Personal Fall Protection System Inspection Frequency

Ensuring worker safety and regulatory compliance requires regular inspection of personal fall protection systems and components. These inspections help identify wear, damage, and other deterioration that could compromise the system's effectiveness. This document outlines the required inspection frequencies and procedures for personal fall arrest systems and components.

Inspection Frequency

Prior to Each Use

Personal fall arrest systems and positioning device systems must be inspected before each use for wear, damage, and other deterioration. Defective components must be removed from service immediately. [1] [2] [9]

Components to inspect before each use include:

• Cables: Check for proper tension, broken strands, kinks, and corrosion.
• Fittings & Brackets: Ensure fittings are tight and free from fractures. Inspect brackets for damage.
• Attachment Ring: Look for cracks, wear, or corrosion. Replace if any are found.
• Attaching Hardware: Verify all hardware is present and properly tightened.
• Platform Rails: Check for visible damage.

[12] [12] [12] [12] [12]

Annual Inspection and Certification

External fall arrest systems require an annual inspection and certification by a qualified person other than the user. [3] [10]

Post-Impact Inspection

Personal fall arrest systems and components subjected to impact loading must be immediately removed from service. They cannot be used again for employee protection until a competent person inspects them and determines they are undamaged and suitable for reuse. [7] [8]

Detailed Inspection Points

Cable Inspection

Inspect cables for proper tension. For example, on some systems, proper tension is achieved when the disc at the end of the cable spins freely by hand. Also, check the slip indicator to ensure there is no gap between the slip indicator and the end connection. [10] [10]

If a gap is visible between Belleville washers, the cable tension is incorrect. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Transfastener/Shuttle Inspection

Ensure the transfastener or shuttle is free and slides properly through all intermediate supports. For transfastener types, ensure star wheels rotate freely. [11] [11]

Removal from Service

If the external fall arrest system is used to arrest a fall or is otherwise damaged, the entire system must be replaced and the platform fully inspected before being returned to service. Refer to the service manual for removal and installation procedures. [3] [4] [5] [6] [10]

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