Construction is a risky business. A quick glance at OSHA’s fatality data highlights just how hazardous it can be. That’s why safety is such a crucial aspect when it comes to training workers and adhering to OSHA regulations in this industry.

In addition to training, construction companies are also expected to provide workers with specialized equipment, like hard hats, work gloves, and harnesses, to meet safety standards. It’s all part of keeping your team safe from injury or death.

Maintaining all safety mandates, providing relevant training, and issuing employees the appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) can be complex. Additionally, safety equipment must be regularly inspected and replaced when outdated or damaged to ensure it’s in proper working order.

Many workers are aware that their hard hats have an expiration date of five years, and because of this, they often assume that other safety gear also expires within a set timeframe. So, people frequently ask, “When does my safety harness expire?”

• Frequency of use (daily vs. weekly or monthly)
• Damage sustained during use
• The type of environment and climate you work in
• The materials used for the harness

To stay OSHA compliant, fall protection harnesses must be properly inspected regularly.

Read our full guide on fall protection.

Each employee should perform a field inspection before each use. Before gearing up for the day, employees who use a full-body harness must inspect their own PPE for damage or deterioration. This is a personal safety check required by OSHA before each work shift. Workers should look for mildew, wear, damage, or other deterioration.

ANSI standards require formal inspections at least yearly. Although not officially required by OSHA, it’s a good practice for companies to have a system in place to have harnesses inspected by a qualified, competent person regularly. During this formal process, a trained inspector carefully checks your company’s safety gear. They mark off pass/fail criteria on a physical checklist to document the formal inspection of safety equipment.

In addition to the formal inspection, each worker is responsible for inspecting their own harness before each use. OSHA requires employers to provide training on how to properly inspect fall inspection systems. A competent person must provide this training.

OSHA defines a competent person as someone well-versed in safety standards, capable of identifying risks, and with the authority to correct hazards.

1. Hold your harness by the D-ring, let it hang, and give it a shake
2. Check if the impact indicator tags are present and intact (one on each side)
3. Inspect the D-ring for bends, cracks, or discoloration
4. Connect and tug on the chest-strap buckles, checking for proper locking connection
5. Check your adjuster hardware for proper functioning
6. Inspect the leg straps, buckles, and grommets
7. Visually and physically inspect all webbing (both sides) by bending it to check for thinning, fraying, cuts, or unraveling
8. Give it a pass or fail grade

• Harness tags or labels are illegible
• Missing impact indicator tags
• Impact indicator tags are ripped
• Damage or distortion of the D-ring
• Improper functioning of the chest-strap buckles
• Broken spring on adjusters
• Webbing is not moving freely through adjusters or doesn't lock down after adjustment
• Damage to grommets (cracked, bent, missing)
• Thinning, damaged, or unraveling webbing
• Loose or missing stitches in webbing
• Evidence of burn or chemical exposure
• Missing or loose components
• Modifications
• Corrosion

The solution for a failed harness inspection is straightforward—replace it with a new one. While you’re inspecting your harnesses, don’t forget to check the other components of your fall protection system, including your lanyards and retractables. Learn more about retractables here.

PowerPak is dedicated to providing high-quality safety equipment. If you’re looking to buy a new safety harness to have a backup on hand or to cover your next job, we can get you the gear you need with same-day shipping. Check out PowerPak’s collection of 3-point safety harnesses that meet or exceed ANSI Z359.11-2014. A10.32-2012.