Lifting Inspector

The Lifting Inspector course from the American Institute of Safety Professionals provides specialist training on the inspection, examination, and certification of lifting equipment and accessories: cranes, hoists, slings, shackles, hooks, eyebolts, swivels, spreader bars, chain blocks, lever hoists, and every component in the lifting chain from the crane hook to the load. Lifting equipment failure drops loads onto workers. The inspection programme is the last line of defence: identifying wear, damage, deformation, corrosion, and fatigue before they cause failure. This course develops the inspection competency that prevents these catastrophic events.

The curriculum covers the legal and standards framework for lifting equipment inspection (OSHA, ASME B30 series, LOLER awareness for international context), inspection types (pre-use visual, periodic/scheduled, thorough examination), crane inspection (structural, mechanical, electrical, safety devices, wire rope, hooks), sling inspection (wire rope, synthetic, chain detailed criteria for each), hardware inspection (shackles, hooks, eyebolts, swivels, links, turnbuckles), wire rope inspection criteria (broken wires per strand, per rope, per lay length, diameter reduction, corrosion, kinking, bird-caging, core protrusion, heat damage), load testing awareness, colour coding systems (quarterly colour coding for inspection status), documentation and certification records, defective equipment management (quarantine, tagging, disposal), and lifting equipment register maintenance. All training is delivered 100 percent online through Microsoft Teams and the American Institute of Safety Professionals LMS.

Upon completion, graduates receive a certificate, wallet card, and transcript, employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Inspect crane components: structural members (cracks, deformation, corrosion), wire rope (broken wires, diameter reduction, kinking, bird-caging), hooks (throat opening, twist, wear, latch), safety devices (LMI, anti-two-block, swing radius limitation), and the documentation that records crane condition.
• Inspect slings by type: wire rope slings (broken wires per ASME B30.9 criteria, kinking, corrosion, end fitting damage), synthetic slings (cuts, burns, abrasion, UV degradation, stitching, label), chain slings (stretch, wear, link deformation, cracks), and the removal-from-service criteria for each.
• Inspect lifting hardware: shackles (pin wear, body deformation, markings), hooks (throat opening increase >15%, twist, cracks, latch), eyebolts (thread damage, shoulder seating), and the specific inspection criteria for each hardware type.
• Apply wire rope inspection criteria: counting broken wires per strand and per rope length, measuring diameter reduction, identifying kinking and bird-caging, recognising heat damage and corrosion, and the ASME B30 criteria that determine when wire rope must be replaced.
• Manage the colour coding system: quarterly colour assignment, colour application to inspected equipment, removing uninspected or failed equipment from service, and the visual management system that communicates inspection status at a glance.
• Maintain lifting equipment registers and certification records: equipment identification, capacity, inspection dates, inspector, findings, corrective actions, and the documentation that demonstrates a functioning inspection programme.

Core Curriculum Topics

• Inspection Framework: OSHA, ASME B30, LOLER awareness, legal obligations
• Inspection Types: pre-use visual, periodic/scheduled, thorough examination
• Crane Inspection: structural, mechanical, electrical, safety devices, wire rope, hooks
• Wire Rope Criteria: broken wires (per strand, per rope, per lay), diameter, kinking, bird-caging, heat, corrosion
• Sling Inspection: wire rope, synthetic, chain detailed criteria, removal from service
• Hardware Inspection: shackles, hooks (15% throat opening), eyebolts, swivels, links
• Load Testing: proof load, operational load, acceptance testing, periodic testing
• Colour Coding: quarterly colour system, application, visual management
• Defective Equipment: quarantine, tagging, disposal, preventing re-entry into service
• Documentation: equipment register, inspection records, certification, audit trail
• Equipment Management: inventory, tracking, inspection scheduling, lifecycle management

Participants will receive online training through Microsoft Teams and LMS. Courses are offered by accredited broadcasters and backed by expert instruction and official study materials. All assessments are conducted online and successful participants are awarded certificates that are accepted internationally.

The Lifting Inspector program is designed to provide participants with the technical expertise and practical skills necessary to inspect, evaluate, and certify lifting equipment and operations. This course emphasizes hazard identification, compliance with lifting regulations and standards, and effective inspection practices to ensure safe and reliable lifting operations in the workplace.

Core Modules

Participants will gain knowledge and hands-on skills to inspect lifting equipment and monitor safe lifting practices:

Optional / Site-Specific Modules

Additional modules may be included based on site-specific lifting operations and risks:

The Lifting Inspector program equips participants with the skills to perform thorough inspections, ensure compliance with safety standards, prevent lifting accidents, and contribute to a safe and efficient lifting operation environment.

• No prior training required
• No academic degree required
• All instruction in English; working proficiency required

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

The program is designed to offer flexible online learning with a minimum instructional contact time of 8 hours. Most learners successfully complete the course within one month, allowing them to progress at their own pace while balancing professional commitments.

Candidates can take this exam through an assigned portal from the American Institute of Safety Professionals. A passing score is 70% or higher, and exam results are provided right after by email to the address provided. The exam is open-book, allowing candidates to validate their answers. Any candidates who do not pass have 1 month after their exam to go through the training materials and can take the exam 3 additional times.

For questions about American Institute of Safety Professionals online fees, replacement certificates, additional hardbound materials or any other financial-related issues please feel free to contact accounts@amiosp.com

• Designated lifting equipment inspectors
• Rigging supervisors responsible for equipment condition
• Crane operators who conduct pre-shift inspections
• Safety officers managing lifting equipment programmes
• Maintenance personnel who service lifting equipment
• Warehouse supervisors managing hoists and chain blocks

Prerequisite: Rigging awareness helpful. Rigging Supervisor or Crane and Derrick Safety provides useful context.

• Lifting Inspector YOU ARE HERE (equipment inspection specialist)
• Rigging Supervisor (lift planning and crew management)
• Crane and Derrick Safety (crane operations)
• Scaffolding Inspector (scaffold inspection different equipment, similar discipline)