55A. [ [Added by Notification No. 21 (SM)/XXXVI A-1019 (SM)-57, dated June 13, 1958.]
(1)No lifting machine, and no chain, rope or lifting tackle, except fibre rope or a fibre rope sling, shall be taken into use in any factory unless it has been tested and all parts have been thoroughly examined by a competent person and certificate to that effect, specifying the safe working load or loads, has been obtained from that person and is kept available for inspection.(2)(a)Every jib-crane, which is so constructed that die safe working load varies with raising or lowering of the jib, shall have attached thereto either an automatic indicator of safe working loads or an automatic jib-angle indicator and a table indicating the safe working loads at the corresponding inclinations of the jib, or corresponding radii of the load.(b)A table showing the safe working loads of every kind and size of chain, rope or lifting tackle in use, and, in the case of a multiple sling, die safe working loads at different angles of-the legs, shall be posted in the storeroom or place where, or in which, the chains, ropes or lifting tackles are kept, and in prominent positions on the premises; and no rope, chain or lifting tackle, not shown in the table, shall be used. However, the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall not apply in respect of such lifting tackle in the safe working load thereof, or in the case of a multiple sling, safe working load at different angles of the legs, is plainly marked upon it.(3)The register to be maintained under clause (a)(iii) of sub-section (1) of Section 29 of the Act shall be-(i)Name of occupier of the factory.(ii)Address of the factory.(iii)Distinguishing number or mark, if any, and description sufficient to identify the lifting machine, chain, rope, multiple sling or die lifting tackle.(iv)Date when the lifting machine, chain, rope, or multiple sling or lifting tackle was first brought into use in the factory.(v)Date and number of the certificate relating to any test and examination made under sub-rules (1) and (7) together with the name and address of the person who issued the certificate.(vi)Date of each periodical thorough examination made under clause (a) (iii) of sub-section (1) of Section 29 of the Act and sub-rule (6) and name and designation of the person by whom it was carried out.(vii)Date of annealing or other heat treatment of die chain and other lifting tackle made under sub-rule (5) and name and designation of the person by whom it was carried out.(viii)Particulars of any defects affecting the sate working load found at any such thorough examination or after annealing and of the steps taken to remedy such defects.The register shall be kept readily available for inspection.(4)All rails on which a travelling crane moves and every track on which "the carriage of a transporter or runway moves shall be of proper size and adequate strength and have an even running surface and every such rail or track shall be properly laid, adequately supported and properly maintained.(5)All chains and lifting tackle except a rope sling shall unless they have been subjected to such other heat treatment as may be approved by Chief Inspector of Factories be effectively annealed under the supervision of a competent person at the following intervals :(i)All chains, slings, rings, hooks, shackles and swivels used in connection with molten metal or molten slag or when they are made of half inch bar or smaller once at least in every six months.(ii)All other chains, rings, hooks, shackles and swivels in general use, once at least in every twelve months :Provided that chains and lifting tackle not in frequent use shall, subject to the Chief Inspector^ approval, be annealed only when necessary. Particulars of such annealing shall be entered in a register prescribed under sub-rule (3).(6)Nothing in the foregoing sub-rule (5) shall apply to the following classes of chains and lifting tackles :(i)Chains made of malleable cast iron.(ii)Plate link chains.(iii)Chains, rings, hooks, shackles and swivels made of steel or of any non-ferrous metal.(iv)Pitched chains, working on sprocket or pocketed wheels.(v)Rings, hooks, shackles and swivels permanently attached to pitched chains, pulley blocks or weighing machines.(vi)Hocks and swivels having screw threaded [parts] or ball bearing or other case hardened parts.(vii)Socket shackles secured to wire ropes by white metal capping.(viii)Bordeaux connections.(ix)Any chain or lifting tackle which has been subjected to the heat treatment known as "normalizing" instead of annealing.Such chains and lifting tackle shall be thoroughly examined by a competent person once at least in every twelve months, and particulars entered in the register kept in accordance with sub-rule (3).(7)Every lifting machine, chain, rope and lifting tackle, except a fibre rope, or fibre rope sling, which has been lengthened, altered or repaired by welding or otherwise, shall, before being again taken into use, be adequately re-tested and re-examined by a competent person and a certificate of such test and examination be obtained and particulars entered in the register kept in accordance with sub-rule (3).(8)No person under 18 years of age and no person who is not sufficiently competent and reliable shall be employed as driver of a lifting machine, whether driven by mechanical power or otherwise, or to give signals to a driver.][Section 31(2)]
