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Contractors & Industrial Supply Co., Inc. over the past 15 years has made it our priority to provide not only the highest quality, but also the safest electrode handling equipment available for the use with electric arc furnaces. We ensure that every item in our product line meets or exceeds American Society Mechanical Engineers safety standards governed by the standard ASME-B30.20 Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices. Graphite lift plugs that sustain damage to the components or excessive wear of the graphite threads can render the lift plugs unsafe for use. To ensure safe lifting capability, CIS has developed an inspection procedure that keys on 3 areas that through prolonged and excessive use may render the lift plug unsafe: damage to the steel components, damage to the graphite component and wear on the graphite plug threads.
Just as an alloy chain sling must be inspected before each lift for any deficiencies, the same must be done for all lift plugs (in accordance with ASME B30.20). The "Pocket" Thread Wear Gage, is a compact device that the mill worker can easily attach to a karabiner or keep in their pocket. Used prior to each lift, this device allows the operators to visually determine whether the threads of the lift plug are satisfactory to continue use. (See file below) The implementation of the graphite lift plug inspection procedure will require that each lift plug be inspected bi-monthly at a minimum. This satifies the ASME B30.20 requirement for a periodic inspection with documented records. This inspection, best performed on scheduled down days, consists of specialized measuring, gaging and documentation to ensure the continued safe use of the graphite lift plugs. An individual plug  inspection will take less than 5 minutes and will require an area with a lighted inspection table. Personnel performing the inspection will need to be trained in the proper inspection procedures and equipment usage as defined with the accompanying work instructions that ship with this device. All inspections should be documented on the forms provided and the documentation should be maintained for tracking the continued safe operation of the lift plugs. The inspection kit (images provided below) contains the necessary equipment as well as the written work instructions, which must be maintained in the inspection area, for performing each step of the inspection procedure. In addition, it also contains a comprehensive 15-minute training video (DVD) for training the lift plug inspectors on the proper inspection and documentation procedures. In keeping with our priority to provide not only the highest quality, but the safest possible lifting equipment we have developed these inspection tools for the steel industry. We feel that this system when used as directed will increase uptime and will help eliminate potential lift plug failure and the downtime and associated risks inherent with all overhead lifting devices.  Related Files:
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