Maintenance & Testing

Do safety harnesses expire?

There is no such thing as a predetermined or mandated expiration date on fall protection harnesses. Neither OSHA nor ANSI have current codes or standards that set a specific time period for taking a harness out of service. Even most manufacturers will not suggest how long a harness will last.

How do you inspect a full body harness?

Many full body harnesses have interlocking buckles called friction buckles. Look for bent, cracked, or nicked buckles. Test the buckles to make sure the coupling is secure. Look for frayed, cracked, cut, burned, or damaged webbing, and loose or broken stitching.

Fall Protection Harness Inspection

A safety harness inspection should be personally conducted before each use. When inspecting your harness look for stitching that may be broken, burned or pulled and stitching or rivets at hardware attachment points. Closely examine all webbing, belt ends, buckles and D-Rings. These few minutes could save your life.

Self Retracting Lifeline Inspection

SRLs (self-retracting lifelines) need a little more attention than other pieces of fall protection equipment during an inspection since many of their components are hidden from view. Springs, brake pawls, pressure plates, and even the cable or web assembly itself are all contained inside of the housing. Be sure to check that all labels and markings are intact and legible and look for evidence of any damage to the housing, lifeline and connectors.
ANSI states, “All fall protection shall be inspected at least every six months by a Competent Person,” however, it is highly recommended that each user complete a fall protection system inspection at the beginning of every workday.

The following should be inspected:

Inspect all screw, bolts.
Look for deterioration of the metal components.
Ropes should be inspected for broken wires or thread and for any other obvious damage.
Inspect all sleeves and connectors for damage and proper installation.
If the system’s impact detection indicates that the lifeline was involved in a fall remove it from service immediately.

Horizontal Lifeline Safety Inspection

When equipment fails, it is most likely due to lack of proper maintenance or inspection. Horizontal lifeline systems must be tagged out and inspected immediately after a fall but as with any equipment, horizontal lifelines also require routine inspections and maintenance.

Below are some common, inspection requirements for Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS).1915.159(b)(5).

Horizontal lifelines shall be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person, and shall only be used as part of a complete personal fall arrest system that maintains a safety factor of at least two.

Vertical Lifeline Safety Inspection

Vertical lifeline system equipment should be inspected regularly. Fall protection system inspections should be done according to the manufacturers’ instructions before each use. Verify that the system has been formally inspected within the last year by a jobsite Competent Person or by a “Competent Person” other than the user who has been certified by OSHA standards for this function.

Inspections of should include:

Inspection of the vertical lifeline, ladder structure, and body harness.
Making sure are labels and markings are present and legible.
Inspection of any brackets, cables, cable guides and fasteners.
Safety sleeve inspection.

A formal inspection of the entire system must be performed by a Competent Person other than the user if a fall occurs with the ladder safety sleeve or on the system and the entire system must be locked out.

Rigid Lifeline Inspections

Rigid rail fall arrest systems also require annual inspection. As with vertical and horizontal lifelines, the system must be tagged out and inspected immediately after a fall. The trolley and welds, bolt connections and any signs of impact should be inspected.

OSHA Fall Protection Inspection Requirements

Inspection Requirements and Summary by Standard/Regulation. The information identified in the regulations or standards listed below address inspections as follows:

OSHA 1910.140
Remove impacted systems and components.
Inspect systems prior to use. OSHA 1926.502
Remove impacted systems and components.
Inspect systems prior to use. ANSI Z359.14-2014
Comply with manufacturer’s instructions.
Inspect SRD after subjected to fall arrest. Inspected by user prior to use.
Competent Person inspection at intervals based on type and conditions of use.
Follow manufacturer’s instructions.
Inspect before each use.
Annual inspection by competent person. Inspect SRD after subjected to fall arrest.
Inspect prior to use. Periodic examinations by a competent person must be done at least every 12 months, in accordance with the Manufacturer’s instructions AS/NZS 1891.4
Inspection by a height safety operator before and after each use. Six (6) month inspection by a height safety equipment inspector.