Toolbox Talk: Harness and Lanyard Inspection

Before you start

Have each worker bring their own harness and lanyard. Do the inspection together as you talk.

Read this to your crew

A personal fall arrest system only works if every part of it works: the harness, the lanyard or lifeline, the connectors and the anchor. One frayed strap or bent hook can turn a fall you would walk away from into a fatal one.

Today we are going to inspect our gear together, piece by piece.

Key points

Inspect before each use. Check webbing for cuts, burns, fraying and chemical damage. Check stitching, buckles, D-rings and grommets.
Check the lanyard. Look at the shock absorber pack. If it has been deployed or the warning tag is showing, remove it from service.
Check connectors. Snap hooks and carabiners must close and lock on their own.
Use a proper anchor. Anchors must support 5,000 pounds per worker or be designed by a qualified person. Pipes and handrails are not anchors.
Retire gear after a fall. Any equipment that has arrested a fall comes out of service until a competent person inspects it.

Ask the crew

What did you find when you checked your gear today?
What on this site would you never tie off to?
How much clearance do we need below us to arrest a fall safely?

Picture this

A roofer ties off to a vent pipe because the anchor point is on the other side of the roof. He slips, the pipe snaps, and nothing stops the fall. The harness was fine; the anchor was not.

Print this page to use the sign-in sheet, or skip the paper and record attendance digitally in SafetyIQ.

Name

Company / crew

Signature

Talk leader: ______________ Date: ______________ Site: ______________