Maintenance, Inspection and Thorough Examination of Mobile Cranes

need to be taken in order to rectify them. In particular they should be able
to:o
verify that the mobile crane is operating as intended;
o specify the appropriate time-scales within which identified defects or
weaknesses need to be rectified;
o establish that defects identified in the previous report of thorough
examination have received attention;
o assess the correct function of all safety devices;
o check that warning notices are correctly fixed and legible; and where
necessary specify any limitations on the use of the mobile crane;
o witness any testing required as part of thorough examination;
o report on the findings of the thorough examination.
16.3 Qualifications and Experience
Competent persons should have both appropriate recognised formal qualifications
and a relevant level of practical experience in a related engineering field.
The following are examples of those with the cumulative attributes necessary to
support competence:
� Engineering Technician as defined by the Engineering Council or equivalent
(e.g. appropriate ONC with relevant experience) having a minimum of 5 years
experience within a relevant discipline of which at least one year shall have
been spent working within an engineering discipline related to lifting
equipment;
� Person trained in a relevant engineering discipline with a recognised and
documented engineering apprenticeship (in lieu of an academic qualification)
with a minimum of 5 years experience within a relevant discipline of which at
least one year shall have been spent working within an engineering discipline
related to lifting equipment;
� Level 4 (Engineer Surveyor National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) are
available for competent persons carrying out thorough examination of mobile
cranes.
Employers must determine competence of each individual person, both existing
employees and new entrants, based on the attributes listed above together with
formal qualifications. A shortfall on attainment level does not preclude employment in
this role but such shortfalls must be addressed before the person is allowed to carry
out unsupervised thorough examinations of mobile cranes.
16.4 Competent Person Selection
Competent persons should be selected through a formally documented assessment
process.
The purpose of the assessment, which must include a sufficiently robust technical
interview and other elements, is to determine whether or not the interviewee has the
general aptitude and appropriate level of relevant underpinning knowledge and
understanding to perform the intended duties of a competent person when combined
with the training provided by the employer.
16.5 Training Plan
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