Safety Line Testing
Ensuring your fall protection system is fit for purpose is not only a legal imperative but also fundamental to preventing workplace accidents and death.
It is a legal requirement for all safety equipment, including fall protection systems, to be routinely tested by a suitably qualified person.
The primary standard governing testing is BSEN795: 'Protection Against Falls From Height - Anchorage Devices - Requirements And Testing'. This says that a fall protection system installed in accordance with the recommendations should undergo periodic examination by a competent person to certify that the system remains compliant and is safe to use.
Routine inspection and maintenance will help extend the functional life of your system and ensure that all workers who attach to it are properly protected as they go about their duties.
Frequency of inspection
The complexity and frequency of inspection regimes varies according to the type of system installed and the ancillary equipment used with it. Guideline intervals for testing are affected by legislation, standards, industry norms and/or the manufacturer's specification. Additionally, it is important that the testing frequency takes into account how often the equipment is used and the environment it is used in. Testing frequencies for most common fall protection systems and equipment are as follows as a general guide,
- PPE: Minimum once every 6 months.
- Abseil/roped access points: Minimum once every 6 months.
- Fall restraint/ fall arrest cable systems: Minimum once every 12 months.
- Ladder restraint anchors: Minimum once every 24 months