Lifting equipment standards in Australia

When it comes to dogging and rigging, there’s a huge range of lifting equipment available on the market — chain slings, wire rope slings, shackles, chain blocks, creeper winches and more — from an even wider range of international manufacturers. With this in mind, it is unacceptable to blindly rely on the manufacturer’s assertion that the equipment complies with lifting equipment standards in Australia.

Most Australian lifting and rigging standards are set out by the ME-025 Lifting Tackle Committee at Standards Australia, i.e. our top-level, non-government, not-for-profit standards organisation. These standards were developed for Australia’s benefit — not only do they allow us to compete on an international scale, but it also contributes to the community’s demand for a safe, sustainable environment.

It’s crucial to inspect your lifting equipment on a regular basis to ensure your team is working safely and within Australian lifting and rigging standards. Below, we have highlighted all of the individual standards and provided additional information about lifting equipment inspections.

Australian lifting and rigging standards

Standard	Description
AS 1138 — 2008	Thimbles for Wire Rope
AS 1353.1 — 1997	Flat Synthetic Webbing Slings Part 1: Product Specification
AS 1353.2 — 1997	Flat Synthetic Webbing Slings Part 2: Care and Use
AS 1418.1 — 2002	Cranes, Hoists and Winches Part 1: General Requirements
AS 1418.2 — 1997	Cranes, Hoists and Winches Part 2: Serial Hoists and Winches
AS 1418.3 — 1997	Cranes, Hoists and Winches Part 3: Bridge, Gantry and Portal Cranes (including Container Cranes)
AS 1418.17 — 2002	Cranes, Hoists and Winches Part 17: Design and Construction of Workboxes
AS 1418.18 — 2001	Cranes, Hoists and Winches Part 18: Crane Runways and Monorails
AS 1666.1 — 2009	Wire Rope Slings Part 1: Product Specification
AS 1666.2 — 2009	Wire Rope Slings Part 2: Care and Use
AS 2076 — 1996	Wire Rope Grips for Non-Lifting Applications
AS 2089 — 2008	Sheave Blocks for Lifting Purposes
AS 2317.1 — 2018	Lifting Points Part 1: Collared Eye Bolts and Collared Eye Nuts – Grade 4
AS 2318 — 2006	Swivels for Lifting Applications
AS 2319 — 2001	Rigging Screws and Turnbuckles
AS 2321 — 2014	Short-Link Chain for Lifting Purposes
AS 2359.1 — 2015	Powered Industrial Trucks Part 1 – General Requirements
AS 2550.1 — 2011	Cranes, Hoists and Winches – Safe Use
AS 2740 — 2001	Wedge Type Sockets
AS 2741 — 2002	Shackles
AS 2759 — 2004	Steel Wire Rope – Use, Operation and Maintenance
AS 3569 — 2010	Steel Wire Ropes – Product Specification
AS 3775.1 — 2014	Chain Slings for Lifting Purposes – Grade T(80) and V(100) Part 1: Product Specification
AS 3775.2 — 2008	Chain Slings for Lifting Purposes – Grade (80) and V(100) Part 2: Care and Use
AS 3776 — 2015	Lifting Components for Grade T(80) and V(100) Chain Slings
AS 3777 — 2008	Shank Hooks and Large Eye Hooks – Maximum 60T
AS 3785.4 — 2002	Underground Mining – Shaft Equipment Part 4: Conveyances for Vertical Shafts
AS 3785.7 — 2006	Underground Mining – Shaft Equipment Part 7: Sheaves
AS 3850.1 — 2015	Prefabricated Concrete Elements Part 1: General Requirements
ISO 4309:2007	Cranes – Wire Ropes — Care and Maintenance, Inspection and Discard
AS/NZS 4344 — 2001	Motor Vehicles — Cargo Restraint Systems — Transport Chain and Components
AS 4497 — 2018	Round slings – Synthetic Fibre
AS 4722 — 2009	Passenger Ropeways and Passenger Conveyors
AS 4797 — 2009	Stainless Steel Chain for Lifting Purposes
AS 4991 — 2004	Lifting Devices
AS 1657 — 2018	Fixed Platforms, Walkways, Stairways and Ladders — Design, Construction and Installation
AS 1891.1 — 2007	Industrial Fall Arrest Systems and Devices – Part 1: Harness and Ancillary Equipment
AS 1891.2 — 2001	Industrial Fall Arrest Systems and Devices – Part 2: Horizontal Lifeline and Rail Systems Supplement 1: Prescribed Configurations For Horizontal Lifelines
AS 1891.3 — 1997	Industrial Fall Arrest Systems and Devices Part 3: Fall Arrest Devices
AS 1891.4 — 2009	Industrial Fall Arrest Systems and Devices
AS 1892.1 — 1996	Portable Ladders Part 1: Metal
AS 1892.5 — 2000	Portable Ladders Part 5: Selection, Safe Use and Care
AS 2865 – 2009	Confined Spaces

