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821 Cranes and Derricks Safety II
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Equipment Modifications

Section 1434 applies to modifications that affect the capacity or safe operation of the equipment.

Its provisions safeguard against unsafe equipment modifications and provide that the modifications are reflected in the equipment's instructions and specifications so that the modified equipment can be used safely.

Manufacturer Review and Approval

The equipment's manufacturer is uniquely qualified to evaluate any proposed modifications to the equipment. If the manufacturer is available and is willing to evaluate the proposed modifications, any modifications or additions that affect the capacity or safe operation of the equipment are only permitted where:

  • The manufacturer approves the modifications/additions in writing.
  • The load charts, procedures, instruction manuals, and instruction plates/tags/decals are modified as necessary to accord with the modification/addition.

Manufacturer Review Unavailable

If the manufacturer is:

  • unavailable or unwilling to review the proposed modification/addition,
  • rejects it in writing,
  • fails to initiate the review or acknowledge the request within 30 days, or
  • fails to complete the review within 120 days, the modification/addition may be made if a registered professional engineer who is a qualified person with respect to the equipment involved:
    • approves the modification/addition and specifies the equipment configurations to which that approval applies; and
    • modifies load charts, procedures, instruction manuals, and instruction plates/tags/decals as necessary to accord with the modification/addition.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

6-4. If the manufacturer is unavailable or will not review a modification to crane equipment, the modification may be made if a _____ who is a qualified person with respect to the equipment is involved.