New Law Affects Crane Users Immediately

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New Law Affects Crane Users

Starting January 1st, 2017
The Ministry of Labour's latest amendment to the Construction
Regulations provides a stronger definition as to which methods, and
what qualifications, are required to perform non-destructive testing
(NDT) on lift devices.
The new law, effective January 1st 2017, clearly defines non-destructive
testing (NDT) to include only the following recognized methods:

Magnetic Particle Testing

Liquid Penetrant Testing
Ultrasonic Testing
Eddy Current Testing
Radiographic Testing

Note that this means visual inspection does not qualify as a NDT
method under the new regulation.
Furthermore, Section 1 of the amended Regulation clearly states that
only persons who have "been certified by Natural Resources
Canada to the appropriate level in accordance with CAN/CGSB
Standard 48.9712" are legally allowed to perform nondestructive tests
required by the regulation.
Breaking News!
CSA just released the
latest version of Z150
safety code for mobile
cranes. Now available
for purchase on the
CSA website.
Watch For It!
We will be doing a
breakdown and
analysis of the new
Z150 standard in our
next Domson Digest
article.

Requirements for
Specific
Construction
Equipment
The new regulation
makes it clear that the
following equipment is
required to have
nondestructive testing
on a regular basis:
Cranes carrying
personnel
Before the crane is first
used to lift persons, and
at least once every 12
months after the first
test, a professional
engineer shall ensure
that the crane be
subjected to
nondestructive testing
to ensure the structural
integrity of the crane.

How Does This Change Anything?

The previous edition of the regulation effectively allowed unqualified
personnel to perform NDT testing.
As a result, that's exactly how many crane inspection companies did
their business. What's more, without a definition for NDT testing, many
of these companies worked on the premise that visual inspection was
"non-destructive" because it didn't cause any damage.
This is no longer the case. The changes in the regulation should elevate
the quality of structural inspection in the lift industry.
Does The New Law Affect You?
This legislation impacts anyone who:
Uses a crane to lift personnel in a
manbasket, or;
Owns, erects, or operates a tower
crane on a construction site
You may be wondering, how this affects
your current inspection practices?
Well, if your company already uses
CGSB certified inspectors and they
perform non-destructive testing instead of
just visual inspection, then you're already
in compliance with the new law.

The new law specifies that when

NDT is required tests must be
performed by certified NDT
personnel.

However, if your crane inspection

company isn't compliant with the new definitions, you are risking a
sudden work stoppage at the hands of the Ministry of Labour.

Check Your Inspector's Credentials

So how do you ensure that your crane inspector is properly qualified
according to the new regulation?
Just as a hoisting engineer carries a qualification card issued by the
government, CGSB certified NDT personnel also carry a qualification
card issued by Natural Resources Canada. That card looks like this:

Tower Cranes
Before a tower crane is
erected at a project, a
professional engineer
shall ensure that the
structural elements and
components of the
crane be subjected to
nondestructive testing
to ensure the structural
integrity of the crane.

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New Law Affects Crane Users Immediately

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Suspended Work
Platforms and
Boatswain's Chairs
At least annually, a
representative sample
of each type of
structural component
shall be randomly
selected and subjected
to nondestructive
testing.

Related Articles
New Tower Crane
Performance Review
Standard
Why Do I Need a
Repair Inspection?
The Role of the Mobile
Crane Inspector and
the Engineer
Social Media:

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Before allowing an inspector to begin working on your crane, ask to see

their CGSB qualifications. If they cannot provide their card, the
inspection they provide won't meet the requirements of the Construction
Regulations.
If there is any doubt about the qualifications of your inspector, they can
be verified online using the directory provided by Natural Resources
Canada. The link for the most up to date list of certified NDT technicians
can be found at this website: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/miningmaterials/non-destructive-testing/8600
Summary:
If you're operating tower cranes or using any crane to lift personnel in a
manbasket, you need to be performing non-destructive testing on that
equipment periodically. The new legislation mandates NDT testing be
performed by CGSB certified personnel using specific forms of testing.
Visual inspection does not qualify as an NDT method.
Domson Engineering and Inspection has always been proudly in full
compliance with the new regulation. All our inspectors are CGSB
certified by Natural Resources Canada and we have always used
magnetic particle inspection and ultrasonic testing as staples of our
structural inspections.
If you have any questions about our services or how the new law may
affect you, feel free to contact:
Dennis Domenichini, P.Eng.
(905) 789-1326 ext. 304
dennis@domson.ca

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