AnchorTesting
Effective November 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires anchors used for scaffolds and rope descent systems be inspected annually and tested every 10 years.
Our engineers are qualified to certify that your anchors meet this requirement. Our staff provides a complete spectrum of services to help ensure the safety of the anchor structural capacity, from inspections to certification, through planning, analysis, and testing.
Our staff stays informed of current industry standards and practices to provide economical and practical solutions to keep existing structural systems safe.
Using cost-effective methods to evaluate existing systems to protect the life safety of individuals is the primary goal of the HECO Engineers Anchor Tests.
Steps
Proof Testing
Inspection
Load Testing
OSHA 1910.27(b)(1)(i)
Before any rope descent system is used, the building owner must inform the employer, in writing that the building owner has identified, tested, certified, and maintained each anchorage so it is capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg), in any direction, for each employee attached. The information must be based on an annual inspection by a qualified person and certification of each anchorage by a qualified person, as necessary, and at least every 10 years.
Steps
Prior to inspection and load testing HECO Engineers can use existing information to determine if it is possible for the anchors to meet OSHA requirements. This limits testing on anchors that could fail under testing and financial cost to our clients.
The anchors and the surrounding area are inspected by our experienced engineers for distress that could signal the anchors are unable to meet the OSHA requirements.
OSHA requirements state that the anchors must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds in any direction for each employee attached. However, testing to this limit might damage the anchors to the point they need to be replaced. Instead, HECO follows industry practice and tests the anchors to 2,500 lbs. while measuring the displacement during testing. This allows our engineers to determine their capacity of the anchors while limiting the possibility of permanent damage.
