1. Conduct regular and comprehensive inspections to promptly identify potential hazards

Surface damage inspection: Check the surface of the steel wire rope section by section for any broken wires, wear, rust or deformation. Broken wires should be distinguished between "single-strand broken wires" and "multi-strand broken wires". If the number of single-strand broken wires exceeds the corresponding structural specified value (for example, more than 5 single-strand broken wires in a 6×19 type steel wire rope), or if broken wires are concentrated in a local area (for example, more than 3 broken wires within a 100mm length), they should be immediately stopped from use and replaced. Wear should be measured in diameter. If the wear exceeds 10% of the original diameter (for example, a steel wire rope with an original diameter of 10mm becomes less than 9mm after wear), or if there is severe local wear (such as the steel wire being worn flat or the gap between strands becoming larger), use should be stopped. Rust should be vigilant against "point rust" and "sheet rust". Minor floating rust can be cleaned and lubricated. However, if rust causes the surface of the steel wire to become rough, with pits or adhesion between strands, it should be scrapped directly.

Inspection of rope ends and connecting parts: Check whether the fixing parts at both ends of the steel wire rope (such as rope clamps, wedge joints, and braiding points) are loose or deformed. The rope clamps need to be checked for any slippage and whether the bolts are tightened (the spacing of the rope clamps should be 6 to 8 times the diameter of the steel wire rope, and the quantity should match the diameter). At the braiding point, it is necessary to check whether there are any loose strands or broken seams. If the braiding length is insufficient (not less than 15 times the diameter of the steel wire rope) or looseness occurs, re-braiding or replacement of the connecting parts is required.

Second, standardize cleaning and lubrication to reduce internal losses

The cleaning and lubrication of the steel wire rope should be carried out simultaneously. The key points are to remove impurities, replenish grease, and reduce the friction between the steel wires and between the steel wire rope and the pulley/drum.

Cleaning operation: First, use a hard-bristled brush to remove surface dust and debris. Then, soak or wipe with kerosene or a special cleaning agent for steel wires (avoid using acid or alkali cleaners to prevent corrosion of the steel wires), with a focus on cleaning oil stains and rust residues between strands and in the gaps of the rope core. If the surface of the steel wire rope is heavily contaminated with oil, it can be soaked in sections and then the impurities in the gaps can be blown clean with a high-pressure air gun (with a pressure not exceeding 0.4MPa) to avoid incomplete cleaning which may prevent the oil from penetrating.

Lubrication operation: After cleaning, wait for the steel wire rope to be completely dry and apply the special steel wire rope lubricating oil (do not use grease, as grease has a high viscosity and is prone to adsorb impurities, which may instead accelerate wear). When lubricating, use a brush or an oil spray bottle to evenly apply the grease on the surface. At the same time, repeatedly bend the steel wire rope (or start the equipment to let the steel wire rope run slowly) to ensure that the grease penetrates into the rope core and the gaps between the strands, avoiding rust and wear of the internal steel wires due to only surface lubrication. The lubrication frequency should be adjusted according to the usage environment. In damp or dusty environments, it should be done once every two weeks; in dry and clean environments, once a month. After each lubrication, it is necessary to check whether the grease is evenly distributed to avoid local oil shortage.