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Inspection Procedures What to Know About Fall Protection If workers are at risk for falling, they should wear appropriate fall protection equipment. If fall protection is required, establish a complete fall protection program if one is not in place. The program should include training workers, selecting, fitting, and inspecting the equipment.What should be done? • Inspect your equipment daily. • Replace defective equipment. If there is any doubt about the safety of the equipment, do not use it and refer questionable defects to your supervisor. • Replace any equipment, including ropes, involved in a fall. Refer any questionable defects to your supervisor. • Every piece of fall arrest equipment should be inspected and certified at least yearly by a competent person. • It is advisable to use shock absorbers if the arresting forces of the lanyard alone can cause injury. • Use the right equipment for the job. Refer to ANSI Z359.2 Managed Fall Protection Program Requirements. How do you inspect the webbing (body of belt, harness or lanyard)? • Inspect the entire surface of webbing for damage. Beginning at one end, bend the webbing in an inverted “U.” Holding the body side of the belt toward you, grasp the belt with your hands six to eight inches apart. • Watch for frayed edges, broken fibers, pulled stitches, cuts or chemical damage. Broken webbing strands generally appear as tufts on the webbing surface. • Replace according to manufacturers’ guidelines. How do you inspect the buckle? • Inspect for loose, distorted or broken grommets. Do not cut or punch additional holes in waist strap or strength members. • Check belt without grommets for torn or elongated holes that could cause the buckle tongue to slip. • Inspect the buckle for distortion and sharp edges. The outer and center bars must be straight. Carefully check corners and attachment points of the center bar. They should overlap the buckle frame and move freely back and forth in their sockets. The roller should turn freely on the frame. • Check that rivets are tight and cannot be moved. The body side of the rivet base and outside rivet burr should be flat against the material. Make sure the rivets are not bent. • Inspect for pitted or cracked rivets that show signs of chemical corrosion. How do you inspect the rope? • Rotate the rope lanyard and inspect from end to end for fuzzy, worn, broken or cut fibers. Weakened areas have noticeable changes in the original rope diameter. • Replace when the rope diameter is not uniform throughout, following a short break-in period. • The older a rope is and the more use it gets, the more important testing and inspection become. What should you know about hardware (forged steel snaps, “D” rings)? • Inspect hardware for cracks or other defects. Replace the belt if the “D” ring is not at a 90° angle and does not move vertically independent of the body pad or “D” saddle. • Inspect tool loops and belt sewing for broken or stretched loops. • Check bag rings and knife snaps to see that they are secure and working properly. Check tool loop rivets. Check for thread separation or rotting, both inside and outside the body pad belt. • Inspect snaps for hook and eye distortions, cracks, corrosion, or pitted surfaces. The keeper (latch) should be seated into the snap nose without binding and should not be distorted or obstructed. The keeper spring should exert sufficient force to close the keeper firmly. What should you look for during the safety strap inspection? • Inspect for cut fibers or damaged stitches inch by inch by flexing the strap in an inverted “U.” Note cuts, frayed areas or corrosion damage. • Check friction buckle for slippage and sharp buckle edges. • Replace when tongue buckle holes are excessively worn or elongated. How to clean the equipment? Basic care prolongs the life of the unit and contributes to its performance. • Wipe off all surface dirt with a sponge dampened in plain water. Rinse the sponge and squeeze it dry. Dip the sponge in a mild solution of water and commercial soap or detergent. Work up a thick lather with a vigorous back and forth motion. • Rinse the webbing in clean water. • Wipe the belt dry with a clean cloth. Hang freely to dry. • Dry the belt and other equipment away from direct heat, and out of long periods of sunlight. • Store in a clean, dry area, free of fumes, sunlight or corrosive materials and in such a way that it does not warp or distort the belt. FSM Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Safety and Health. Fall Protection Standards to Know • OSHA’s General Industry Standard (29 CFR 1910) • 1910 Subpart D, Walking-working surfaces • 1910.23, Guarding floor and wall openings and holes • 1910 Subpart F, Powered platforms, manlifts, and vehicle-mounted work platforms • 1910.66, Powered platforms for building maintenance • Appendix A, Guidelines (Advisory)• Appendix C, Personal fall arrest system (Section I - Mandatory; sections II and III - Non-mandatory)• 1910.67, Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms [Aerial lifts]• 1910 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment• 1910.132, General requirements• 1910 Subpart R, Special industries• 1910.268, Telecommunications• 1910.269, Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution• Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)• 1915 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment• 1915.159, Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS)• 1915.160, Positioning device systems Appendix B, General testing conditions and additional guidelines for personal fall protection systems (Non-mandatory)• Longshoring (29 CFR 1918)• 1918 Subpart H, Handling cargo• 1918.85, Containerized cargo operations. Includes requirements for fall protection.
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