Which regulations cover fall arrest equipment?
Harnesses, lanyards and fall arrest blocks are covered by the Work at Height Regulations 2005, which require them to be suitable and inspected by a competent person where deterioration could cause danger. The PPE at Work Regulations add the duty to maintain personal protective equipment. LOLER applies only where the equipment is used to lift or lower a person, such as with a rescue winch or retrieval tripod.
How often should a detailed inspection be done?
HSE's guidance on fall arrest equipment made from webbing or rope recommends a detailed inspection at least every six months, and at least every three months for equipment used frequently in arduous conditions such as demolition, steel erection or scaffolding, or anywhere it meets grit, sharp edges or chemicals. The interval is the longest acceptable gap, not a target.
What is the difference between a pre-use check and a detailed inspection?
The pre-use check is the wearer's own look and feel before putting the harness on: webbing, stitching, buckles, labels and any sign that the energy absorber has deployed. It catches obvious damage. The detailed inspection is done by a competent person with the item in hand, against the manufacturer's criteria, recorded with the item's identity and result. One does not replace the other.
What gets a harness or lanyard rejected?
Cuts, abrasion or glazed webbing, broken or pulled stitching, heat or chemical damage, distorted or corroded metal parts, a gate that does not close and lock, an unreadable label, an item past the manufacturer's lifespan, and above all any lanyard whose energy absorber has deployed. A lanyard that has arrested a fall has done its job once and must be withdrawn.
Do fall arrest blocks need servicing as well?
Usually, yes. Self-retracting lifelines have internal mechanisms that a visual inspection cannot see, and most manufacturers set a service interval, often annual, carried out by the manufacturer or an approved agent. The detailed inspection checks function and condition and flags when the manufacturer's service is due.
What records should be kept?
Each item should have a unique identity, its date of first use where known, and a record of every detailed inspection and its result. Kit that moves between sites or between workers is the hardest to track, which is why one register for the whole stock, with a next-due date per item, is worth more than labels on hooks.
Sources & Further Reading
Independent inspection, same-day report with photos
We reply within one business hour, and the inspection is carried out by an engineer with hands-on experience of that kind of plant.