What Are the Laws and Regulations of Height Safety Equipment Inspection?

When it comes to working at height, there’s nothing more important than having top-quality, reliable equipment. It’s also important to regularly check your equipment to make sure that everything is in good condition – but how regularly are you legally required to have it inspected? Can you inspect it yourself? And how can you keep your equipment in the best possible condition?

What Are the Legal Requirements of Safety Equipment Inspection?

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (amended) Regulations 2022 came into force on the 6^th of April 2022. The regulation requires personal protective equipment (PPE) to be correctly used, maintained, and stored.

BS EN 365 Personal Protective Equipment Against Falls From A Height – General Requirements For Instructions For Use, Maintenance, Periodic Examination, Repair, Marking and Packaging state a periodic examination frequency of at least 12 months, subject to the frequency of use and environmental conditions.  

This is the legal minimum level of inspection required, but there is also the need to complete a pre-use inspection before each occasion of use.

If you’re interested in inspecting your safety equipment for yourself, click the link below to be redirected to a blog titled “How to Check a Safety Harness Before Use” for more information on how to best inspect your height safety equipment.

How to Check a Harness

Having your personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) inspected every 12 months might not seem like a big deal, but there are also other regulations and laws that you should be aware of when it comes to working at height. If you want to read a little more about some of the basic laws and government advice, check out this link to the HSE’s (Health and Safety Executive) brief guide to working at height.

HSE Guide

Why Should I Have My Gear Inspected?

Having reliable safety equipment should be the primary focus of anyone who’s working at height. Having your equipment regularly inspected allows you to ensure that the equipment being used is always in a safe condition and that you are also complying with regulations.

Over time, your equipment will naturally start to wear and tear, particularly if it’s not being stored correctly, treated with respect, or is being used in adverse weather conditions. Even if safety equipment IS being treated with the upmost caution, it will still naturally wear. Having inspections by professionals who are trained to spot the signs of this natural wear and tear ensure that the equipment you're using is safe for use, and any equipment that is showing early signs of wear are identified as soon as possible, so that the appropriate actions can be taken. 

How Do I Keep My Height Safety Equipment in Top Condition?

Store It Correctly

Keeping your personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) stored correctly can do a lot to prolong the lifespan of your equipment. Keeping your equipment in damp conditions can massively deteriorate the quality of fabric-based equipment. Ensure your PFPE is always stored somewhere dry, and ideally well ventilated.

Clean It

Different PFPE requires different cleaning techniques, but as a rule, it’s generally best to clean your equipment after use, especially if it’s been used in adverse weather conditions. Most equipment can be wiped down with warm water and a sponge, then hung to dry somewhere warm and well ventilated (but keep it away from radiators or open flames!)

If you want more advice on the best way to care for your safety equipment to give is as long a life as possible, check out the blog linked below. It has some great tips and advice for storing, cleaning, and caring for your working at height safety equipment.

How to Clean & Look After Your Safety Harness

If you have any further questions about caring for your height safety equipment, inspections, or any questions about height safety gear at all, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team here at SafetyLiftinGear. Our highly-trained professionals will do everything they can to help you out and answer your questions.

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Read More: Who Can Inspect Lifting Equipment?