Toco Lifting testing and certification at a glance
| Service | Examination, load testing and certification of lifting equipment |
|---|---|
| Authority | Approved Lifting Machinery Entity (LME 008), Department of Labour, under DMR 18 of the OHS Act |
| Inspector | ECSA registered Lifting Machinery Inspector, registration 201112078 |
| Scope | Chain blocks, steel wire ropes, chain slings, steel wire slings and flat webbings; other equipment advised on enquiry |
| Certificates | Performance (Load Test) Certificate for equipment that suspends or halts a load; Conformance Inspection Certificate for equipment that cannot |
| Covers | Equipment supplied by Toco and any brand already in service on a client site |
| Coverage | South Africa and the SADC region |
Toco Lifting has tested and certified lifting equipment under LME 008 for over two decades, with work signed off by an ECSA registered Lifting Machinery Inspector.
Toco Lifting inspects, load tests and certifies lifting equipment for industry across South Africa and the SADC region. As an approved Lifting Machinery Entity, the company examines and performance tests chain blocks, steel wire ropes, chain slings, steel wire slings and flat webbings; for equipment outside these categories, contact Toco to be advised. The company issues the certification required to keep equipment legally in service under the Driven Machinery Regulations.
Toco Lifting is approved by the Department of Labour to undertake Conformance Inspections and Performance Testing (Load Testing) per approved SABS, SANS, or relevant OEM Standard. Inspections are carried out by an ECSA-Registered Lifting Machinery Inspector under registration number 201112078, in terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 2000.
Testing and certification of lifting equipment is a legal requirement under South African law. It must be carried out by a competent, registered inspector with access to calibrated load-measuring equipment. Toco Lifting has invested over two decades in inspector training and in its own testing facilities, and supplies certification on both new equipment it sells and equipment already in service on a client’s site.
What does Toco Lifting test and certify?
Toco Lifting examines, tests and certifies lifting machines and lifting tackle across the categories covered by its Department of Labour approval. The service covers equipment supplied by Toco as well as equipment of any brand already in operation on a client’s premises.
| Equipment | Service | Certificate issued |
|---|---|---|
| Chain blocks, lever hoists, winches | Examination and Performance Testing (Load Testing) | Performance Test Certificate (Load Test Certificate) |
| Chain slings, steel wire rope slings, polyester slings, flat webbing slings | Examination and Conformance Inspection | Conformance Inspection Certificate |
| Steel wire rope, chain, shackles and lifting tackle | Examination and Conformance Inspection | Conformance Inspection Certificate |
| Steel wire rope and components, on request | OEM material traceability | OEM Certificate on request, alongside the Conformance Inspection Certificate |
Where a client requires OEM material traceability on steel wire rope or individual components, an OEM Certificate is supplied on request alongside the Conformance Inspection Certificate.
What is the difference between a Performance Test and a Conformance Inspection?
The certificate type depends on what the equipment does. A Performance Test, also known as a Load Test, applies to equipment that can suspend or halt a load automatically once input energy stops: chain blocks, lever hoists and winches. These items are load tested and issued with a Performance Test Certificate.
A Conformance Inspection applies to lifting tackle that cannot suspend or halt motion on its own: slings of all types, steel wire rope, chain and shackles. This equipment is examined and issued with a Conformance Inspection Certificate. Equipment is never certified with a generic “test certificate”; the certificate is always matched to the equipment class.
How often must lifting equipment be tested in South Africa?
Inspection and testing intervals are set by Driven Machinery Regulation 18 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993. The intervals differ between lifting tackle and lifting machines.
| Requirement | Maximum interval | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Visual examination of lifting tackle in use | 3 months | DMR 18(10)(e) |
| Thorough examination of a lifting machine and its ropes, chains, hooks, sheaves, brakes and safety devices | 6 months | DMR 18(6) |
| Performance test of a lifting machine | 12 months | DMR 18(5) |
The user of the equipment must keep a register recording every performance test, examination, modification and repair, available for inspection on request, per DMR 18(7).
How does the testing and certification service work?
