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Regular safety harness inspection is essential for protecting workers and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. By inspecting harnesses frequently, companies can identify any signs of wear or damage that may compromise the equipment's effectiveness, helping to prevent accidents on the job. Proper inspection routines not only improve safety but also contribute to the longevity of the harness.
At CTS UK, we’re committed to helping teams maintain safe work environments. Contact us for expert advice on choosing and maintaining quality safety harnesses for your needs.
Regular inspection is crucial to ensure that each harness component functions as intended, minimising risks and maintaining safety standards. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to inspect a safety harness:
Check Buckles: Start with each buckle, confirming they lock securely and release without resistance. Look for rust, cracks, or deformities, as these issues can weaken the buckle’s ability to hold under stress.
Inspect Straps and Webbing: Carefully examine all webbing for frays, cuts, and burns, which can compromise its strength. Even minor abrasions on straps are red flags; damage to this high-stress area could result in harness failure.
Examine D-rings and Fasteners: Inspect D-rings and fasteners for any bending, cracking, or corrosion. These critical points bear significant weight, so any visible distortion, rust, or wear can affect the harness’s reliability.
Review Labels and Markings: Confirm all labels are intact, readable, and up-to-date. Labels typically include information like manufacturing details and inspection records, which are essential for safety compliance and tracking.
Inspect Lanyards and Connectors: Check lanyards and connectors, ensuring they are flexible and free from cracks or fraying. Over time, these components can become stiff or brittle, especially with frequent use, reducing their effectiveness.
Conducting safety harness inspections at regular intervals is essential for keeping workers safe and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Here’s a recommended schedule for how often to inspect safety harnesses:
Before each use, the harness user should perform a quick inspection. This includes checking for any immediate signs of damage, such as frayed straps, loose buckles, or torn stitching. These daily checks help detect issues that might compromise safety during use and can prevent serious accidents.
Conducted monthly or quarterly, these more in-depth inspections are performed by a trained employee or safety officer. They assess the harness’s condition more closely, identifying early signs of wear, like minor fraying or rust, that may not be obvious in daily checks. Employer inspections are also an opportunity to update maintenance records, keeping a documented history of each harness’s condition.
At least once a year, a qualified inspector should thoroughly evaluate each harness. These annual inspections assess the condition of all components, including the webbing, buckles, D-rings, and lanyards, and help to ensure long-term reliability. An inspector’s professional assessment can catch any underlying issues and provide recommendations for repairs or replacements as needed.
Knowing when to replace a safety harness is essential to maintaining safe equipment. Here’s a breakdown of key signs and general replacement guidelines:
Examine the harness for wear, such as frayed or cut webbing, loose or torn stitching, cracked or bent buckles, or corroded metal components. Even minor fraying or damage to these elements can reduce a harness’s strength, so any visible damage should prompt replacement. Regular inspections can help identify these issues early.
If a harness has been involved in a fall or has experienced any sudden, high-impact load, it should be retired immediately. Even if it appears intact, the stress from an incident can weaken materials internally, compromising structural integrity. A replacement is essential to ensure that the harness maintains its full protective capabilities.
Over time, materials like nylon and polyester degrade, especially with regular exposure to UV rays, dirt, chemicals, and general wear. Many manufacturers recommend replacing harnesses every 3 to 5 years, even if there’s no visible damage. Check manufacturer guidelines for specific recommendations, and document the age of each harness to help ensure timely replacements.
Additional signs such as fading or discolouration, stiffness in straps or webbing, and illegible or missing labels are indicators that the harness has undergone significant wear. Faded webbing could suggest UV damage, while stiffness can indicate material degradation.
At CTS UK, we understand the importance of choosing the right safety harness for each unique job requirement. We offer a selection of trusted, high-quality harnesses designed to meet different safety needs and ensure worker security.
From multi-point harnesses suited for versatile work environments to simpler models for basic protection, each harness in our collection provides durable, reliable support.
Below are our top recommendations:
Portwest’s Ultra Harness offers three attachment points - front, rear, and side - making it suitable for a variety of work environments, from construction to maintenance. The harness includes adjustable straps for a secure, customised fit and features high-strength webbing to enhance durability and performance. This model is ideal for tasks that require maximum versatility and flexibility, offering secure anchoring options for complex work setups.
This harness is both CE and UKCA certified, and has a 10 year shelf life from the manufacturing date.
Designed with two attachment points (front and rear), the Portwest Ultra 2 Point Harness provides a practical solution for general industrial tasks. Its ergonomic design and padding make it comfortable for extended wear, while the reinforced webbing and secure buckles enhance safety. This harness is ideal for industries requiring reliable, easy-to-use fall protection that doesn’t compromise comfort.
This harness is both CE and UKCA certified, has a 10 year shelf life from the manufacturing date, and is compliant with the EN 361:2002 safety standard.
A straightforward and cost-effective choice, the Portwest 1 Point Harness is designed for light-duty use in basic safety applications. With a single back attachment point, this harness offers essential fall protection for lower-risk environments. Its lightweight construction and simple design make it an ideal entry-level option, providing safety without added complexity.
This harness is both CE and UKCA certified, has a 10 year shelf life from the manufacturing date, and is compliant with the EN 361:2002 safety standard.
Daily checks can be done by any trained user to catch obvious issues, but monthly and annual inspections require someone familiar with safety standards. Periodic inspections are typically conducted by safety officers or individuals trained in harness equipment, while the annual inspection should be carried out by a certified inspector who can accurately evaluate every component for wear or degradation.
If any damage is found, immediately remove the harness from service to prevent use. Document the issue, noting any specific areas that show wear or damage. Depending on the severity, either arrange for repair by a qualified technician (following the manufacturer’s guidelines) or replace the harness entirely.
Maintaining safety harnesses through regular inspections is a vital step in protecting workers and ensuring compliance with safety standards. Each inspection, whether it’s a quick daily check or an in-depth annual review, helps identify issues that could lead to serious accidents. Recognizing when a harness needs replacement, either due to wear or a fall incident, is also essential for maintaining equipment reliability.
For employers, establishing a clear inspection routine and training employees on harness checks not only reduces risk but also promotes a culture of safety. Through regular documentation and adherence to manufacturer guidelines, teams can ensure their harnesses remain effective in any and all situations.
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