Returning from lockdown safely

AS BUSINESSES AND WORKERS RETURN from the Level 4 Lockdown and focus on getting business operations going again quickly, efficiently and safely, it’s timely to relook at a number of tasks that may have been put off, including the certification and compliance of equipment.

Certification of Log Trailer lifting chains is one of these essential tasks that needs to be completed. Under the current Health and Safety Act, lifting chains (including Log Trailer Chains) are required to be checked annually by a competent person. Lifting chains need to be inspected, measurements taken, be repaired or replaced and records kept. Compliance aside, no transport company wants to run the risk of chain failure and dropping a trailer, or worse, causing injury to its staff or others.

Transport operators should be undertaking regular pre-use safety inspections of their lifting chain sets, including checks on the following areas:

· Bent or stretched chain links.

· Worn components, chain links, hammerlocks and master rings.

· Correct grades of chain and fittings are being used in the right part of the lifting chain system.

• Worn or bent anchor points.

• Knots in the chains.

• Incorrect chain lengths in each leg.

• Chains that are not tagged and documented. Chain assemblies showing signs of any of these should be set aside for inspection or repair by a trained and competent person before being used again.

The Log Truck Safety Council (LTSC) has developed a series of Industry Codes and guidance documents available via its website: https://logtruck.co.nz/industrystandards/. The LTSC Trailer Lifting Chain Check and Compliance Certificate is to be completed at each inspection.

Cookes is available to provide competent test technicians from its network of branches to arrange the inspection, including at your site, and complete the required certificates and documentation. Call Cookes to arrange support or visit the company website.