When must governors be equipped with over speed switches on a non-static driven personnel hoist?

Governors on non-static driven personnel hoists are critical safety devices designed to monitor and control the speed of the hoist mechanism. The requirement for equipping governors with overspeed switches is specifically tied to ensuring safety at higher operating speeds.

In this case, an overspeed switch must be installed when the hoist operates at speeds above 250 feet per minute (fpm). This is because, at higher speeds, the potential for hazardous conditions increases significantly. The implementation of overspeed switches serves as an additional layer of safety, preventing potentially dangerous uncontrolled descent by automatically cutting power or initiating other safety protocols when excessive speeds are detected.

This regulation is grounded in safety standards to protect users of the hoist, ensuring that the system can respond appropriately if the speed exceeds the designed operational thresholds. Understanding the right speed limits for safety device requirements is essential for compliance with regulations and for maintaining safe operating conditions for elevating devices.