Safety related study of Expanding Pin systems application in lifting and drilling equipment within Construction, Offshore, and Marine sectors

Abstract

A questionnaire-based survey has been performed among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), sub-suppliers, engineering companies, end-users, service & maintenance, and “others”, as part of an investigation to clarify their relationship to expanding pin system, compared to standard, cylindrical pins. In addition, a short literature study on onshore cranes is conducted. The survey is based on 9 questions about safety for personnel and machine, breakage, and wear of pins and supports, and installation and retrieval easiness of pins. The analysis of the responses indicates that safety for personnel and machines/equipment is regarded mainly as either “Important” or “Crucial and decisive”, and that the expanding pin solution is regarded as “better” or “equal” compared to the standard, cylindrical pin, both for “safety level”, “risk for breakage of pin & support”, “tear & wear on pin & support” and “installation and retrieval time”.