18UPKEEP OF WIRE AND FIBRE ROPES

18 UPKEEP OF WIRE AND FIBRE ROPES

GENERAL PROVISIONS

18.1.1 All ropes should be of sound material, good construction and adequate strength for the service required. Refer to AS 3569-1989 (Steel Wire Ropes) and AS 4142-1993 (Fibre ropes-Care and safe usage).

18.1.2 Before use, all ropes should be inspected and confirmed adequate for the intended working load.

18.1.3 A competent person should periodically inspect all ropes used for load bearing purposes.

18.1.4 When any rope has been lengthened, altered or repaired, it should be examined and tested before it is used again.

18.1.5 All ropes should be maintained in good order:

1. when not in use they should be stowed under cover in clean, dry and well ventilated places;

2. ropes should not be exposed to excessive heat or harmful chemicals.

3. Care should be taken to avoid damaging or weakening a rope through:

4. excessive stress and strain;

5. rubbing or chafing against sharp objects; or

(c) passing it through too small a sheave or block.

18.1.7 Care should be taken to avoid the formation of a kink in any rope under strain. Care should be taken in withdrawing rope from a new coil:

1. for stranded rope this should be done from the inside of a coil, taking it counter­

clockwise for a rope for right-hand lay in order to retain the twist.

1. kinks should always be taken out by correct coiling (a right-hand coiling for a right-hand rope).

18.1.9 Any rope, whether natural, synthetic or wire, and of any construction, should not be put under a load suddenly or taken up with a jerk, since such action may overload it.

18.1.10 Where thimbles are required for eye splices on ropes, they should be of suitable size.

18.1.11 Rope ends and splices should be properly seized with yam or other suitable means.

18.2 WIRE ROPES

18.2.1 No wire rope should be accepted on board unless it is accompanied by a certificate stating that it has been made to a recognised national or international standard and

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