Work-at-height equipment control
Find defects before equipment returns to service
Safety-critical equipment deteriorates through use, contamination, abrasion, impact, heat, chemicals, poor storage and age. Inspection needs to be systematic enough to identify defects and decide whether the item can remain in service.
The correct inspection regime depends on the equipment, how it is used, manufacturer information, risk assessment and whether LOLER, PUWER or another duty applies. One blanket interval should not be copied across every item without thought.
Equipment that may be included
The inventory and inspection standard should be agreed before the equipment is presented so the correct records and acceptance criteria are used.
- Harnesses, work-positioning belts and fall-arrest components
- Ropes, lanyards, slings and energy absorbers
- Connectors, descenders, ascenders and pulleys
- Helmets and selected protective equipment used at height
- Equipment identification, inspection records and next-action status
- Quarantine or rejection of items with safety-critical defects
Inspection does not make unsuitable equipment suitable
An item can be in good physical condition but still be wrong for the task, incompatible with the system or outside the manufacturer’s permitted use. The employer or dutyholder remains responsible for the equipment regime and safe system of work.
- Missing identification or history may prevent a reliable decision
- Some contamination or damage cannot be safely reversed
- Manufacturer retirement criteria and service life still apply
- A formal thorough examination requires appropriate competence and impartial judgement
Identify, inspect, record and act on the result
Equipment is checked against the agreed criteria, with defects recorded and items given a clear status. Anything that could present danger should be removed from service rather than left in a kit bag with an ambiguous note.
Official reference: HSE guidance on thorough examinations and inspections.
What a useful inspection system should achieve
The objective is not paperwork for its own sake. It is to prevent damaged, unidentified or unsuitable equipment returning to use and to leave the dutyholder with a traceable record.
- Consistent checks by a person with relevant knowledge and experience
- Clear equipment identification and inspection status
- Written records where the applicable inspection regime requires them
- Practical defect decisions rather than vague advisory comments
Questions clients ask
Frequently asked questions
Does every item of PPE need a six-monthly examination?
Not under one universal rule. LOLER commonly requires six-monthly thorough examination for lifting equipment and accessories used to lift people unless a competent examination scheme specifies another interval. Other inspection frequencies are determined by risk, use, manufacturer guidance and the applicable regulations.
What is the difference between a pre-use check and a thorough examination?
A pre-use check is a user check before work. A thorough examination is a systematic and detailed examination by a competent person, with the required report where LOLER applies.
Can equipment with no serial number or history pass?
Not necessarily. If the item cannot be reliably identified, its age or inspection history is unknown, or traceability is required by the system, it may need to be rejected or referred for a dutyholder decision.
What happens to failed equipment?
It should be clearly quarantined and prevented from returning to service. The dutyholder should decide whether it is destroyed, returned to the manufacturer or otherwise disposed of safely.
