Inspection and control of fall protection

Failure to have  fall protection inspected on time  entails major safety risks.
But what should you look for when inspecting your fall protection and how often should an inspection be performed? Read more about the  lifespan ,  maintenance  and  inspection

of your fall protection in this article  .

Points of attention for PPE inspection

When carrying out a  technical inspection  of the fall protection, the inspector pays attention to the following matters:

  • The condition of the  textile straps . Are there any cuts, chemical exposure or other damage?
  • The condition of the  stitching  and whether there is a chance of fraying
  • Wear or cuts in ropes
  • Wear or cuts in shock absorbers
  • The functioning of automatic retraction systems for fall absorbers
  • The functioning of the  automatic closures
  • The identification label

When there  is any doubt  about the condition of your fall protection, a check should always be carried out by a competent person. The following points require maintenance or replacement of the material:

  • The visual inspection shows that the fall protection no longer meets the specified criteria.
  • When the manufacturer's instructions specify an  interval  within which a fall arrest block must be checked.

Lifespan of fall protection

Tractel fall protection equipment has no maximum lifespan and can be used without restrictions when:

  • Use is in accordance with the  user manual .
  • The storage and transport regulations   as described in the user manual are strictly observed.
  • A periodic inspection takes place at least once a year   (EDTC).
  • There is a complete written  history  (logbook) available for the product you plan to use.

The life of the fall protection can be reduced by the ingress of dirt, paint & solvent, UV radiation etc. It is the responsibility of the competent person to carry out the inspection, but also of the user to check their PPE before  each use  and ensure the product is safe to use.

Including inspection

When fall protection is purchased from SKP, it is already  provided with an inspection  by an  EDTC  (Vincotte). This way, you can immediately use the purchased fall protection in complete safety. In addition, you can also contact us for  periodic inspections  of your fall protection. For example, it is necessary that fall blocks are checked internally by specialized inspectors.

Timely inspection of fall protection

The  EN 365  standard lists the requirements for manuals, periodic inspection, maintenance and repairs of fall protection. These guidelines are adopted by each European country in their  national legislation  .

In Belgium, it is mandatory to   have personal protective equipment inspected  every twelve months  or after  each fall . In case of intensive use, it is recommended to have the inspection take place more often. For this, an EDTC  (External Service for Technical Inspections) is called in to have the necessary inspections carried out.

Our experts advise on the choice of fall protection

In addition to paying attention to wear and tear and timely inspection, there are many other things that contribute to safe working at height. For example, if you need more information about fall factors and which fall blocks to use, then definitely contact our experts.

SKP is always ready with the right solution for your fall protection.
Call in our experts»