A safety harness lasts approximately 10 years. But it may become less safe well before then if, for example, it is affected by loose seams or rust.

Are you not sure whether your fall arrest harness is still safe?

Our checklist will help you to quickly check whether your fall protection is safe to use – or in need of replacement!

Inspect your fall arrest harness regularly

Fall arrest harnesses must be inspected regularly.

In Belgium, inspections are conducted by an External Department for Technical Controls (EDTC).

In the Netherlands and France, fall protection equipment can be inspected by a ‘competent person’.

There are several reasons why you must check harnesses regularly.

First of all, regular inspections of fall arrest harnesses are compulsory. Failure to do so may result in a fine.

What is even more important is your safety or that of employees in your company. Falling from a height is a common workplace hazard. Inspecting your fall arrest harnesses reduces the risk of accidents.

Finally, protective equipment lasts longer if you take good care of it. So regular inspections will also save you money!

These are three very good reasons to regularly check whether your fall protection equipment is still safe.

The components of a fall arrest harness

A fall arrest harness consists of several parts, which are all equally important. Together, they ensure that the wearer can do their job safely and confidently.

All of these parts can become damaged.

Obviously, any damage to a fall arrest harness will make it less safe.

It is therefore very important to conduct a visual inspection of all the parts. But what does a fall arrest harness consist of?

Straps

A fall arrest harness consists of a number of straps around the shoulders, chest, groin, and waist. These straps are made of extremely strong fabric.

Despite this, these fabric straps can still be damaged by cuts, burns, or exposure to chemicals or dirt.

For example, they may begin to fray, which will make them less strong and therefore less safe

Stitching

In time, the stitches in your harness may lose some of their tightness. Or a thread may come loose, causing the stitching to unravel even further.

This will result in the straps becoming less firmly attached to each other. The danger here is that the harness will no longer fit the body snugly, while a good fit is essential for your safety.

Metal components

A fall arrest harness has several metal components, such as buckles, snap hooks, and D-rings. They may become bent out of shape, grooved, or rusty.

Once that happens, a harness is no longer safe to wear.

Fasteners

Special fasteners allow you to secure and release the straps around your groin, chest, and shoulders quickly and easily. But any wear and tear or damage may lead to them becoming less functional after a while.

If this happens, the harness will no longer fit snugly around the wearer’s body. 

The wearer will then run the risk of being injured in the event of a fall. If a strap does not fit properly, it may cut into your body. In the worst-case scenario, a damaged fastener may even fall off.

Identification label

Finally, the identification label on a fall arrest harness may also wear out, so that the information on the identification label, such as the manufacturing year and serial number, is no longer clearly legible.

This means that you cannot know exactly how old the fall arrest harness is or if it is suitable for use in a specific work situation.

Once this happens, it’s time to buy a new fall arrest harness.

A simple way to check your fall arrest harness

Do you want to find out quickly and easily whether your harness is still safe to wear? Or whether it is high time to replace it? 

We have made a practical safety checklist that you can go through step-by-step. 

Conducting a visual inspection of your fall arrest harness has never been so easy! Download our handy checklist.