Personal Fall Arrest System Inspection Requirements

As stated in the standard section i paragraph f personal fall arrest systems must be regularly inspected for the following.

Personal fall arrest system inspection requirements.

Osha requires that personal fall arrest systems be rigged so an employee cannot free fall in excess of 6 feet 1 8 m. Further information on inspection criteria has been provided in paragraph g inspection considerations in part ii of appendix c relating to 1926 502 d personal fall arrest systems. Osha also notes that this provision is consistent with the inspection requirements for personal fall arrest systems in the powered platforms standard 1910 66. Any significant defect tears cuts abrasions mold undue stretching alterations or additions which might affect its efficiency damage due to deterioration.

A personal fall arrest system is one option of protection that osha requires for workers on construction sites who are exposed to vertical drops of 6 feet or more. Even a few additional feet of free fall can significantly increase the arresting force on the employee possibly to the point of causing injury and possibly exceeding the strength of the system. A double lanyard system that consists of a body harness lanyards and an anchorage meets the definition of personal fall arrest system in the final rule provided those components meet all of the applicable requirements in 1910 140 c and d. Personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected prior to each use for mildew wear damage and other deterioration and defective components shall be removed from service if their strength or function may be adversely affected.