Auditors early engagement

Published 29 Apr '19
Read Time: 10 min

HAZ was engaged to conduct a pre-hazardous areas audit on two IECEx certified overhead cranes, which are to be installed in a Zone 22 area of a power station. 

The auditor had worked with the client on other cranes they had installed, and at the time they were already in their final locations, meters above the ground in dust filled environments, requiring the correct inductions, permits, paperwork and operations approval before the audit could take place.

Some lessons learnt from this experience include:

• Items found to be non-compliant during the on-site audit could not always be fixed on the spot which required a rectification work program and further delays
• Once the equipment is installed, it can be very time consuming to get the right permits to access areas and even open panels to conduct inspections. This impacted on cost to the client
• Most overhead cranes need scaffolding to gain access to the equipment
• Any screws, washers’ bolts etc which were dropped were never found
• Working at heights increases the time taken to conduct routine activities
• Work was conducted with poor visibility
• In a coal dust environment everything is covered in coal dust

The client took these learnings from the inspections and made a key decision to have the overhead cranes inspected before mobilising to site. Apart from some loose terminals, cable bending radius issues and incorrectly certified adaptors and glands, the time it took to inspect the two overhead cranes was significantly reduced. Those items required for remediation were order and will arrive to be installed before the installation occurs on site.

Early engagement of an Auditor to inspect and confirm the equipment is correct prior to it going to site, will significantly reduce the time and cost of the project.

Now they have the peace of mind that the equipment is ready to be installed and that there will be no surprises when it comes to the final Audit prior to energisation.

This material is produced by HAZ. The information is of a general nature only and should not be relied upon.  Each set of circumstances associated with compliance of hazardous areas and Type B compliance is unique and expert advice on your particular circumstances should be sought.  HAZ accepts no liability for any reliance on the information published on this website.