HSE publishes new guidance on inspecting fall arrest equipment

HSE Press Release E186:02 - 2 October 2002

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a new guidance leaflet on using fall arrest equipment when working at height.

'Inspecting fall arrest equipment made from webbing and rope' advises employers on effective inspection regimes for fall arrest equipment, such as energy absorbing lanyards, including the frequency and type of inspections to be done; and the types of defect and damage to look out for. It also includes explanatory photographs.

An energy-absorbing lanyard is a line for connecting a full body harness to an anchorage point, with an inbuilt device that dissipates the energy developed during the fall of a person from a height.

The guidance is based on research, which investigated the causes and effects of degradation of man-made textiles used in lanyards. The research was carried out after two fatalities; one at Edenderry power station in Ireland in December 1999, resulting from the failure of an energy-absorbing lanyard; and another during work on an overhead tower in Flixton, Greater Manchester, caused by the failure of a work positioning belt in January 2000.

Martin Holden, a principal specialist Inspector with HSE's Technology Unit, said:

"The research shows the vital importance of pre-use checks and regular documented inspections of fall arrest equipment. A one millimeter deep cut in the edge of a webbing lanyard can result in between five and 39 per cent loss of strength. Ingress of dirt and ultra violet light can also cause damage to the webbing fibres, resulting in a similar loss of strength.

"Lanyards are widely used in many industrial sectors and employers should have effective inspection regimes in place to detect damage and defects early. If they don't they can expect enforcement action by HSE Inspectors. The guidance recommends pre-use checks, and detailed inspections at least every six months, or if used frequently or in arduous environments, every three months. Workers should check their lanyards regularly before use and know what to look for, but if in doubt they should contact the manufacturer/supplier. Lanyards should be treated with care, not dragged on the ground or allowed to get dirty and must never be wrapped around sharp or angled surfaces."

Over 11,000 copies of the leaflet have been distributed to relevant dutyholders via employer associations and trade associations. The leaflet is also available in priced packs of 10 at £5 for each pack. The leaflet is also available on a new part of the free leaflets section on HSE's website titled "Falls from Height" at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/fallindx.htm

The research on which the leaflet is based, 'Assessment of the factors that influence the tensile strength of safety harness and lanyard and webbing' and a supplementary information report, will also shortly be available on HSE's website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/hsl/engineer.htm

Notes to editors

1. The requirement to have formal procedures in place to inspect lanyards comes from Regulation 7 of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPE Regs) which states:

"(1) Every employer shall ensure that any personal protective equipment provided to his employees is maintained (including replaced or cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

"(2) Every self-employed person shall ensure that any personal protective equipment provided to him is maintained (including replaced or cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair."

2. Regulation 11 of the PPE Regs states:

"Every employee who has been provided with personal protective equipment shall forthwith report to his employer any loss of or obvious defect in that personal protective equipment".

3. Falls from height continue to be the most common kind of accident associated with fatal injuries to workers, (in 2000/1 approximately 25 per cent of accidents in the construction industry involved falls from height). It is a priority programme of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC). HSE has set up a Falls from Height Group within its Construction Division Technology Unit to provide technical, professional and engineering expertise in health and safety matters to HSE and industry at a national level. Martin Holden is part of this group.

4. The background and preliminary investigation work that led to this research is contained in Specialist Inspector Report Number 59, 'Issues surrounding the failure of an energy absorbing lanyard'. It can be downloaded free of charge from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/sir59.pdf (size 1485.4K, or hard copies can be obtained from HSE Books (price £20.00)

5. Other defects and damage that have the potential to result in the degradation and/or weakening of lanyards are:

• a knot in the lanyard, other than those intended by the manufacturer;
• surface abrasion across the face of the webbing and at the webbing loops;
• abrasion at the edges;
• cuts to the webbing, rope or stitching;
• contact with chemicals that can result in local weakening and softening;
• heat or friction damage;
• damaged or deformed fittings; and
• partially deployed energy absorber (e.g. short pull-out of tear webbing).

Copies of 'Inspecting fall arrest equipment made from webbing or rope' HSE reference INDG367 are available in packs of 10 ISBN 0 7176 2552 4 priced at £5 from HSE Books.

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