Harness and lanyard inspection checklist

Site: ______________________ Date: ____________ Checked by: ______________________

01Labels and records

Labels legible: model, serial number and date of manufacture. WSHC PPE guidelines, Annex A
Competent-person inspection within the last 12 months, or sooner near hot work. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7
Maker's instructions kept where users can read them. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7

02Harness webbing and stitching

Webbing bent into a U along its full length, both sides: no cuts, frays or broken fibres. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7.1
No burns, paint, chemical marks or UV fading. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7.1
Stitching intact at shoulder, thigh and sub-pelvic straps.

03Harness hardware

D-rings free of distortion, cracks, sharp edges and heavy corrosion. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7.1
D-ring back pad undamaged. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7.1
Buckles straight and aligned, free of debris, and fully engaged. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7.1

04Connectors

Karabiners and snap hooks free of cracks, corrosion and distortion. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7.2
Gate closes and locks on its own, without sticking. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7.2

05Lanyards and energy absorbers

Webbing lanyard: no cuts, broken stitches, swelling, discolouration or charring. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7.3
Rope lanyard: no fluffing, cut fibres, knots or thin spots. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7.3
Wire rope lanyard: no broken strands. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7.3
Energy absorber shows no deployed indicator or warning flag. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7.3

06Decision

Any harness or lanyard that has arrested a fall removed from service with all parts. WSHC PPE guidelines, 4.7
Failed items tagged, logged and destroyed or returned to the maker.
On the wearer, leg and chest straps snug, with room for a flat hand under each.

Legal requirement

On Singapore worksites, the WSH (Construction) Regulations 2007 require the employer or principal to provide and maintain suitable fall protection. The WSH Council's PPE guidelines say all PPE is checked before every use, fall protection gets a documented competent-person inspection at least every 12 months, and any equipment that has arrested a fall is removed from service.

This is practical guidance, not legal advice. Laws and codes of practice change; always check the current official text and your site's own procedures.

Harness and lanyard inspection checklist

01Labels and records

02Harness webbing and stitching

03Harness hardware

04Connectors

05Lanyards and energy absorbers

06Decision

Sources and further reading

Related reading

Working at height: what supervisors need to know

Working at height checklist (Singapore)

Toolbox talk: harness checks