The Working at Height Association’s Deborah Chick shares a handy guide for critical equipment inspection.
Working at heights presents unique challenges, particularly in the case of safety management. Regular equipment inspection is vital to ensuring safe and compliant work environments.
Without proper oversight of equipment such as harnesses, ropes, carabiners and anchor points, workers are exposed to increased risks of accidents and injuries.
Organisations like the Working at Height Association (WAHA) emphasise the importance of strict equipment inspection protocols to uphold safety standards. WAHA secretary and strategic programs manager Deborah Chick shared the critical aspects of equipment inspection with Safe to Work.
Why equipment inspection is important
In any work environment that involves heights, faulty or worn-out equipment can lead to severe consequences, including falls and other potentially fatal incidents.
Inspections help ensure that all equipment used when working at heights is safe, reliable and compliant with the relevant standards.
Regular equipment checks not only protect workers but also help organisations avoid legal repercussions from non-compliance with safety regulations.
Some key reasons why equipment inspections are essential:
Preventing equipment failure – regular checks identify wear and tear before it becomes a hazard.
Ensuring compliance – inspections are often required to comply with national and international safety standards.
Minimising liability – ensuring all equipment is up to date reduces legal and financial risks.
Worker confidence – employees feel safer knowing the equipment they are using is regularly inspected and maintained.
Equipment that requires inspection
When working at heights, there are several key pieces of equipment that must undergo regular inspections.
Each type has specific wear indicators and usage thresholds, making it vital to be familiar with the warning signs.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Harnesses – inspections should look for frayed webbing, damage to buckles and signs of excessive wear; ensure labels with weight limits and manufacturing dates are legible
Lanyards and shock absorbers – check for cuts, burns or chemical exposure, and test shock absorbers for signs of activation
Helmets – should be inspected for cracks, internal padding wear and damage to chin straps
Anchors and connectors
Anchor points – ensure fixed or portable anchor points used for rope access or fall arrest systems are securely installed, undamaged and tested for load capacity
Carabiners and hooks – examine for wear on gate mechanisms, corrosion and deformation, ensuring they lock and unlock smoothly
Ropes and cables
Lifelines and safety ropes – inspect for abrasions, cuts and signs of UV degradation; ropes should be checked for contamination from chemicals or moisture, which could compromise strength.
Fall arrest blocks – ensure the casing is intact and the retraction mechanism is functioning properly, and check for internal damage, particularly after a fall arrest
Frequency of inspections
According to guidelines provided by WAHA and other safety organisations, inspections must occur at regular intervals that vary based on usage frequency and environmental conditions.
Workers should perform an inspection of each item of personal and common use equipment before and after each use per AS/NZS 1891.4 section 9.2. This simple step can detect obvious issues, such as broken or missing components.
For high-use or critical equipment, formal inspections should be carried out by a competent person at least every six to 12 months. These inspections are more thorough, often involving disassembly and testing.
Any equipment involved in a fall or other significant incident must be inspected before being put back into service. In some cases, the equipment may need to be retired if its integrity has been compromised.
Regular equipment inspections are not just about ticking off a regulatory requirement – they are about ensuring the safety and wellbeing of every worker operating at heights.
By adopting a proactive approach to equipment inspection and maintenance, mines will not only comply with WAHA and other industry regulations but also foster a culture of safety that can prevent life-threatening accidents.
This feature also appears in the March–April issue of Safe to Work.