When you work with lifting equipment, you know that periodic inspection and certification are essential. You want the job to be done properly, because safety always comes first. Unfortunately, not every inspection is carried out as thoroughly as it should be. Sometimes, lifting equipment is given a certification sticker without having been properly inspected—creating serious safety risks. So how do you distinguish a reputable inspection body from a "sticker inspector"?
Here's a real-life example. Recently, we were contacted by a manufacturing company that had previously had its lifting equipment inspected by an inspection body other than Mennens. They had experienced a serious incident. While lifting an unfinished casting, the lifting attachment suddenly slipped off, causing the load to fall onto an employee's hand.
The subsequent investigation revealed that the inspection had been carried out by a trainee inspector who was not yet fully qualified or certified to perform the inspection independently.
Download our whitepaper
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.
This whitepaper is only availbe in Dutch!
A Quick Sticker Job
I can't say for certain why the inspection body in question assigned an inspector who was not fully certified. However, it may well have been due to scheduling pressures. Perhaps there were not enough qualified inspectors available, and they wanted to provide the customer with an inspection sticker as quickly as possible.
Watch Out for These Red Flags
At Mennens, we are regularly contacted by companies whose lifting equipment has not been inspected in accordance with the applicable standards. They turn to us to have the inspection carried out correctly.
Naturally, you want to avoid this happening in your own organisation. So how do you recognise a "sticker inspector"? Here are a few warning signs to look out for.
Red Flag 1
The inspection company promises to inspect your overhead crane or electric hoist in just one hour so your operations can resume as quickly as possible.
That may sound customer-friendly, but a thorough inspection takes time. Inspecting a large overhead crane properly in just one hour simply isn't realistic. And when inspecting an electric hoist, you want the inspector to assess not only the hoist itself, but also the motor and associated components. That inevitably takes time.
Of course, smaller and less complex lifting equipment can often be inspected relatively quickly. However, the required inspection time always depends on the complexity of the equipment and the conditions on site.
Red Flag 2
You ask the inspection company to certify a custom-made lifting device, and they accept the assignment without asking any questions.
Custom-built lifting equipment falls under the Machinery Directive and must therefore carry a CE marking. A competent inspection body will always ask for the EC Declaration of Conformity and the operating manual. If there is any doubt, the inspector will also want to know how the CE marking was obtained.
If these questions are not asked, alarm bells should ring. If the inspection company approves equipment without a valid CE marking and an accident subsequently occurs, both the inspection body and the manufacturer of the equipment will have serious questions to answer from the labour inspectorate.
Red Flag 3
The inspection company offers no additional service or after-sales support.
A professional inspection body takes responsibility for safety beyond the inspection itself. For example, if a lifting incident occurs, a reputable inspection company will send a product specialist and a safety expert to investigate what happened, determine the cause, and identify how similar incidents can be prevented in the future.
They will also provide advice on the correct use of the equipment, recommend preventive replacement where necessary, and offer training courses or safety toolbox talks.
If an inspection company cannot explain how it supports customers after the inspection, it is often a sign that its primary focus is on processing as many inspections as possible rather than on long-term safety.
Choose an EKH-Certified Inspection Company
If you want to be confident that your lifting equipment is inspected in accordance with the applicable standards, choose an EKH-certified inspection company. The Dutch Association of Approved Inspection Companies for Lifting Equipment (EKH) promotes the safe use of lifting equipment by establishing strict inspection procedures and certification schemes in line with Dutch health and safety legislation, NEN standards, and the Machinery Directive.
Mennens is an officially recognised EKH inspection company. All of our inspectors are EKH trained and are regularly audited by the association.
Our Own Technical Academy
In addition to the official EKH training programme, Mennens operates its own Tech Academy, where we train qualified service engineers and future EKH inspectors. The final examinations are conducted by EKH.
Our training goes beyond the technical aspects of inspection. We also teach inspectors how to communicate difficult messages professionally—for example, informing a customer that an expensive piece of lifting equipment has failed inspection. By preparing our inspectors for these conversations, we prevent them from giving equipment "the benefit of the doubt" simply to avoid difficult discussions.
We place great emphasis on both technical competence and the quality of execution, ensuring our inspection team delivers the highest possible standard of service.
Safety Comes Before Speed
At Mennens, safety always comes first—even ahead of turnaround time. Of course, we carry out inspections as efficiently as possible to minimise disruption to your operations. But we never compromise on quality or compliance.
At Mennens, the inspection sticker is only applied once the lifting equipment has been verified as safe and fully compliant with the applicable standards.
Get your lifting equipment inspected
Would you like your lifting equipment inspected and certified by a trusted inspection partner? Contact your nearest Mennens location for expert advice.
