What action should be taken for equipment that has been subjected to impact loading?

When equipment has been subjected to impact loading, it can suffer from significant structural damage that may not be visible during routine inspections. Impact loading can compromise the integrity of the equipment, potentially leading to catastrophic failures if it is used without a thorough evaluation.

The correct action in this case is to remove the equipment from service and destroy or discard it. This ensures that any risks associated with the equipment failing while in use are entirely eliminated. The safety of personnel and the reliability of operations must take precedence, and since the impact could have created micro-cracks or weaknesses that are difficult to detect, it is safer to err on the side of caution and prevent further use.

Routine inspections alone may not be sufficient to ensure the equipment's safety after such an event, as they might miss underlying damage that could lead to failures. Hence, disposing of the equipment is a prudent measure.