When should you perform a pre-use inspection of the capstan hoist?

• A. After use
• B. Before each use
• C. Monthly
• D. Annually

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is safety through condition monitoring. A capstan hoist, like any lifting device, can develop hidden wear, damage, or misalignment between uses. Performing a pre-use inspection ensures that everything the operator relies on—rope or cable integrity, hook and latch, brakes and controls, guards, and lubrication—is functioning correctly before the lift begins. Catching a small issue before it becomes a failure protects people and prevents accidents such as rope frays, brake slippage, or uncontrolled movement.

Waiting until after use, or on a monthly or annual schedule, can miss problems that arise during operation or from just one use, so those intervals don’t provide the same safety guarantee as inspecting before each lift. By checking the hoist before every use, you verify it’s safe to operate for the current task and load.