Personal Fall Protection System Inspection Frequency

To ensure worker safety and regulatory compliance, personal fall protection systems and components require regular inspections. These inspections are crucial for identifying wear, damage, and other deterioration that could compromise the system's effectiveness. There are two primary inspection frequencies: before each use and annually by a qualified person.

Inspection Frequency

Prior to Each Use

Personal fall arrest systems, including all components, must be inspected before each use. This inspection is performed by the user or a competent person to identify any signs of wear, damage, or deterioration. Defective components must be removed from service immediately. [1] [2] [9]

The inspection before each use should include a visual check of the following:

• Cables: Proper tension, broken strands, corrosion.
• Fittings: Loose fittings and fractures, damage to hanger.
• Transfastener: Damage, free and proper sliding
• Attaching Hardware: Loose, missing, properly tightened.

For boom lifts with external fall arrest systems, the following components should be visually inspected before each use:

• Cable: Inspect cable for proper tension, broken strands, kinks, or any signs of corrosion. Note: There should be no visible gap between the two Belleville washers when setting proper cable tension. If any gap is shown between the two Belleville washers, the cable tension is incorrect.
• Fittings & Brackets: Ensure all fittings are tight and there are no signs of fractures. Inspect brackets for any damage.
• Attachment Ring: No cracks or signs of wear are acceptable. Any signs of corrosion requires replacement.
• Attaching Hardware: Inspect all attaching hardware to ensure there are no missing components and hardware is properly tightened.
• Platform Rails: No visible damage is acceptable.

[12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Annual Inspection and Certification

In addition to the pre-use inspection, external fall arrest systems require an annual inspection and certification by a qualified person other than the user. This comprehensive inspection ensures the system's continued integrity and compliance with safety standards. [3] [4] [5] [6] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Post-Fall Inspection

Personal fall arrest systems and components subjected to impact loading (i.e., after arresting a fall) must be immediately removed from service. These systems should not be used again for employee protection until inspected and determined by a competent person to be undamaged and suitable for reuse. [7] [8]

Documentation

Maintain records of all inspections, including the dates, findings, and any corrective actions taken. This documentation helps track the condition of the fall protection equipment and demonstrates compliance with regulatory requirements.

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