There are way too many variables for anyone, including OSHA, ANSI, the manufacturer, or a distributor of these goods, to tell you when to discard your safety equipment—but here are some things to consider. They cannot abrogate their duty to make rules to a private industry with selfish interests, and you should not allow them to imply they can.
They cannot. The Competent Person could have taken into consideration a more comprehensive set of guidelines put out by the webbing and fabric industry, or a more rigid instruction for another manufacturer that makes almost the same item.
But they also tell you to account for and deduct for the use of knots in any safety system. From the moment you open the bag the harness starts to deteriorate. Specific instructions for use, inspection, and cleaning generally accompany the equipment, and it is important that these instructions are read and understood. The manufacturer cannot usually tell you how many tiny little spatters of slag it takes to discard the harness, nor how many whiffs of chlorine at how much concentration in PPM it would take to degrade the material to a certain degree.
The manufacturer cannot tell you, except generally, how many rays of sunshine—and at what elevation that matters! The manufacturer cannot tell you the effects of your sweat components acid, alkalinity, salts , or of the amount of grit in your air, or the pollution in your work locations.
Without question, the best person to tell an employer when to retire equipment is the Competent and Qualified Person on site, the one who has a sense of the degradation that accompanies slag, sun, sweat, etc. Rest assured, the equipment has tremendous excess capacity, and the degradation that is common not normal… in a year period does not render the device worthless on the 1st day of the 6th year. The manufacturer knows that a harness worn every day will likely not make the 5-year mark, not by a long shot.
There is no in-between. For more safety tips and information, be sure to browse our Spotlight On Safety blog. Want the best safety information delivered to your inbox? Subscribe now to receive Spotlight on Safety featuring helpful safety tips, articles, videos, and more. Read the full blog post to learn more about the V-TEC io1 and how it can help keep warehouse workers safe. Confined space work can be dangerous.
Construction , General Industry. Fall Protection. But what about fall protection harnesses? The answer is both yes … and no. The Potential Problem With a Mandated Expiration Date You might think that having a mandated expiration date for a fall protection harness would be a good thing. For example, it could lull the wearer or safety professional into a false sense of security.
This can cause a weak spot that could fail during a fall arrest. Coating or saturation of paints and other chemicals can weaken the synthetic materials used in the webbing construction. Excessive exposure to UV rays or sunligh t may cause deterioration or weakening of synthetic fibers. When the harness is not in use, store it away from sunlight. Exposure to caustics and acids may deteriorate the metal components, such as the D-ring and buckles. Clean this items as soon as possible using approved methods.
Improper storage methods can damage the harness. Any harness subjected to a fall arrest must be taken out of service immediately. Do not use the harness after the impact event. It must be labeled as unusable and removed from service until destroyed. Inspect all webbing and stitching. Inspect all metal or plastic components of the harness.
Inspect all load indicators. Inspect all labels. Complete All Inspection Documentation. Keep in mind, there are many reasons for retiring older harnesses. Newer harnesses are better than older ones because they usually have extra padding, more ergonomic designs, pockets and tool loops, and easier adjustments among other benefits. In addition, providing workers with higher-quality protective equipment sends a signal that the organization takes safety seriously, so the workers should as well.
So don't worry if your faithful harness has survived five or more years on the job. Don't forget that the seat belts in most cars are well over five years old and I have never heard of one failing in an accident unless it wasn't being worn! Fall Protection Harnesses and Expiration Dates. A deployed impact indicator would be one reason to take a harness out of service. Five years of service would not be.
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