A pre-shift and frequent inspection checklist for overhead and bridge cranes, with a record of findings.
Overhead cranes move heavy loads above people and equipment. Worn hooks, damaged rope and failed limit switches give warning signs before they fail, but only if someone looks.
In general industry, OSHA’s overhead and gantry crane standard (29 CFR 1910.179) separates frequent inspections from periodic ones and requires certain records. Construction, state plans and manufacturer instructions may add requirements. This checklist helps organize routine checks; it does not replace a qualified inspection.
Any defect that affects safe operation means the crane is tagged out of service until it is repaired.
22 items. Keep it on a tablet, or print a copy for the clipboard.
At the start of the second shift, an operator at a steel fabrication shop notices the hook latch on bay 2’s crane no longer springs shut. The operator tags the crane out, notes the defect and tells the supervisor. Maintenance replaces the latch before the end of the shift, records the repair and the crane is returned to service.
Under 29 CFR 1910.179, frequent inspections happen at daily to monthly intervals and periodic inspections at 1 to 12 month intervals, depending on how hard the crane works. Two items need a monthly certification record: hooks, under paragraph (j)(2)(iii), and running ropes, under paragraph (m)(1). Each record shows the date, the signature of the person who inspected and an identifier for the hook or rope. A completed copy of this checklist can serve as that record if it includes all three. Keep the periodic inspection reports as well, since they are the evidence that deeper checks were done.
| Crane use | Frequent inspection | Periodic inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Daily production, near rated load | Every shift | Every 1 to 3 months |
| Regular use, moderate loads | Daily | Every 6 months |
| Occasional use, light loads | Before each use and monthly | Yearly |
The manufacturer’s manual and the consensus standard ASME B30.2 give more detail for each component. When they differ from your plan, follow the stricter one.
A crane that has been repaired or altered in a way that affects its load-carrying parts must be load tested before it goes back into regular use, under 29 CFR 1910.179(k). Record the test, the load used and who supervised it on the same sheet as the defect that started the repair, so the full history of that crane sits in one place.
Frequent inspections are visual and functional checks done often, from daily to monthly. Periodic inspections are more thorough and done at longer intervals by a qualified person.
Only trained, designated operators. Check the requirements that apply to your workplace.
Stop, tag the crane out of service and report it. Do not use it until a competent person repairs and clears it.
Follow the applicable regulations and your company’s retention policy.
Often yes, if the operator is trained and designated by the employer. Periodic inspections usually need a more qualified inspector.
No. A digital record works if it shows the date, the inspector’s signature and the hook or rope identifier, and can be produced when asked.
EZTime tasks can repeat on a schedule, ask for a photo when they are done and warn a manager when one is overdue. Book a demo to see it with your team.