Fall Protection Inspection and Maintenance

Inspection of Personal Fall Protection Systems

Personal fall protection systems (anchorages and Personal Protective Equipment) must be inspected by the user before use in each work shift for wear, damage, and other deterioration.
Personal fall protection systems must be inspected by a “competent” person annually.
A personal fall protection system or its components subjected to impact loading must be removed from service immediately. Contact EHS-group@pdx.edu.
Any personal fall protection system component which does not pass inspection must be removed from service, tagged or marked as unusable, and destroyed. Contact EHS-group@pdx.edu.

Equipment must be stored in a manner that will prevent damage from environmental factors such as heat, light, excessive moisture, oil, chemicals and their vapors or other degrading elements.
Never store personal fall protection equipment in the bottom of a toolbox, on the ground, or outdoors exposed to the environment.
Where harnesses, lanyards, connectors, and lifelines are subject to damage by work operations, such as welding and chemical cleaning, the equipment should be protected, or other securing systems should be used.

Inspect D-rings, buckles, keepers, and back pads. Inspect for damage, distortion, sharp edges, burrs, cracks, corrosion, excessive wear, and proper operation.
Inspect webbing for cuts, burns, tears, abrasion, frays, excessive soiling, discoloration, burn marks, mildew, obvious signs of chemical or heat damage, and excessive wear.
Inspect stitching for pulled out or cut stitches.
Harness should never have additional punched holes or alteration/additions.
Check tongue buckle leg straps for excessive wear from repeated buckling.
Inspect and ensure all labels are securely held in place and legible.
If the harness has been load impacted, remove the equipment from service and contact EHS-group@pdx.edu.

Inspect the load indicator to ensure the unit has not been load impacted (rupture of red stitching, elongated indicator, etc.). If the unit has been load impacted, remove the equipment from service and contact EHS-group@pdx.edu.
Inspect screws and fasteners for damage and ensure all screws and fasteners are tight.
Inspect housing exterior for distortion, cracks, corrosion or other visible damage, and loose bolts. Inspect anchoring loop for distortion and damage.
Inspect lifeline for cuts, burns, tears, abrasion, frays, excessive soiling and discoloration, kinks, and broken wires.
Check the braking mechanism locks when the lifeline is pulled sharply
Inspect spring tension by pulling the lifeline out fully and allowing it to retract fully with no slack.
Inspect hooks/carabiners for physical damage, cracks, sharp edges, burrs, distortion, abrasions, chemical/welding splatter, and corrosion. Check gate must fully close and engage.
Ensure cable ends are securely crimped and cable eye and rubber stops are in place.
Inspect reserve lifeline retention systems for deployment.
Inspect and ensure all labels are securely held in place and legible.

Inspect all connector components (including snap hooks, carabiners, adjusters, keepers, thimbles, and D-rings) for damage, distortion, sharp edges, burrs, cracks, abrasion, cuts, excessive wear, corrosion, and proper operation.
Inspect webbing for cuts, burns, tears, abrasion, frays, excessive soiling, mildew, discoloration, and obvious signs of chemical or heat damage.
Inspect stitching for pulled out or cut stitches.
Inspect synthetic rope for pulled or cut yarns, burns, abrasion, knots, excessive soiling, and discoloration.
Inspect wire rope for broken wires, corrosion, kinks, and separation of strands.
Inspect energy absorbing component for elongation, tears, and excessive soiling. If the unit has been load impacted, remove the equipment from service and contact EHS-group@pdx.edu.
Inspect hooks/carabiners for physical damage, cracks, sharp edges, burrs, distortion, abrasions, chemical/welding splatter, and corrosion. Check gate must fully close and engage.
Inspect and ensure all labels are securely held in place and legible.

Inspection Checklists