To check a safety harness, inspect the manufacturer label, the hardware, and the software.
Before you step into your harness, you must always inspect it to ensure that it can be relied upon. It is vital that safety harnesses are regularly inspected by a competent person who is fully trained and authorised by the manufacturer. It’s also a good idea for all staff to regularly inspect their safety harnesses in addition to these official checks. Start by checking the manufacturer label, and continue the inspection until you are certain that it is safe.
Inspecting a safety harness is crucial to ensure your safety when working at height. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to inspect a harness effectively. When carrying out a visual safety harness inspection, you must check the following components:
- Manufacturer label
- Hardware (buckles, D-rings and plastic loops)
- Software (webbing, straps and rope)
Check the label
The first thing you need to be aware of when inspecting a safety harness is if there were any reported issues in the previous inspection. If so, check these issues have been rectified or retire the harness if the issues cannot be fixed.
If there weren’t any previous issues, the next thing to check is the manufacturer label. The label on your harness should feature important information. Inspect the following:
- ensure the label is intact and legible
- an individual serial number
- a valid inspection date
- confirm the harness is within its service life and has passed the last inspection
If the date of the last formal inspection is outside the agreed interval period, the harness is not safe to use until it has been fully inspected and given the all-clear.
All safety harnesses will also have a life expectancy, so you’ll need to look at the manufacturer date to check it hasn’t expired.
Examine the hardware
To inspects a safety harness properly, you must inspect the hardware. Carefully and closely inspect the D-rings, buckles, and plastic loops of your safety harness for any signs of wear and tear, including:
You should also check the buckles functionality. Make sure they fasten as normal as well as looking to ensure they don’t feature any cracks or distortions.
Check the software
First, connect the buckles, making sure the straps aren’t twisted, and hold up the harness out directly in front of you to check that it hangs evenly.
Look out for any fraying or cuts in the webbing. Top tip: pinching the material and running it through your fingers will help to catch any small tears. Also, check for signs of chemical damage. This could look like strange stains, or the harness material may feel hardened or brittle.
If any of the above are visible on your safety harness, do not use it.
Failed Safety Harness Inspections
Not sure what to do if your safety harness failed the inspection? If your safety harness is damaged or has expired, you can purchase high-quality, heavy-duty safety harnesses here at Safety Harness Direct! Click the links below to browse our harnesses or get in touch to discuss your purchase with a member of our team – we’re happy to advise you on the right safety harness for you.
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