How To Maintain And Inspect Your Fall Protection Equipment
Posted by: Vip / Category: UncategorizedFall protection systems are important safety equipment for workers performing their job at heights. OSHA regulations state that all personal fall arrest systems be thoroughly inspected often for considerable defects such as: lacerations, tears, abnormal wear, mold, undue stretching, alterations, or add-ons that will change its effectiveness and damage due to deterioration, contact with fire, acids or corrosives, etc. Fall protection systems must be inspected prior to each use by the wearer and at least annually by a knowledgeable inspector and should be maintained on a regular basis
Maintenance and inspection checklist
Anchorage systems:
• Check all equipment of the anchorage system
• Examine any abrasions, wear points, or broken threads or swags in the sling material
• For synthetic slings and anchor straps, examine all sewing and loops for wear, chemical damage, burn damage, and/or ultraviolet deterioration
• Check tags attached to the anchorage to establish when the sling should be taken out of service—if it’s on or past the date, retire the sling
• Inspect cable slings for excessive damage to the steel fibers; retire if damaged
Snap hooks and carabiners:
• Look over snap hooks and carabiners and all integral components for marks, deformation, cracks, or abnormal wear; retire if any of these is discovered
• Remove from service right away if it has been involved in a fall or if the spring brake and gate are bent or if the gate keeper no longer engages the slot cleanly
• Broken snap hooks and carabiners should be tagged and removed from service
• Clean dirty snap-hooks and carabiners with a solvent or immerse in boiling water for 30 seconds to remove grease and cleaning agents and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth—make sure gate and gatekeeper function as it should when clean-up is finishedLanyards and energy absorbers:
• Look over lanyards under slight pressure
• Examine all components for cuts, discoloration, cracks, and torn stitching; remove from service if any of these is found
• Wash on consistent basis to eliminate dirt and grit that can abrade the fibers (use only mild detergent—never abrasives or solvents which can ruin the fibers and remember to dry thoroughly)
• Lanyards and energy absorbers should have a permanently attached label that indicates the manufacturer’s name, serial number/lot number, manufacture date, maximum elongation, maximum arresting force, maximum free fall, and capacity—remove components with absent tags from service
• If the lanyard is 5 or more years old, retire regardless of condition.Retire the lanyard after a hard fall, when the shock absorber has been even minimally impacted, if the lanyard has been involved for any other purpose other than fall protection, if the equipment shows disproportionate wear, chemical damage, burn damage, and/or
ultraviolet deterioration.
Fall arrester
• Check for signs of wear, corrosion, rust, and other anomalies; retire if found
• If any sign of wear or break down, remove equipment from service immediately.
Self-retracting lifelines (SRL)
• Send back to the manufacturer for servicing and recertification once a year
• If SRL housing becomes yellow, gathers moisture, or the indicator has been engaged, remove from service at once and return it to the manufacturer for repair and re-certification
Harness
• Look over for damaged threads, cuts, tears, or loose-fitting connections
• Examine the stitched areas thoroughly
• Look for burn holes from welding or other heat sources; retire if found
• Make certain harnesses are not painted or marked (paint and other materials can degrade the webbing)
• Clean the harness in a mild soap and rinse multiple times to remove any soap residue and hang to dry out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry environment;
• Remove harness from service after 5 years even if it has not been used
• Harness should have a non-removable attached label indicating manufacturer’s name, serial number/ lot number, manufacture date, and capacity.
If tag is missing, remove from service
Ropes
• Check under slight tension
• Examine for broken fibers, severely worn areas, or change in the consistency of the core
• Check for soft areas, bulges, or excessive stiffness; remove from service if any of these is found
• Avoid exposing rope to hazardous chemicals, dampness, acids, or oils. Retire from service immediately if it has been exposed to these substances and damaged
• Do not use the rope after it has been involved in a fall arrest
• Clean the rope on regular basis to remove dirt or grit. Use lukewarm water and mild detergent, rinse several times to remove soap residue and hang in a dry, cool, dark area
• Store rope in a strong, weather- proof bag (rope must be Fully dry before storing)
• Rope should have a permanently attached label indicating manufacturer’s name, serial number/lot number, manufacture date, and capacity. If tag is missing, remove from service.
• Retire rope after 5 years of service, regardless of situation.
A final message: Like all safety equipment, the manufacturer’s recommendations for use, inspection, care, and maintenance for fall protection systems should be followed.
About The Author: Mike Richards is a risk management expert specializing in lab safety equipment.
Tags: Anchor Straps, Broken Threads, Carabiners, Cleaning Agents, Excessive Damage, fall protection equipment, Gate Keeper, harnesses, Inspection Checklist, Integral Components, Knowledgeable Inspector, Lacerations, Lanyards, Osha Regulations, Personal Fall Arrest, Personal Fall Arrest Systems, safety equipment, Slings, Snap Hooks, Soft Cloth, Spring Brake, Steel Fibers, Swags