to the job, or have them available in the machine at all times. Depending on internal requirements, requests have been made to see daily inspections as well as monthly, yearly, etc.

RESOURCES

ASME B30.27 Material Placement Systems. For details regarding the requirements for frequent and periodic inspections, see ASME B30.27 2.1 Inspection. If you have not purchased a copy of ASME B30.27 – Material Placement Systems, NBIS would highly advise that you do so as soon as possible. A digital or hard copy can be purchased at www.asme.org.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA is another good resource when setting up or ensuring your inspection program is adequate. Many of the violations incurred daily during roadside and port of entry inspections could be eliminated with a well-designed and implemented inspection program. With the current CSA evaluation system used by USDOT and local authorities, every violation matters. Visit their website at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). It is always advisable to check the OSHA website and regulations for more information. There are variety of tools and guidelines on an array of topics that can be very useful for ensuring your company remains in compliance and avoids costly penalties and valuable time away from day-to-day operations. See www.OSHA.gov

Manufacturers. The manufacturers of your machines will always be among the most valuable resources available. You should contact your manufacturer(s) for additional information and/or further inspection requirements regarding the specific units in your fleet.

ABOUT NBIS

NBIS is dedicated to the concrete pumping industry, and is proud to be the ACPA exclusively-endorsed provider of property and casualty insurance and risk management solutions.

Please contact our risk management team for more details on how to protect your business or to learn more about inspection programs by calling (877) 860-RMSS (7677), or on the web at www.NBIS.com.

Have a safe day!