(1)
Chains, rings, shackles and other loose gear (whether accessory to a machine or
not) must be tested with a proof load equal to that shown against the article
in the following table:
|
Article of gear
|
Proof load
|
|
Chain, ring, hook, shackle or swivel
.................
|
100 percent in excess of the safe working
load.
|
|
Blocks: Single sheave block ......
|
300 percent in excess of the safe working
load.1
|
|
Multiple sheave block with safe working load up to and
including 20 tons ........
|
100 percent in excess of the safe working
load.
|
|
Multiple sheave block with safe working load over 20
tons up to and including 40 tons ..................
|
20 tons in excess of the safe working load.
|
|
Multiple sheave block with safe working load over 40
tons ...................
|
50 percent in excess of the safe working
load.
|
|
Pitched chains used with hand-operated blocks and
rings, hooks, shackles or swivels permanently attached thereto
.........
|
50 percent in excess of the safe working
load.
|
|
Hand-operated blocks used with pitched chains and
rings, hooks, shackles or swivels permanently attached thereto
.........
|
50 percent in excess of the safe working
load.
|
1 The proof load applied to the
block is equivalent to twice the maximum resultant load on the eye or pin of
the block when lifting the nominal safe working load defined in WAC
296-304-17011(1)(a)
below. The proof load is, therefore, equal
to four times the safe working load as defined in WAC
296-304-17011(1)(a)
below or twice the safe working load as defined in WAC
296-304-17011(1)(b)
below.
(a) The nominal safe working
load of a single-sheave block should be the maximum load which can be safely
lifted by the block when the load is attached to a rope which passes around the
sheave of the block.
(b) In the
case of a single-sheave block where the load is attached directly to the block
instead of to a rope passing around the sheave, it is permissible to lift a
load equal to twice the nominal safe working load of the block as defined in
WAC
296-304-17011(1)(a)
above.
(c) In the case of a lead
block so situated that an acute angle cannot be formed by the two parts of the
rope passing over it (i.e., the angle is always 90° or more), the block
need not have a greater nominal safe working load than one-half the maximum
resultant load which can be placed upon it.
(2) In cases where persons accredited to
carry out loose gear tests may be retained to conduct tests of special
stevedoring gear as described in WAC
296-56-60098(8)(e),
which does not form part of a
vessel's equipment, such tests must adhere to the
requirements set forth in WAC
296-56-60098(8)(e).
(3) After being tested as required by WAC
296-304-17011(1),
and before being taken into use, all chains, rings, hooks, shackles, blocks or
other loose gear, except as noted in WAC
296-304-17013, must be thoroughly
examined, the sheaves and pins of the blocks being removed for this purpose, to
determine whether any part has been injured or permanently deformed by the
test. Shell bolt nuts must be securely locked upon reassembly. Defective loose
gear components must be replaced before the certificate is issued.
(4) Any certificate relating to shackles,
swivels or strength members of single-sheave blocks which have been restored to
original dimensions by welding must state this fact.
