Detailed Analysis of Equipment Testing and Inspection Procedures

Different states follow different rules as per the interval between maintenance checks of height safety equipment or fall protection systems. There are professionals and competent specialists who perform fall protection systems. Proper and routine maintenance of these equipments ensures that:

• The equipment is working in best condition
• It is compatible with other essential and related equipments
• It also ensures the safety of the workers who are supposed to operate and work with the equipment
• Enhances the working life of the equipments
• Minimizes risks of malfunctioning and adds value to your investment for the equipment

Inspection Procedure

Inspection Procedures

Workers and operators can follow certain simple instructions in order to maintain routine checks and inspections so as to ensure if the harnesses and the lanyards are operating in optimum condition. Any negligence in the inspection of these height or fall equipments can essentially lead to unwanted life hazards along with financial damages. Therefore, there are some critical checks which if made at routine interval can ensure the working safety.

• Often equipment testing and inspection procedures reveals high rate of abrasion or even corrosion. The metals of these equipments are susceptible to wear and tear on continuous usage and excessive stressed use. Therefore, parts like the D ring, snap hooks or even the buckle adjuster needs to be monitored at regular interval for deformation, abrasion or corrosion.
• Harnesses and lanyards of these equipments need to be essentially checked to know about their conditions. These parts come with serial number, withdrawal date, certification number which denotes the authentication of these parts.
• Besides these parts are also highly susceptible to wear and tear as well. You need to look for cuts of the harnesses or tears, holes etc due to excessive stretching and pressure exerted on the parts. Many a times, according to the industry in which the equipments are being used, the parts can also be exposed to moisture, or excessive heat which can essentially lead to damages of the parts.   
• Ropes attached to the fall protection systems also need to be assessed from time to time in order to look for loose thimbles, broken nodes or cuts or abrasion.

Moreover, in case if any kind of damages or abrasion or cut or tears are observed it should immediately be brought into the notice of the authorities and ensured that the parts are immediately supervised by certified professionals and accordingly repaired or replaced before the equipment is turned on for functioning.

System Check Regularity

The routine checks and maintenance interval of fall protection systems are governed respectively by

• Industry codes of practice
• Regulations
• Standards and manufacturers recommendations.

This means that the equipments in different places or from different manufacturers or in different industries may fall under different inspection check regulations and bindings. Moreover, the equipments are not essentially used under similar environmental or industrial conditions. Besides, many a times these equipments are used under hostile environmental conditions and therefore if regular inspections are not performed then it may lead to sudden risks. Besides extreme heat or moisture can often cause corrosion, wear and tear, etc damages to the equipments.

Tips and Simple Guidance for Professional Inspection

It is recommended to perform routine inspections by certified and licensed professionals. You can also follow the detailed guidance and inspection and check instructions offered by the manufacturer in the user guide manual. If that is not possible, you can also hire special height safety and fall protection management and security professionals who conduct professional checks and inspections of these equipments.