Inspections of modified equipment

The equipment must be inspected by a qualified person after the modifications or additions are completed and before the equipment is used for the first time. This is required under 1926.1412(a) and further described in 1926.1412(a)(1).

• The inspection must also include verification that the work was done in accordance with any required approval and functional testing (see related subparts).

Yes. The inspection must assure that the modifications or additions have been done in accordance with the approval obtained pursuant to 1926.1434 (Equipment modifications).

• The qualified inspector should have the documentation of the 1926.1434 approval available and compare work performed against that approval.

Yes. The inspection must include functional testing of the equipment following modifications or additions before initial use, as required by 1926.1412(a)(1)(ii).

• Functional testing should demonstrate proper operation of safety devices, controls, braking systems, and any other systems affected by the modification.

No. Equipment must not be used until an inspection demonstrates that the requirements of 1926.1412(a)(1)(i) have been met, as stated in 1926.1412(a)(2).

• Using equipment before this inspection is a violation of the standard and creates an unnecessary safety risk.

Equipment that has had a repair or adjustment affecting safe operation must be inspected by a qualified person after the repair or adjustment is completed and before it is used again, as required by 1926.1412(b) and 1926.1412(b)(1).

• The inspection must include functional testing of the repaired/adjusted parts and any components that could be affected.

If manufacturer criteria are unavailable or inapplicable, the qualified person must determine whether a registered professional engineer (RPE) is needed to develop criteria; if an RPE is not needed, the qualified person must develop the criteria themselves. This process is set out in 1926.1412(b)(1)(ii) and its subparts 1926.1412(b)(1)(ii)(A) and 1926.1412(b)(1)(ii)(B).

• After criteria are developed (by the qualified person or an RPE), the qualified person must determine if the repair/adjustment meets those criteria.

No. Equipment must not be used until an inspection demonstrates that the repair/adjustment meets the requirements of 1926.1412(b)(1)(i) (or the criteria developed under 1926.1412(b)(1)(ii)).

• If the repair does not meet the criteria, it must be corrected before the equipment is used.

Upon completion of assembly, a qualified person must inspect the equipment to assure it is configured in accordance with manufacturer equipment criteria; where those criteria are unavailable, the qualified person must follow the RPE/qualified person process described in 1926.1412(c)(2).

• Equipment must not be used until an inspection demonstrates it meets the applicable criteria (1926.1412(c)(3)).

A competent person must begin a visual inspection prior to each shift the equipment will be used, and the inspection must be completed before or during that shift, as required by 1926.1412(d)(1).

• The inspection is an observation for apparent deficiencies and usually does not require taking apart components unless further investigation is needed.
• At minimum it must include checks such as control mechanisms, drive components, pressurized lines, hydraulic fluid level, hooks and latches, wire rope reeving and condition, electrical apparatus, tires (in use), ground conditions, level position, operator windows, rails (if rail-traveling), and safety devices/operational aids (see the listed items in 1926.1412(d)(1)).

Wire rope must be inspected in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and with [1926.1413(a)], as stated in 1926.1412(d)(1)(vi) and 1926.1412(d)(1)(vii).

• Follow the manufacturer's wire-reeving and inspection guidance and check compliance with 1926.1413 for wire rope inspection criteria.

If the competent person finds a deficiency in the items listed in 1926.1412(d)(1)(i)–(xiii), they must immediately determine if it is a safety hazard; if it is, the equipment must be taken out of service until corrected per 1926.1412(d)(2) and 1926.1417. If the deficiency involves safety devices or operational aids (see 1926.1412(d)(1)(xiv)), the actions in 1926.1415 and 1926.1416 must be taken before using the equipment, per 1926.1412(d)(3).

• In short: identify hazard → if safety hazard take out of service → follow the specific remedial rules for safety devices/operational aids.

Each month equipment in service must be inspected in accordance with the shift inspection requirements in 1926.1412(d), and equipment must not be used until the monthly inspection shows no corrective action under 1926.1412(d)(2)–(3) is required, as stated in 1926.1412(e)(1)–(2).

