A few years ago, I gave the talk at Groundwater Week in Las Vegas that this series is based on. To prepare, I talked to a few manufacturers. I asked, how often do you require inspection of the wire rope on your drills? Every one of them stated they did not have change-out, rotation or inspection schedules listed in the manuals for their units. The reasoning for this was the liability of giving these recommendations. It would put the manufacturer in the hot seat if an accident occurred and the drill crew had followed manufacturer recommendations.
This lack of guidance from manufacturers puts the liability on drillers and the companies that hire them. The driller must inspect the rig and its components each day and decide if they are safe to run. The CEO or owner must question whether the company thoroughly trains crews with safety in mind. Are our crews making the right choices? Add to this the required documentation: inspections filled out, utilized and retained to develop a company change-out, replacement or rotation schedule. After all wire rope, despite its durability and strength, eventually wears out and must be removed. Regular inspection is crucial.