Lifting equipment inspections

lifting equipment inspection

Image: Elevate Lifting

Who can inspect and tag lifting equipment?

According to Standards Australia, a “competent person” must inspect lifting equipment on a regular basis, tag equipment that can no longer be used and keep a record of all inspections and findings (to be reviewed if an incident occurs).

A “competent person” refers to:

“A person having practical and theoretical knowledge and relevant experience, sufficient to enable that person to detect and evaluate defects and weaknesses that may affect the intended performance of the equipment. In court may be called upon to explain your level of competence. Often a dogger, rigger or height safety trained individual.”

To ensure the person is “competent” enough to perform a lifting equipment inspection, we recommend checking the relevant standard (listed above). Some standards have harsher rules than others around competency.

How often should equipment be inspected?

All equipment is required to be inspected by the competent person operating it before every use. On top of this, there are also registered inspection periods that need to be completed at regular intervals. Below is a table for reference.

Type of Equipment	Registered Inspection Intervals
Soft Slings/FWS	Slings must be inspected by a competent person at intervals no more than three months.
Chain Assemblies	Periodic inspections by a competent person.
Lashing Chains	Regular inspection by the user.
Wire Rope Assemblies	Periodic inspection by a competent person every 12 months (subject to usage).
Lifting Clutches	A proof test using a load equal to 1.2 times the WLL shall be conducted and recorded at least every 12 months.
Lifting Beams	Lifting devices must be inspected by a competent person at intervals specified by the manufacturer or the competent person.
Monorail/Gantry	Every two years within the first six years, then 12 monthly.
Harnesses/Lanyards	User inspection before and after each use. Documented inspection every six months by a height safety equipment inspector.
Horizontal or Vertical Lifelines (Webbing or Fibre Ropes)	Documented inspection 6 monthly by height safety equipment inspector.
Horizontal or Vertical Lifelines (Steel Rope or Rail)	Frequency of inspection by height safety equipment inspector as recommended by the manufacturer (maximum of five yearly). Otherwise, documented inspections every 12 months.
Anchors — Chemical & Mechanical (if Not Secured with a Nut)	Proof load yearly (must be documented).
Anchors — Chemical & Mechanical (if Secured with a Nut)	No proof load but the structure needs to be tested or engineer certified.
Type 1 Fall Arrestors	Rope grabs, lad safe, lifeline. Annual documented Inspection by height safety equipment Inspector.
Type 2 Fall Arrestors	Self-retracting lifelines. Six monthly documented inspections by a height safety equipment specialist. Service as recommended by the manufacturer to a maximum of 5 years (otherwise every 12 months).
Type 3 Fall Arrestors	Self-retracting lifelines with a winch. Six monthly documented inspections by a height safety equipment specialist. Service as recommended by the manufacturer to a maximum of 5 years (otherwise every 12 months).

Become a more “competent” employee and complete lifting equipment inspections for your team

At All Class Training, we offer dogging and rigging training to ensure that you are not only able to work safely and efficiently but also so you can choose and inspect lifting equipment effectively. During both the practical and theoretical components of our training, we will ensure you know how to identify equipment that is no longer safe for use, how to document this and the next steps in line with lifting equipment standards in Australia.

Book dogging and rigging courses with All Class Training today. We offer basic and intermediate rigging courses as well as standard dogging courses all month, every month.

Feature Image: NATA