Fault or weakness in equipment, or any of its components, which could arise during the manufacture, construction, installation, OR when in use. Could be due to damage, wear, deterioration, {actors inhorent in the materials used. ‘The term used in this reguiation to mean a systematic and specialised process of examination by a competent [person for any defect in lifting equipment. Thorough examination “The individual nominated by the ‘employer to carry out thorough ‘examinations on the basis of his or her level of knowledge of the equipment, defects and their causes, methods ‘of testing and fault diagnosis. The person must be independent from ‘the employers line management. The ‘compotent person can be in-house or ‘rom an external organisation such @s ‘an insurance company. Conditions causing deterioration __mospheric cr envronmontal conditions AND/OR operation Conditions which er fkely to cause damage to iting equipment. Testing ‘The level of examination, and the requirement for testing, is based on an assessment of risk and determined by the competent person. Some overload tess an cause damage to liting equipment and itis crucial that the competent person takes account of manufacturer's instruction and other information. ‘The ACOP says: Testing 301 The competent person should decide whether a test is necessary. ‘The nature of the test method will also be a matter for a competent person: they should determine the most appropriate method of carrying it out. Regulation 9(1): initial thorough examination ‘This part of the regulation is all about carrying out a thorough exarrination before the liting equipment is put into operation. The extent,of the examination depends (on the extent of the information available to the competent person. For new Titing fequipment, a thorough examination may not be needed since its assumed this, has been done by the manufacturer or supplier. Confirmation of this is through the Declaration of Conformity fused equipment is supplied with current evidence that @ thorough examination thas boen carried out, it does not require a further thorough examination. However,