Harness inspection checklist (fall protection)
Updated · Reviewed by Israel Margulies, founder and CEO of High Point GPS
A safety harness and fall protection equipment inspection checklist: before each use, check the webbing, stitching, D-rings, buckles, labels, the lanyard or self-retracting lifeline and the connectors, and take anything worn, damaged or that has stopped a fall out of service.
OSHA's construction rule says personal fall arrest systems are inspected prior to each use for wear, damage and other deterioration, and defective parts are removed from service (29 CFR 1926.502(d)(21)). Any system that has stopped a fall is removed from service immediately until a competent person says it can be used again.
Each user checks their own harness before each use. Many companies add a documented periodic inspection by a competent person, often at least yearly, following the manufacturer's instructions. Retire equipment by the maker's guidance. This page summarizes the federal rule and isn't legal advice.
Harness and fall protection inspection
Fields: Harness ID / serial · Manufacturer and model · Date of manufacture · User · Date · Inspected by
Harness
- Webbing free of cuts, burns, fraying, chemical damage
- Stitching intact, no pulled or broken threads
- D-rings free of cracks, distortion, sharp edges
- Buckles and adjusters work and lock
- Labels and inspection tags readable
- Fall indicator not deployed
Lanyard, SRL and connectors
- Lanyard webbing or rope undamaged
- Shock absorber pack intact
- SRL retracts and locks
- Snap hooks and carabiners close and lock
- Anchor connector undamaged
Fill it in the right way
- Lay the harness out and check the webbing and stitching inch by inch.
- Check every D-ring, buckle and adjuster for cracks and function.
- Check the lanyard or self-retracting lifeline and the connectors.
- Mark each item OK, Not OK or N/A.
- Remove anything that fails, or that has stopped a fall, from service and tag it.
Tips
- Bend webbing gently to show cuts hidden in the weave.
- Store harnesses hung up, dry and away from sunlight and chemicals.
- Never repair fall protection yourself; return it to the maker or retire it.
- Record the harness ID so its inspections can be tracked over time.
Do it in FleetZap
- Put a QR label on each machine; operators scan it to do a check on their phone without an account, and a failed item opens a repair work order.
- Inspection and certification due dates can be tracked as compliance items with reminders.
- FleetZap records checks and repairs; it doesn't certify compliance.
Sources
FleetZap Maintenance
Work orders, PM, parts, compliance, assets and KPIs. Explore FleetZap Maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a safety harness be inspected?
Before each use, under 29 CFR 1926.502(d)(21), plus periodic documented inspections by a competent person as the manufacturer recommends.
What disqualifies a harness?
Cuts, burns, fraying or chemical damage to webbing, broken stitching, cracked or bent hardware, unreadable labels, a deployed fall indicator, or having stopped a fall.
What happens after a harness stops a fall?
It's removed from service immediately and not used again until a competent person inspects it and decides it's undamaged and safe.
How long does a harness last?
Follow the manufacturer's service life guidance; condition and use decide when to retire it.