10-point machine maintenance
Guidelines on proper machine maintenance
Which equipment must be checked? All those that must maintain the standard safety requirements.
What actions are required to maintain the efficiency and safety levels of a machine?
What kind of checks and maintenance are required? Maintenance work and intervals are indicated by the manufacturers, standards of good engineering or good practice.
Obviously, depending on the structural characteristics and intended use of a machine, the interventions are different.
Below are the 10 operations required to keep work equipment safe.
- Visual inspection
Every machine must be visually inspected, even before each intervention. The visual inspection of all components that must be efficient is the first step in maintaining the safety level of a machine.
- Lifting system
In a machine intended for lifting persons or equipment, the integrity of all components such as pulleys, winches, shafts, chains, poles, cranes, etc. must be checked and replaced if they are worn.
- Lubrication of components
All sliding systems and components subject to friction require adequate greasing and lubrication in order to prevent cracks and breakage.
- Surface protection
In order to keep the surface intact, it is necessary to subject the machinery to the treatments required to protect it from corrosion or wear; these include galvanising, painting, chrome-plating and others depending on the type of material.
- Electrical system
The components of the electrical installations (conduits, fuse covers, cable ducts, earth discharges) must first be visually checked. In addition, the condition of lamps, batteries, where present, and computerised control unit diagnostics are to be checked.
- Checking liquids
Hydraulic systems require checks on the chemical and physical condition of lubricants. Provision must then be made for the refilling of oil and other liquids necessary for proper operation.
- Micro components
All components of a machine, especially the smallest ones, which are often subject to the greatest stress (e.g. screws, bolts etc.), must be inspected for wear and tear and correct fastening.
- Safety devices
Proper maintenance must include checking and testing of the machine's safety devices: locking systems, brakes, alarm systems, etc.
- Thermography of components
In some cases, it is necessary to detect temperature variations in materials that can cause wear, malfunctions and breakage.
- Vibrations
Vibration analysis is a necessary preventive maintenance measure for certain machines (rotating or pneumatic); it helps to detect imbalances, misalignments, bearing defects, and resonance conditions that can lead to failures and stoppages.