• Documentation: the employer conducting the inspection must record the items checked and results, and the name and signature of the inspector and the date (1926.1412(e)(3)(i)(A)–(B)).
• Retention: the monthly inspection record must be kept for at least three months (1926.1412(e)(3)(ii)).

At least every 12 months the equipment must be inspected by a qualified person in accordance with the shift-inspection items in 1926.1412(d), and in addition the equipment must be inspected by a qualified person with disassembly as necessary to complete a comprehensive inspection (1926.1412(f)(1)–(2)).

• The annual inspection must include functional testing (1926.1412(f)(3)).
• Documentation of the annual inspection (items checked, results, name/signature and date) must be maintained and retained for a minimum of 12 months (1926.1412(f)(7)(i)–(ii)).

The annual inspection must examine the equipment structure (including boom and jib if equipped), checking structural members for deformation, cracks or significant corrosion; bolts, rivets and fasteners for looseness, failure or corrosion; and welds for cracks, per 1926.1412(f)(2)(i)(A)–(C).

• Inspectors should disassemble as necessary to see these parts and document any deficiencies.

The annual inspection must check: flexible hoses and junctions for indications of leaks (1926.1412(f)(2)(x)(A)); threaded or clamped joints for leaks (1926.1412(f)(2)(x)(B)); outer hose coverings for blistering or deformation (1926.1412(f)(2)(x)(C)); and outer surfaces of hoses, tubing or fittings for excessive abrasion or scrubbing (1926.1412(f)(2)(x)(D)).

• Follow manufacturer procedures where available and document findings.

The employer must stop using the equipment and have a qualified person inspect it for structural damage and determine whether additional items listed in 1926.1412(f) need inspection; if deficiencies are found the employer must follow the corrective steps in 1926.1412(f)(4)–(6). See 1926.1412(g).

• In short: stop use → qualified inspection for structural damage and applicable components → follow annual/qualified-person corrective actions.

Equipment idle for 3 months or more must be inspected by a qualified person in accordance with the monthly inspection requirements of paragraph (e) before initial use, as stated in 1926.1412(h).

• That means performing the shift-level checks and documenting as required by 1926.1412(e).

An employer must follow any part of a manufacturer's procedures regarding inspections that is more comprehensive or has a more frequent inspection schedule than the requirements of this section, per 1926.1412(j).

• Where the manufacturer's procedures impose stricter checks, they take precedence over the minimum requirements in this standard.

All documents produced under this section must be available, during the applicable document retention period, to all persons who conduct inspections under this section, as required by 1926.1412(k).

• Make inspection records, criteria, and related documentation accessible to qualified and competent persons performing inspections.

Monthly inspection records must be retained for a minimum of three months (1926.1412(e)(3)(ii)), and annual/comprehensive inspection records must be retained for a minimum of 12 months (1926.1412(f)(7)).

• Ensure records include items checked, results, inspector name/signature and date as specified in the standard.

If the qualified person determines a deficiency is a safety hazard, the equipment must be taken out of service until corrected, except where temporary alternative measures allowed under 1926.1416(d) or 1926.1435(e) are implemented. See 1926.1412(f)(5).

• Any temporary measures must comply with the specific provisions in those referenced sections and the equipment must be taken out of service when not allowed.

No. The ground-condition inspection requirements in 1926.1412(d)(1)(x) do not apply to inspection of ground conditions for railroad tracks and their underlying support when those tracks are part of the general railroad system of transportation regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration under 49 CFR part 213.

• For FRA-regulated tracks, FRA rules govern those ground-condition inspections.

The equipment must be inspected for level position within the tolerances specified by the equipment manufacturer's recommendations both before each shift and after each move and setup, as required by 1926.1412(d)(1)(xi).

• Follow the manufacturer's tolerances when determining acceptable level position.

If a deficiency in a safety device or operational aid is identified during a shift inspection, the required actions in 1926.1415 and 1926.1416 must be taken prior to using the equipment, as stated in 1926.1412(d)(3). The annual inspection must also check safety devices and operational aids for proper operation and significant inaccuracies (1926.1412(f)(2)(v)).

• Do not use the equipment until required corrective actions are taken or temporary measures allowed by the standard are implemented in accordance with the referenced sections.