Vertech’s Inspection team has recently performed Close Visual Inspection (CVI) on a large number of handrails. Throughout the inspection process, we utilised an on-line inspection app that allowed us 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 with the most critical points 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. Visibility was at times impaired by heavy dust, and in certain sections of the plant, low lighting made it difficult to achieve a proper CVI.
Another obstacle that Vertech encountered was the heavy settlement of product on the handrail components that masked the corrosion occurring underneath. To perform an accurate test, our inspection teams prepared each inspection site by cleaning away the heavy build-up of corrosion.
Some of the main goals of the project, besides creating a safer work environment, was to develop a digital database of the existing handrails, in order to track and catalogue the handrail condition, location and any modifications carried out in the future.
Furthermore, the introduction of a routine inspection plan will ensure that deterioration in handrail condition can be monitored and addressed prior to 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.
