The benefits of planned preventative maintenance for scissor lifts, dock levellers, loading bays, and industrial doors
As you might realise, corrective maintenance is a maintenance task undertaken to find, isolate and correct a fault in a failed piece of equipment – for example a dock leveller – after a malfunction or accident has occurred.
In contrast, planned preventative maintenance involves the regular servicing and care of the equipment through inspection, detection and correction of burgeoning failures before they happen or develop into major problems. This can include tests, adjustments and the replacement of parts in order to prevent a subsequent failure.
When used together with predictive maintenance to make the scheduling of services easier and more convenient, a preventative maintenance plan can give you access to the right information at the right time.
This means that, what might have caused unplanned breakdowns at an inconvenient time, is instead dealt with during shorter, planned maintenance beforehand – increasing the availability of the equipment.
These planned stops can also increase the lifetime of the equipment, improve safety and reduce the need for any unplanned maintenance, thus reducing costs.
A preventative maintenance plan also makes it easier for you budget for your maintenance costs as incidences of unpredictable maintenance would be fewer in number.
A well-organised preventive maintenance program depends on all parties involved working together, but this more than justifies the work and costs involved in implementing a preventative maintenance plan.
Let’s look into the benefits of this type of program.
A well-run preventative maintenance plan has many benefits which when taken together outweigh the costs of putting such a plan in place.
1) Production capacity is improved and the number of repairs is reduced, thus efficiency and productivity both increase.
2) The lifespan of your assets increases, precluding the need for premature replacement of equipment and machinery.
3) Costs are reduced over time because maintenance personnel are working to a pre-determined schedule, rather than on an emergency basis as and when equipment is in need of repair.
4) Routine repairs completed in a timely manner also means that there is less demand for large-scale repairs, which are not required as often.
5) Implementation of a preventative maintenance plan can also lead to a safer working environment and better conditions in the workplace.
6) Technicians can help prevent the degradation of assets, by conducting a series of tests, to determine the condition of equipment, using infrared, vibration analysis, measuring sound levels, acoustic tests, the analysis of oil, sonic or ultrasonic monitoring and online evaluations. All of these can be used to pre-empt problems and lessen the chance of equipment breakdown. By having these tests carried out as part of your preventative maintenance program, you gain the advantage of foreseeing potential problems, meaning parts or equipment can be replaced before a breakdown occurs – hence avoiding the unpredictable costs. This means you and your business will not be so heavily reliant on corrective, unplanned maintenance – and following a plan like this helps to ensure that you comply with health and safety regulations.
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998[1] (LOLER) set out your obligations in terms of safety when you own, have control over, or operate lifting equipment.
The regulations require that all equipment is fit for purpose and subject to periodic examination, which must be recorded. Any faults must be reported to the relevant authority.
Having a comprehensive preventative maintenance plan in place can help you meet these and other legal and safety requirements with ease.
Loading systems are also work equipment, so the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1988[2] (PUWER) will also apply in relation to inspection and maintenance.
These regulations require you to ensure that all work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, is in efficient working order and in good repair.
You must also ensure that health and safety conditions are maintained and that any deterioration can be detected and remedied in good time.
As well as the obvious benefits of keeping your loading systems running smoothly and ensuring the safety of your employees and visitors, an effective planned preventative maintenance program can help you avoid the reputational damage and subsequent fines that can result from a prosecution under health and safety legislation.
Fines for these type of offences doubled[3] to £76m when new legislation brought unlimited fines into effect from March 2015.
Conclusion
Contact us now on 07976 057 239 to arrange a consultation with one of our representatives to establish a preventative maintenance program for your loading systems, lifts, escalators and mobility equipment.
Click on the links below to find out more about the wide range of loading systems products we supply:
Scissor lifts |Dock levellers | Vehicle restraints | Loading houses | Doors
Dock shelters and seals | Loading Bay Accessories
Contact us on 07976 057 239 or email loading@pickeringslifts.co.uk to find out more about the services we provide.
[1] https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2307/contents/made
[2] https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2306/contents/made
[3] https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/employers-fined-76m-over-health-and-safety-0j65ttjbd
What is a wicket gate?
A look into the history of Pickerings Lifts
Staff from across the company take on EOR 202(N) training
Pickerings Europe Ltd
Globe Elevator Works
P.O. Box 19
Stockton on Tees
Cleveland
TS20 2AD
T:+44 (0) 1642 607161
F:+44 (0) 1642 677638
E:contact@pickeringslifts.co.uk
