INSPECTION CHECKLIST · PRE-USE · PERIODIC

Fall Protection Equipment Inspection Checklist

What to check before every use, what a periodic inspection adds, what to record, and the defects that take a harness, lanyard, SRL or anchor out of service.

Quick answerInspect every piece of fall protection before each use, have a competent person do documented periodic inspections at the interval the manufacturer and your province require, and take anything out of service that has arrested a fall or shows damage until the manufacturer or an engineer clears it.
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  • Pre-use
  • Periodic
  • Records
  • Out of service
FALL PROTECTION INSPECTION ◆ BEFORE EVERY USE ◆ PERIODIC BY A COMPETENT PERSON ◆ KEEP RECORDS ◆ REMOVE AFTER A FALL

Three kinds of inspection

AT A GLANCE

Pre-useEvery useThe worker or a qualified person checks the gear before each use or shift. BC: before use on each shift (s. 11.9).
PeriodicDocumentedA competent person, at the interval the manufacturer and your province set, with a written record.
After a fallOut of serviceRemove anything that arrested a fall until the maker or an engineer recertifies it, or destroy it.

Pre-use checklist: harness, lanyard, connectors

BEFORE EVERY USE

Harness

  • Webbing: no cuts, frays, burns, chemical damage, hard or glazed spots.
  • Stitching: none broken or pulled, especially at D-rings and buckles.
  • Hardware: D-rings and buckles not bent, cracked or corroded; buckles lock.
  • Fall indicator not deployed; labels present and readable.

Lanyard and energy absorber

  • Absorber pack closed, with no torn stitching or stretched cover.
  • Webbing or rope undamaged along the full length.
  • Snap hooks and carabiners: gates close and lock on their own.

Pre-use checklist: SRLs and anchors

BEFORE EVERY USE

Self-retracting lifeline

  • Line pulls out and retracts smoothly with no slack or binding.
  • A sharp tug locks it immediately.
  • Cable or webbing undamaged; housing not cracked; load indicator not deployed.
  • Within its service or recertification date if the maker sets one.

Anchor

  • Installed to the maker's instructions, into sound structure.
  • No movement, cracks, corrosion or missing fasteners.
  • Rated for the number of workers attached.

Periodic inspections, records and retirement

COMPETENT PERSON · DOCUMENTED

Periodic inspections are done by a competent person at the interval in the manufacturer's instructions and your provincial regulation, with a written record of what was inspected, by whom, the result and any equipment removed.

Take equipment out of service when:

  • it has arrested a fall. In BC it stays out of service until recertified by the manufacturer or a professional engineer (s. 11.10);
  • it fails any pre-use or periodic check;
  • labels are missing or unreadable;
  • it is past the manufacturer's service life.

Tag it, store it apart from good gear, and record what happened to it. Training rules for inspections differ by province: see your province page.

This guide is general information to help you choose and care for equipment, not legal advice. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for your exact product and your province's regulation. Guide checked October 2026.

Replace worn gear

SHOP THE GEAR

Fall protection rules by province

PROVINCE GUIDES

Inspection questions

ANSWERS YOU CAN CITE

01

How often does fall protection equipment need to be inspected?

Before every use, plus documented periodic inspections by a competent person at the interval set by the manufacturer and your province. BC requires inspection by a qualified person before use on each shift.
02

What happens to a harness or lanyard after a fall?

It comes out of service. Most makers require it to be destroyed; BC allows reuse only after recertification by the manufacturer or a professional engineer.
03

Who can do a periodic inspection?

A competent person: someone with the knowledge, training and experience to inspect that equipment, authorized by the employer to remove it from service.
04

Do I need to keep inspection records?

Yes, keep written records of periodic inspections and of any equipment removed from service.