Welcome to Bison Industries Inc...........2005

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Frequently Asked Questions

Question

01. What is a "Below-the Hook Lifting Device"?
02. What regulations apply to manufacture and use of an overhead lifting device?
03. Does a lifting device have to be "certified" and what does that actually mean?
04. What does OSHA mean and why is it important?
05. What is a PSR and how does it apply to overhead lifting equipment?
06. What is the significance of Design Factor and how is it used?
07. What is an adequate Design Factor?
08. Do lifting devices need to be proof tested prior to being used?
09. How frequently do lifting devices need to be inspected?
10. What documents should I expect to receive with a purchased lifting device?
11. How should a lifting device be marked?
12. Who is held responsible for the proper design, function and use of a Below-the- Hook Lifting Device?

Answer

Q. What is a "Below-the Hook Lifting Device"?
A. A "Below-the Hook Lifting Device" is a sling, hook, magnet or vacuum device, beam or fabricated structural device that is suspended from the hook of an overhead crane or hoisting device and used to lift an object. They are also sometime referred to as overhead lifting devices but this terminology would also include the hoist or crane. There are specific industry standards for Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices and different ones for cranes and hoists.

Q. What regulations apply to manufacture and use of an overhead lifting device?
A. In Canada, there are no specific, federal regulations, such as a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard, that apply to Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices. Provincial regulations vary between the jurisdictions. However, all will place the onus on the employer to ensure that the device is suitably designed to ensure the safety of the worker and that only a competent person operates the lifting system components.
Bison recommends that employers adhere to the recommendations of the ASME B30.20 Standard for Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices as a major element of their due diligence strategy.

Q. Does a lifting device have to be "certified" and what does that actually mean?
A. There is no regulatory definition of the term "certified" as it pertains to an overhead lifting system or Below-the Hook Lifting Device. However, the term implies the provision of a certificate. At Bison Industries, we provide a Certificate of Test and a General Arrangement drawing for each lifting device we produce. Both documents list the industry standards to which the design and manufacture conform and a licensed, Professional Engineer individually signs them.

Q. What does OSHA mean and why is it important?
A. This is an acronym for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, in the USA. It mandates that a Below-the-Hook Lifting Device be designed and constructed in accordance with the ASME B30.20 Standard, as a minimum. A similar acronym, OHSA, refers to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, of Ontario, Canada. These OHSA regulations do not specify conformance to the ASME B30.20 Standard.

Q. What is a PSR and how does it apply to overhead lifting equipment?
A. PSR refers to the "Pre-Start Health and Safety Review", a requirement of the Ontario, Canada, Occupational Health and Safety Act regulations. The regulation requires that a Professional Engineer verify that all hoisting systems, including cranes and "lifting devices", comply with the appropriate OHSA regulations by applying their seal to an engineering drawing of the system or device.

Q. What is the significance of Design Factor and how is it used?
A. Design Factor or Safety Factor, as it used to be called in the industry, refers to the theoretical value used in engineering calculations to determine a rated capacity or Working Load Limit (WILL) below the theoretical load that would cause failure of the device. The ASME B30.20 Standard recommends a Design Factor of 3:1, based on the yield strength of the load supporting members of the device. This means that a bending failure will begin at a load that is 3 times higher than the rated capacity for the device.

Q. What is an adequate Design Factor?
A. This depends on the severity of service, the anticipated life expectancy of the device, dynamic loading conditions and the chance of exposure to an overload situation. While the ASME B30.20 Standard recommends 3:1 for devices made from structural steel components, other standards for slings, hook and other hardware recommend values as high as 5:1. In Ontario, Canada, a 5:1 design factor is specified in OHSA regulations pertaining to the construction industry.
For consistency and superior, long-term reliability, Bison uses a 5:1 design factor in all designs unless specific circumstances dictate otherwise. A design factor lower than 3:1 will not be used.

Q. Do lifting devices need to be proof tested prior to being used?
A. The ASME B30.20 Standard recommends that Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices be proof tested at 125% of their rated capacity prior to initial service. Proof testing is included in our quoted price. Since Bison uses a design factor of 5:1, all products are proof tested at 200% of their rated load.

Q. How frequently do lifting devices need to be inspected?
A. Only a competent person should operate a lifting device. By knowing the tool features and how it should perform, damage or malfunction will be recognized. The operator should inspect the lifting device prior to each use. The inspection result should be recorded and kept on file at least once a year.

Q. What documents should I expect to receive with a purchased lifting device?
A. At Bison Industries, we provide a Certificate of Test and a General Arrangement drawing for each lifting device we produce. Both documents list the industry standards to which the design and manufacture conform and a licensed, Professional Engineer individually signs them. An Operating and Warning Guide is also provided.

Q. How should a lifting device be marked?
A. The ASME Standard B30.20 recommendations for marking include, manufacturer's name and address, serial number, capacity, tare weight and date of manufacture. As well, specific operator warnings about operation must be clearly visible on the device. Bison follows these recommendations.

Q. Who is held responsible for the proper design, function and use of a Below-the- Hook Lifting Device?
A. The employer is always considered either fully or partially responsible for any accident resulting from the incorrect design, function or use of any equipment that results in worker injury. This is so because the employer must ensure that the equipment is safe to use for its intended purpose, that workers are properly trained to use it and that the employees are properly supervised. In some circumstances, criminal charges against supervisors and managers will result if proven negligent in doing so.

Please contact our Engineering Department for answers to any other lifting device questions.