The safety belt, its components and accessories are fundamental parts of the whole process for work at height, because they are what connects the anchorage point with the fall arrest system.
Despite being a fundamental part in fall protection, few users do a safety inspection to check for possible damage to the equipment – whether on textile straps, metal rings, seams, identification tag, etc.
The NR35 itself mentions some points where the inspection is mandatory, as we can see:
35.5.2 Inspections of PPE shall be carried out upon acquisition and on a regular basis, as well as of accessories and anchoring systems, intended for the protection of fall from height, discarding those with defects or deformations.
35.5.2.1 Before starting work, routine inspection of all PPE, accessories and anchoring systems shall be carried out.
35.5.2.2. Register the results of inspections:
(a) upon acquisition;
b) periodic and routine when PPE, accessories and anchorage systems fail to pass inspection.
35.5.2.3 PPE, accessories and anchoring systems that show defects, degradation, deformation or suffer impacts from falling shall be made unusable and discarded, except when its restoration is provided for in national technical standards or, in their absence, international standards.
Therefore, find below some basic actions for the user to inspect his equipment and identify possible damage that may compromise its integrity. And don’t forget: if any damage is identified, it is necessary to remove the equipment from use immediately.
Safety harness
Check the seams, analyzing fraying, broken threads. Pay attention to the integrity of the straps, which cannot present cuts, holes, burns, excessive wear (frayed tapes) nor have been in contact with chemical products (such as paints, solvents, gasoline etc), as these products attack and damage the belt fibers, making the material brittle and fragile, increasing the risk of rupture in case of a fall.
The harness dirtiness is also an item that indicates the wear of the equipment. Harnesses that are very dirty and that are not sanitized frequently suffer greatly with wear of the tapes, from the dirt inside the fibers.
The harness’ metallic parts must also be checked for deformation and oxidation. These can be caused not only in more aggressive environments (for example with the presence of salty air and chemicals), but also by the sweat of the worker himself, which can contribute to this process, if the equipment is not sanitized.
Drop Indicator
The function of the drop indicator is to help users identify when to discard the equipment after a fall. The breaking of this label warns of a possible absorption of energy in the tapes and seams, compromising its safety in case of another fall.
The rupture of the fall indicator implies the immediate withdrawal of the safety belt from any activity that is being carried out.
Y-shaped Lanyards and Positioning Lanyards
Check the seams, analyzing fraying, broken threads. Also check the integrity of the tapes, which cannot present cuts, holes, burns, excessive wear (frayed tapes), nor have been in contact with chemical products (such as paints, solvents, gasoline, etc.), because these products attack and damage the belt fibers, making the material brittle and fragile, increasing the risk of rupture in case of a fall.
As the lanyards are always in direct contact with the structure, the probability of sharp edges damaging the tapes is always high. So, it is necessary to keep an eye out for cuts and abrasion.
The rupture of the energy absorber that integrates some lanyards is also a warning that the equipment must be discarded. Never use a lanyard with a broken energy absorber, even if the opening is small.
Hooks and carabiners can be defective due to misuse or excessive use. It is common to see hooks that don’t lock, that are dented, crooked, or with a stuck trigger, deformed, oxidized, etc.
In these cases, the equipment must be discarded and made unusable, so that it can no longer be used for any work.
Every inspection must be registered, with the date and name of the employee who made the inspection, and filed with the company’s safety department.
Safety at height begins even before we leave the ground.