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Business
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LMI certification alone is not sufficient.
INSPECTION FREQUENCY AND LEGAL OBLIGATIONS Graham emphasised that lifting equipment must undergo several types of inspections to ensure it remains safe for use:
• Visual inspections: These should be conducted every three months to check for any immediate hazards or signs of wear and tear
• Electromechanical inspections: These more thorough inspections, which evaluate the functionality of electrical and mechanical components, should take place every six months
• Load testing: An annual requirement, load testing ensures that lifting machinery can handle the maximum weight it is rated for without failure
“ Regular inspections are essential to ensure that lifting machinery remains compliant with safety standards and is safe for operation. Failure to comply with these inspection requirements can lead to legal repercussions and increased risk on-site.
“ The IESA website is an excellent tool for verifying the credentials of potential service providers. We want to make it as easy as possible for companies to access the information they need to make informed decisions,” Graham said.
THE RISKS OF USING INVALID OR FRAUDULENT LME CERTIFICATES The LME certificate provides a detailed record of a company ' s qualifications, including a list of equipment categories that the company is certified to inspect. This certificate includes the entity ' s name, a unique LME registration number and a scope of work indicating which machinery the entity is competent to inspect.
However, Graham warned that some entities have been found using another company ' s valid LME certificate to fraudulently secure work.“ If the entity name does not align with the LME number, that’ s a red flag,” he said. To combat this, the IESA has implemented an online portal for quick verification. By visiting their website and accessing the LME Validation tool, companies can verify whether an LME certificate is valid and corresponds with the correct entity. The system links directly to DEL ' s database, providing the most up-to-date information on registered entities.
Equally critical is ensuring that the LMI performing the inspections is properly certified and qualified to work with the specific type of equipment. According to Graham, the LMI certificate alone is not sufficient— companies must also verify that the inspector’ s Letter of Scope, issued by ECSA, matches the type of machinery they are inspecting.
The Letter of Scope specifies the exact equipment categories the inspector is authorised to work on, such as overhead cranes, mobile cranes or forklifts. Graham emphasised that you shouldn’ t appoint an inspector who isn’ t qualified for the specific machinery being inspected. Without a proper Letter of Scope, any certificate issued by the inspector for equipment outside their competency is considered invalid. This can lead to serious consequences:“ If an inspector issues a load test certificate for equipment outside their scope, the certificate is legally void. If DEL audits this certificate and discovers discrepancies, the inspector could face disciplinary action, but it is the site owner or legal appointee who will be held liable, particularly in the case of a fatality.”
The importance of verifying the active status of an LMI’ s registration was another critical point raised by Graham. An inspector ' s registration may be canceled for various reasons, including failure to maintain Continuous Professional Development( CPD) requirements or non-payment of fees. In these cases, the inspector’ s certifications are not valid, and any tests or inspections they perform may be legally compromised.
To check whether an LMI is still actively registered, Graham demonstrated how to use the IESA’ s online portal to confirm whether the inspector ' s status is active or canceled. This verification tool is linked to the ECSA’ s database, ensuring that only qualified and current inspectors are appointed.
THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL STANDARDS In addition to verifying qualifications and registration statuses, Graham stressed the importance of ensuring that LMIs and load testing are performed according to national standards. The IESA website provides access to the full set of gazetted standards, which cover a wide range of lifting equipment, including forklifts,
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RACA Journal I July 2025 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za