Inspecting your harness for maximum safety
A step-by-step guide to checking the condition of a critical piece of fall protection equipment.
When you’re working at heights, a damaged harness can be the difference between a near-miss and a catastrophic fall.
In 2022-2023, falls were the most common cause of construction worker deaths in Ontario. They also made up 23 per cent of the industry’s lost-time injury claims. These injuries and fatalities affect everyone at the jobsite. Preventing them must be a critical goal of every safe and healthy workplace.
Training workers to safely use fall protection equipment like harnesses is one measure that employers can take to prevent falls on their jobsites. Harnesses have many important components—from fall deployment indicators to the D-ring. Workers should inspect the condition of each of these components every time they put on their harness, to ensure it will protect them as intended.
Fall deployment indicators: Check that the fall deployment indicators are intact. If they are damaged or otherwise stressed, take the harness out of service.
Mating buckles: Make sure the mating buckles are flat—not bent or damaged in any way. They need to be able to seat together.
D-ring: Check the D-ring for any damage. Any twists, bends, or corrosion affecting this metal component mean that the harness needs to be taken out of service.
Keeper pad: Typically made of dark blue or black plastic, the keeper pad can develop thin, white striation lines when damaged. If this is the case, take the harness out of service.
CSA label: Verify that the harness is approved by the Canadian Standards Association by finding the label that shows the CSA logo.
Stitching: Inspect the stitching around the entire harness to check for any fraying or ripping. Move the stitching around and open any flaps so that you can inspect the inside.
Hip grommets: Harnesses may use mating buckles or buckles and grommets to secure the straps in the hip area. If your harness uses buckles and grommets, check the metal components. The tongue and buckle should sit together like a normal belt buckle and all grommets should be in their proper position. Inspect the grommets for warping, too: they are strong and won’t show a lot of damage, so even the slightest bend is a sign that the harness has been stressed in some way and should be taken out of service.
Straps: Double check that the stitching is intact. Check for damage to the material, which can include burns, cuts, abrasions, or contact with chemicals. Also check for UV radiation (i.e., sun) damage by examining the straps’ colour. Harnesses are made of a plastic material that is easily damaged by UV radiation. Compare the outside of the harness strap to the reverse side. If the outside is more faded, then the strap is damaged. Finally, run your hands along the straps. If the material feels dry or brittle, take the harness out of service.
And remember, always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions when inspecting your harness. Do not mark on your harness unless you have an approved pen from the manufacturer.
IHSA Health & Safety Magazine |
IHSAV242 |
Inspecting your harness for maximum safety