Safety Harness Inspection Training

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration says that construction is a highly hazardous industry due to the nature of the dangerous jobs that workers must perform. Many times, construction workers are required to work in conditions that breed fall hazards. Accordingly, safety harness training keeps workers safe.

Significance

• Inspecting safety harnesses before they are used is essential in making sure they are fully functional. Employees are trained on how to inspect safety harnesses and identify defects or potential hazards. When defects or hazards are identified, workers must not use the harness.

Belts and Rings

• Harness-inspection training teaches individuals how to check the belts and rings of the harness. Belts should be bent into a "U" shape and checked for frays, broken fibers, undone stitches or chemical damage. Rings should be checked for damages, distortion or cracks.

Buckles and Snaps

• If harnesses are meant to buckle or snap together, the buckles and snaps must be visually inspected. The observer is trained to identify defects to the parts and sharp edges that could endanger the worker wearing the harness.

Lanyards

• Lanyards are the wires, ropes or cords attached to harnesses, and must also be inspected for safety. Inspecting lanyards requires workers to start at one end and work their way to the opposite end, checking for frays, cracks, cuts and indications of wear or damage.