Understanding Height Safety Equipment Inspection

An operator who has been trained to work at height is referred to as a height safety operator. He or she is expected to wear or use height safety equipment that helps prevent him or her from falling. Such equipment can include fall arrest devices, harnesses, connectors, lanyards, slings, ropes, etc. Here's what you need to know about these pieces of equipment and their inspection.

Selection of Height Safety Equipment

A competent person should be placed in charge of choosing height safety equipment for the particular task it will be used for. A competent person is an individual who has completed a course and training on height safety equipment, who has gained knowledge, experience and skills over time working with the equipment and who can correctly and safely choose and use height safety equipment. Note as well that height safety equipment should be used for the kind of work it is meant for, without improvising.

Safe Use of Height Safety Equipment

Height safety equipment needs to not only be used correctly but to be used safely as well. What does this mean? Use it in a way that ensures that it works how it is supposed to work, that it does not get damaged and that it does not cause you any injury/harm. That is why there is a requirement that anyone working at height should pass a height safety course and go through training.

Maintenance of Height Safety Equipment

This is where the height safety equipment inspection comes in. The equipment not only needs to be used correctly but be inspected regularly and stored correctly. A record should also be kept for the equipment.

  • Inspection 

This should be done before and after use and after a particular period, for example, weekly, every fortnight, monthly, etc. 

The book record of the height safety equipment should also be inspected before use and periodically. It mainly highlights things like the manufacturer of the equipment, expiry dates, replacements, when the equipment was purchased, when it started being used, how long it has been since it was last used or inspected, its limitations and suitability, whether it has any defects or has ever arrested a fall, etc. To learn more, contact a resource that offers height safety equipment inspections.

  • Storage

Height safety equipment needs to be stored correctly. Factors like moisture, pests and temperature can affect it, leading to damage. Even though you might catch some damage, other damages, especially internal damage caused by extreme temperatures or moisture, might be hard to detect visually.


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