Vertech’s Inspection team has recently performed Close Visual Inspection (CVI) on many handrails. Throughout the inspection process, we utilised an online inspection app to capture detained inspection data via tablet, then immediately upload it to the cloud for our staff and the clients to review.
Major and minor indications were found, and the most critical points were quickly barricaded to prevent accidents or injury. Using a digital reporting system throughout the inspection process made it effortless to analyse the results and deliver the final report to the client on time.
While digital reporting made the project easier, as the plant was continuously in production, several challenges existed when performing inspections. Heavy dust, sometimes impaired visibility, and low lighting made achieving a proper CVI in certain plant sections difficult.
Another obstacle that Vertech encountered was the heavy settlement of product on the handrail components that masked the corrosion occurring underneath. Our inspection teams prepared each inspection site to perform an accurate test by cleaning away the heavy corrosion build-up.
Besides creating a safer work environment, some of the project’s main goals were to develop a digital database of the existing handrails to track and catalogue the handrail condition, location, and any modifications that could be carried out in the future.
Furthermore, introducing a routine inspection plan will ensure that deterioration in handrail conditions can be monitored and addressed before becoming a safety concern.
Once the inspection process was complete, Vertech worked with our client to develop a routine inspection plan that would help them manage the integrity of the plant much more efficiently in the future. This will only get more effective over time as the digital database of handrails gathers and tracks more data points.
Edited by Craig Davies.
