When working with cranes, safety always comes first. To ensure safe operation, every crane must be inspected and certified at least once a year, depending on its usage. So, what does a crane inspection involve? In this article, we explain what you can expect.
A crane inspection is a comprehensive assessment carried out by a qualified inspector to determine whether the crane still complies with the applicable standards and regulations. At the end of the inspection, the crane is either approved or rejected. You will then receive a detailed inspection report.
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What should you look for when inspecting and certifying lifting chains, fall protection equipment, cranes, and wire rope? And what exactly are the differences between inspection, certification, and testing? Explore expert insights and practical advice from our specialists.
Who Is Qualified to Carry Out a Crane Inspection?
By law, crane inspections must be carried out by a competent person. While the legislation does not precisely define this term, you naturally want the inspection to be performed by a qualified and reliable organisation.
For that reason, always check whether your inspection partner is a member of the Dutch Association of Approved Inspection Companies for Lifting Equipment (EKH). EKH provides inspectors with extensive training and sets strict inspection procedures for lifting equipment, including cranes. Inspectors employed by EKH-certified inspection companies hold a personal EKH certificate, demonstrating that they are properly qualified.
What Happens During a Crane Inspection?
During an EKH inspection, the inspector systematically examines the crane using detailed inspection procedures prescribed by EKH.
The inspection starts with a review of the documentation, including:
The crane logbook
General arrangement drawings
Load capacity markings
Calculations for load-bearing components
The CE Declaration of Conformity
Certificates for the wire rope, load hook and load chain
The crane itself is then thoroughly inspected, including its structure, safety systems, lifting mechanisms and electrical components. Among other things, the inspector checks:
The crane runway fixings and structural integrity
Play or wear on the running surface and wheel flanges
Overload protection, collision protection, zoning systems and storm anchoring
The emergency stop system
The condition of the wire rope or load chain
The main isolator, cabling, control panels and NEN 3140 compliance of the electrical installation
Shafts and bearings, brake drums, brake discs, electric motors, running wheels and drive pinions
These are just some of the many inspection points covered during an EKH crane inspection.
Proof Load Testing
As part of the inspection, the crane is also proof load tested at 110% of its rated lifting capacity. To ensure reliable results, a calibrated dynamic test load is used.
This test verifies the correct operation of the hoist brake and confirms that the overload protection system has been correctly adjusted and is functioning properly. If either system fails to perform as intended, the safety of the crane is seriously compromised.
Modifications to Overhead Cranes
What if an overhead crane has been modified?
In practice, companies regularly adapt overhead cranes—for example, by shortening or extending them to fit a production hall.
Such modifications are permitted, provided the correct engineering and approval process has been followed. This includes preparing engineering drawings and structural calculations for the modification. These documents, together with the CE Declaration of Conformity, operating instructions, electrical schematics and other technical documentation, must be included in the crane logbook and be available during the inspection.
Any modification can affect the crane's structure, lifting capacity and overall safety. That's why the risks must be carefully assessed in advance to ensure the crane remains safe to operate after the modification.
Risk Assessment
Once the inspection has been completed, the inspector assesses all findings and assigns one of four risk classifications.
Risk Class 1
The crane is approved. No significant defects have been identified.
Risk Class 2
Minor defects have been identified. These must be repaired within three months, after which the crane remains approved. The crane may continue to be used in the meantime.
Risk Class 3
Major defects have been identified. These must be repaired within one month. The crane may continue to be operated during this period, after which it must be re-evaluated.
Risk Class 4
The crane is rejected. It is strongly recommended that the crane is taken out of service immediately until all defects have been repaired and a successful re-inspection has been completed.
Maintenance: Corrective, Preventive and Predictive
Naturally, you want to avoid a situation where your crane has to be taken out of service unexpectedly. Regular maintenance is therefore essential.
The most common approach is corrective maintenance, where repairs are carried out after a defect has been identified. However, the preferred approach is preventive maintenance—or even predictive maintenance, where potential failures are identified before they occur.
At Mennens, we perform essential maintenance work whenever possible during the inspection itself. For example, we clean and adjust the brakes and lubricate the wire ropes and load chains. Our goal is to ensure your crane remains safe, reliable and fully operational, helping you maximise uptime and maintain business continuity.
Need a crane inspection?
Interested in an EKH inspection and a maintenance agreement for your crane? Contact your nearest Mennens location for more information and expert advice.