Equipment is examined against the standard to which it was manufactured. Toco Lifting operates its own testing facilities, including a 200-ton proof loading bench at the Germiston facility, and uses load cells whose calibration is accredited by SANAS. New equipment supplied by Toco leaves the facility certified. Equipment already in service is examined on site or at the Toco facility, load tested or conformance inspected as the equipment class requires, and issued with the correct certificate. Chain blocks and lever hoists are inspected and load tested to SANS 500, the standard Toco applies to both the initial inspection and the inspections carried out every three months. Equipment that needs repair or maintenance is routed to the service department before certification.
Toco Lifting is an established supplier and testing partner to industry across South Africa and the wider SADC region, with branches in Germiston and Cape Town.
Which industries does Toco Lifting test for?
Toco Lifting tests and certifies lifting equipment for mining, heavy engineering, construction, and many other heavy industrial applications. The certification service applies equally to equipment in daily preventative maintenance programmes and to equipment commissioned for a single planned lift.
Compliance and credentials
Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd holds full accreditation as an approved Lifting Machinery Entity under Driven Machinery Regulation 18(5) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993, authorised to examine and performance test chain blocks, steel wire ropes, chain slings, steel wire slings and flat webbings. Lifting Tackle and Lifting Machinery e.g. Chain Blocks, Lever Hoists and Forklift to name a few, is inspected and performance tested by a dedicated Lifting Machinery Inspector and Team on Toco Lifting Premises. Toco Lifting is a Standard Company Member of LEEASA (membership LEEASA-SUB-00102) and a registered Company Member of the Chamber of Engineering Technology (COET, membership 8000134). SANAS accreditation applies to the calibration of the load cells used in testing.
Frequently asked questions
Is testing of lifting equipment a legal requirement in South Africa?
Yes. Driven Machinery Regulation 18 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 requires lifting machines and lifting tackle to be examined, tested and certified at set intervals by a competent, registered inspector. Using equipment with an expired or absent certificate is not legally compliant.
How often does lifting equipment need to be load tested?
A lifting machine must be performance tested at intervals not exceeding 12 months. Its ropes, chains, hooks, sheaves, brakes and safety devices must be thoroughly examined at intervals not exceeding 6 months. Lifting tackle in use must be visually examined at intervals not exceeding 3 months.
What is the difference between a Performance Test Certificate and a Conformance Inspection Certificate?
A Performance Test Certificate, also called a Load Test Certificate, is issued for equipment that can suspend or halt a load once input energy stops, such as chain blocks, lever hoists and winches. A Conformance Inspection Certificate is issued for lifting tackle that cannot halt motion on its own, such as slings, steel wire rope, chain and shackles.
Can Toco Lifting test equipment that was not bought from Toco?
Yes. Toco Lifting inspects, tests and certifies lifting equipment of any brand already in operation on a client’s site, not only equipment it has supplied. The equipment is examined against the standard to which it was manufactured.
Who carries out the inspections?
Inspections are carried out by a Registered Lifting Machinery Inspector registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa under registration number 201112078, in terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 2000. Registration confirms the inspector is competent to examine and test the equipment categories within scope.
What is a Mill Certificate?
A Mill Certificate is the original equipment manufacturer’s material certificate, the birth certificate for steel wire rope or an individual component. Toco Lifting supplies a Mill Certificate alongside the Conformance Inspection Certificate when a client requires OEM material traceability.
What records must the equipment owner keep?
The user of a lifting machine must keep a register on the premises recording every performance test, examination, modification and repair. The register must be available for inspection on request, as required by Driven Machinery Regulation 18(7).
Does Toco Lifting test and certify outside Germiston?
Yes. Toco Lifting operates from Germiston and Cape Town and supports lifting equipment testing and certification for clients across South Africa and the SADC region. Contact the team to arrange an on-site inspection or a facility-based test.
Arrange a test or certification
To book an inspection, load test or recertification, or to discuss a testing programme for a site, speak to the Toco Lifting team. Call +27 (0)11 345 8800 or request a quote and an inspector will be in contact.
