What should be done if any lifting hardware shows signs of damage?

• A. Remove from service, tag out, and have a competent person replace or repair it.
• B. Ignore minor damage and continue.
• C. Paint it to prevent rust.
• D. Use it only for non-critical lifts.

Answer: (A)

Damaged lifting hardware must be taken out of service and cannot be used until it is repaired or replaced by a qualified person. The purpose is to prevent a sudden failure that could cause a drop or other serious injury. Tagging out communicates clearly that the equipment is unsafe and must not be used until it has been inspected by a competent person, who will decide whether it can be repaired or needs replacement and will oversee the return-to-service process after proper testing and verification.

Ignoring damage, painting it, or using it for non-critical lifts might seem to bypass the issue, but none of those actions address the underlying risk. The integrity of lifting gear is critical to safe crane operations, so any signs of damage require removal from service and proper repair or replacement.