Training: Informative, Practical and Surprisingly Engaging
I was invited to attend a training session on the inspection of wire ropes, and it turned out to be one of the most informative and enjoyable courses I have been on.
Having worked as a service engineer for many years, I have dealt with plenty of wire ropes. I went into the session expecting to pick up a few useful points, but if I am honest, I also thought I would already know most of it. How I was very wrong.
The course began with a warm welcome from Ash, the trainer, who was clearly confident, knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. From the start, he created a relaxed atmosphere where everyone felt able to get involved, ask questions and share ideas. Answers were handled positively, questions were welcomed, and every explanation was supported with clear practical examples.
The training started with something many engineers will recognise but few will understand: the long mix of numbers and letters shown on a Declaration of Conformity. At first glance, it can look confusing. Ash asked the group what we thought each part meant, listened to our answers, and then moved on without giving it all away immediately. It left me wanting to know more, which is exactly what good training should do.
As the session progressed, each stage was built up clearly. We looked at how individual wires are made, how they form strands, and how those strands come together to create a wire rope. Having different types of ropes available to handle, inspect and compare, along with videos of the manufacturing process, made the subject practical and engaging rather than just technical.
By the time we returned to the original code — 22mm dia 6 x 28 (7/7+7/6/1) IWRC GAL sZ — I could explain what each section meant, how the rope was constructed and what I should be looking for during an inspection. That was a real moment of realisation. The training had taken something that looked complicated and made it understandable and useful.
The section on defects and discard criteria was particularly valuable. We covered what causes wire ropes to break down, how to identify areas of concern, and how to make confident decisions when a lift may need to be taken out of service. Topics such as valley breaks, crown breaks, internal corrosion and the effect of different sheaves were explained in a way that was easy to follow and directly relevant to work in the field.
What surprised me most was the buzz the course created. I expected a technical refresher, but I came away genuinely interested and even found myself showing my family videos of how wire ropes are made. Needless to say, they were not quite as excited as I was.
My advice to anyone considering the training is simple: go to it. Even if you think you already know the subject, you will learn something new and come away with a clearer understanding of what to inspect, how to inspect it, and the confidence to make better decisions.
