Fall Protection PPE – Inspection, Maintenance & Care Inspection of Your Fall Protection PPE – Who is Responsible and How Often? BEFORE EACH USE the authorized user must inspect the equipment according to manufacturer’s instructions. This is a visual inspection. Users should pay special attention to the fall-arrest force indicators. Location and design of fall arrest indicators will vary by equipment manufacturer. If there are signs that the equipment has or may have been subject to fall arrest forces it must be marked UNUSABLE and removed from service. Don’t toss the instructions that came with your equipment! Training should always incorporate the manufacturer’s instructions specific to the equipment you are using. OSHA 1910.140(c)(18) Personal fall protection systems must be inspected before initial use during each work shift for mildew, wear, damage, and other deterioration, and defective components must be removed from service. ON A REGULAR BASIS (NOT TO EXCEED ONE YEAR) by a Competent Person. This is a formal inspection. ANSI recommends that formal inspections be documented (OSHA does not have a specific requirement addressing a formal, regular inspection by a Competent Person). Equipment used in construction and demolition operations should be formally inspected every six months. 4 Hardware: Inspect all hardware (buckles, grommets, D-rings, etc.) for damage, alterations, and contamination. Things to look for include rust, corrosion, and deformation. Surface level rust or corrosion may not require the harness be taken out of service, but are strong indicators that potential damage may exist, and that a closer inspection of the affected components is necessary. D-rings must be integral to the harness and pivot freely, and all buckles must connect and adjust as intended. 4 Webbing: Inspect for cuts, burns, tears, abrasion, frays, excessive soiling and discoloration. It is also important to check if the stitching is intact, broken, or is fraying. Pay particularly close attention to points of friction on the harness, such as where buckles or D-rings may rub against webbing, as heavy use may result in abrasion or fraying in these areas. 4 Stitching: Inspect for pulled, broken, fraying or cut stitches. 4 L anyards/Self-Retracting Lanyards (Synthetic Rope): Inspect for pulled or cut yarns, burns, abrasion, knots, excessive soiling and discoloration. 4 L anyards/Self-Retracting Lanyards (Wire Rope): Inspect for broken wires, corrosion, kinks and separation of strands. 4 L anyards/Self-Retracting Lanyards (Shock Absorber): Inspect for elongation, tears, and excessive soiling. 4 P roduct Labels: Labels are an important part of the inspection process and should be legible with all information present. Important information includes warnings, materials of construction and capacity of the harness. If labels are not present or illegible, ANSI equipment standards require that the harness be removed from service. SAFETY
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