Say this
- Check the webbing. Bend it into a U shape along its full length to show cuts and broken fibres. Look for fraying, burns, paint, chemical stains and UV fading (WSH Council PPE guidelines).
- Check the stitching for pulled or cut threads, and buckles and D-rings for cracks, rust and bending.
- Check the lanyard and energy absorber. Look for signs that the energy absorber has been activated. A fall arrest system that has stopped a fall comes out of service (WSH Council, WAH CoP).
- Check snap hooks and karabiners lock and close fully.
- Fit it snug. Back D-ring between the shoulder blades. Chest strap done up. Do the two-finger test: two fingers should just slide between the webbing and your body (WSH Council PPE guidelines).
- A harness that has stopped a fall is withdrawn and destroyed. Harnesses also have a service life set by the maker (WSH Council PPE guidelines).
- The anchorage and anchorage line must be inspected by a competent person at the start of every shift, and the result recorded (WSH (Work at Heights) Regs, reg 12).
Ask the crew
- How do you check the webbing for cuts?
- What does the two-finger test tell you?
- What happens to a harness after it stops a fall?
- Who checks the anchor line, and when?
Show them
- Do a full harness check in front of the crew, part by part.
- Fit a harness on a volunteer and do the two-finger test.
- Show a harness or absorber that has been taken out of use and why.
Sign-off
| Name | Company | Signature |
|---|---|---|
Sources
- WSH Guidelines: Personal Protective Equipment for Work at Heights, WSH Council.
- Code of Practice for Working Safely at Heights, WSH Council.
- Workplace Safety and Health (Work at Heights) Regulations 2013, Singapore Statutes Online (AGC).
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.
