Why Preparation Matters Before a Periodic Inspection
Preparation refers to the work needed to make equipment ready for inspection and testing. The amendment published on 18 February 2022 identifies this as the employer's responsibility. The business must carry out or arrange the preparations, and in some cases the technical service provider must also attend.
Technical service support may be required, for example, for construction-crane brake tests, escalator inspections, or tower-crane testing where additional counterweight is needed for a test at 1.25 times capacity.
Preparation makes equipment defects easier to detect. Cleaning a steam boiler, for example, can reveal deformation or welding defects. Complete preparation also allows the inspection to finish within the planned time, reducing production downtime, lost labour and personnel costs.
An accompanying person who knows the site and equipment is required during inspection. For some equipment, an operator's certificate or vocational qualification may be requested. These qualifications are not themselves inspection criteria; they help ensure that preparations are completed correctly and that a competent person can operate or intervene in the equipment under the inspector's instructions.
For example, a person who understands steam-boiler preparation, air venting, burner ignition and temperature and pressure control circuits helps tests run properly. Likewise, a tower crane requires an authorised operator. Competent assistance also helps prevent workplace accidents.
Operator Qualification Requirements:
Article 17(3) of Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 prohibits employment in hazardous or very hazardous work requiring vocational training unless the worker can document the relevant training. Article 5 of the Regulation on Vocational Training for Persons Employed in Hazardous and Very Hazardous Work requires training for the occupations listed in Annex 1. Row 90 of that annex addresses the qualification required for boiler operation.
Preparation differs by equipment type and inspection cycle. For example, a crane may be tested before first use at 1.25 times its maximum lifting capacity, while the second and third inspection periods use the operating capacity. The quantity of test weights required therefore differs.
TS EN 2025 defines inspection stages A, B and C for different years, with different methods at each stage. For further information about these stages, contact info@fqcstandard.com.tr for details.
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