Moving specialized equipment in Canada has its fair share of challenges, and you also have to deal with the local regulations. That might end up making things more challenging, so it’s incredibly important to narrow down the best company to work with. In doing so, you comply with the national requirements, while also getting the best ROI and results. That alone can prove to be a game-changer in the end, especially if you are approaching it adequately.
What are the regulatory frameworks in Canada?
Before you work with a company like Solid Hook, it’s extremely important to understand the moving-related regulations in Canada. And the crucial thing to consider here is that there are a multitude of laws to consider, all of which will affect the moving experience and approach.
OHS regulations
Canada doesn’t have a specific federal workplace safety law. So they split OSH regulation between the federal jurisdiction, along with any provincial workplace safety legislation. The laws are covering lifting, rigging and hoisting equipment. They also cover the legal duties of workers, supervisors and employees, which is extremely important to consider.
Safety norms for rigging and lifting
Here, you will notice that the Canadian Standards Association is the one developing safety standards for rigging and lifting. Some of the commonly applied standards are B167 for overhead cranes, trolleys, hoists, monorails and gantry cranes or C22.1, which is the Canadian electrical code. They also apply the Z150 standard, which is the safety code on mobile cranes. There are also CSA standards that help cover lifting accessories, mobile elevating work platforms, forklifts and so on.
Professional certifications and licensing
There’s the equipment operator and rigging training, which is important as it needs to also follow the CSA standard. These courses can bring a certificate of completion. Some of the topics covered during the course include load charts, safe working loads, crane operation basics, lift planning, rigging hardware selection and so on.
Additionally, operators need to have professional certifications that support safety leadership. The Canadian Registered Safety Professional certification is a crucial one to consider here. It’s accredited to ISO 17024 and it demonstrates that the person has expertise in safety system design, hazard control, but also in compliance management as well.
Then, there’s the rigging competency that you need to consider. The Canadian Hoisting and Rigging Safety Council is the one advocating for a national rigging certification framework at this time. None is available for the moment, but one might arise in the long run, and that’s certainly a thing to keep in mind here.
Inspection, equipment compliance and testing
Mandatory inspections arise, because rigging gear, hoists, cranes and so on can end up dealing with damage. Regular inspections can minimize issues, which is important. You also want to have non-destructive and visual testing, especially on the load-bearing components where possible. Additionally, you will need to have documentation and traceability. That way, it becomes easier to maintain everything and track any of the documents, where possible.
Worker and employer responsibilities
Employers need to make sure that the equipment is inspected, maintained and installed properly. Not only that, but it also needs to be used according to the specs and guidelines offered by the manufacturer, along with the CSA standards.
In addition, employees need to have proper training, and they need to comply with the safe work procedures, use safe work procedures and access as well as rely on personal protective equipment where possible. If these obligations are not met, then this can bring work issues, legal penalties, or even no insurance coverage, since the rules are not covered properly.
Best practices you can use for compliance
When you are moving heavy equipment or sensitive equipment, it becomes very much a necessity to ensure that you follow the safety standards and guidelines.
- A very good rule of thumb is to develop a written safety program. The program needs to include risk assessments, any lift planning procedure, but also operating instructions that are compliant with the CSA standards. On top of that, you also want to keep certification and training records in there as well, just to be on the safe side.
- Offer any ongoing training. That’s crucial, especially refreshing the training for people that didn’t train for 3 years or which changed roles. Practical hands-on is important here, as you can alleviate any issues and focus on streamlining things and make everything better.
- Additionally, you always want to use qualified personnel, so the riggers and operators need to have documented training. It’s just as important to make sure that the safety professionals have PSAC or CSRP credentials, as these will help strengthen the compliance and oversight.
- It also helps to track the inspection and any test records along with certifications and corrective actions. Make sure that you are using CSA standards as a benchmark, as it will allow you to perform some preventative maintenance without hampering anything.
Compliance and documentation proof
There’s no denying that you need to highlight some proof which ensures compliance and professionalism. Having lift plans, maintenance records, inspection plans, training certificates, along with inspection logs, hazard assessments and insurance coverage proof, all of that will help a whole lot more than you might expect.
Naturally, documentation is key in these situations, and you always want to ensure that everything is streamlined and adapted properly. That will help you save time, remove any issues, and focus on making the process much easier. It’s always going to be worth the investment, especially as you get a very good return on investment and a true focus on quality.
Complying with regulations is always going to have its fair share of challenges. But once you identify what those challenges are and how you can tackle them, the process will be much easier to manage. And not only that, but you do need to consider all the challenges and problems that could potentially appear here. At the end of the day, it all comes down to preparation, staying in line with the Canadian guidelines and adapting according to the situation at hand.
Moreover, you do need to comply with the provincial OHS laws, the CSA crane and rigging standards, but also have the right worker training and competency enforcement. Then, there’s transportation compliance that you must worry about, along with safety certification systems including CRSP and COR. And of course, you must have the engineered lift planning, documentation and inspection. It all becomes a challenge when you try to work on it, but as you prepare everything properly, the results will always be worth all the effort.
Conclusion
It’s clear that proper preparation and a true focus on safety is exactly what you need in regards to industrial equipment moving. This is not a walk in the park, it requires a lot of preparation and focus, not to mention you need to adhere to the local safety standards. But in the end, it’s always going to be worth the effort, and that’s what you need to focus on the most. Rest assured that it’s always worth the time to study all safety guidelines and requirements, but also implement them properly. That will prevent damages and financial losses down the line.
