Do harnesses need a LOLER inspection?
It depends what the harness is doing. If it's holding or lifting a person (rope access, work positioning, tree climbing or rescue), it's lifting equipment under LOLER and needs a thorough examination at least every 6 months. If it's there to stop a fall (in a MEWP, on a roof or on scaffolding), it's fall protection under the Work at Height Regulations, and HSE recommends a detailed inspection at least every 6 months. Either way: every 6 months at most, recorded, and checked before every use.
That's why you'll find websites saying both "yes" and "no". They're each describing a different use.
Which rules apply to your harness?
How the harness is used | Which rules | Detailed inspection at least every |
Rope access and work positioning (hanging in the harness to work) | LOLER: the harness lifts and holds a person | 6 months, as a thorough examination |
Tree climbing and arboriculture | LOLER: HSE lists harnesses and strops as lifting equipment in tree work | 6 months, plus a daily check of the climbing rope |
Rescue: raising or lowering a casualty | LOLER | 6 months |
Fall arrest or restraint in a MEWP basket | Work at Height Regulations and PPE rules | 6 months, or 3 months with frequent use |
Fall arrest on roofs, scaffolding or steelwork | Work at Height Regulations and PPE rules | 6 months, or 3 months in arduous conditions |
Harnesses that lift a person: LOLER
LOLER covers equipment for lifting and lowering loads, and HSE is clear that a load "includes a person". So when someone hangs in their harness to work, or is raised or lowered on a rope, the harness, lanyards, karabiners and anchor slings are all lifting equipment.
Equipment that lifts people needs a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 6 months, with a written report each time.
Harnesses that stop a fall: work at height
A fall arrest harness doesn't lift anyone. It's there in case of a fall. That makes it personal fall protection, covered by the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the PPE rules.
HSE recommends three levels of inspection:
Pre-use check: by the user, at the start of every shift.
Detailed inspection: formally recorded, at least every 6 months. HSE suggests at least every 3 months for frequently used equipment, "particularly when the equipment is used in arduous environments", such as demolition, steel erection and scaffolding.
Interim inspection: extra recorded inspections between detailed ones, where your risk assessment shows the equipment could deteriorate quickly.
What a harness inspection looks for
cuts, fraying, burns or heat damage to the webbing
broken, pulled or worn stitching
fading or stiffness from sunlight or chemicals
buckles and adjusters that are bent, cracked or don't hold
D-rings and attachment points that are distorted or corroded
the label still there and readable
the lanyard's energy absorber: has it started to deploy?
karabiners and connectors that close and lock properly
the manufacturer's maximum lifespan, which hasn't passed
A harness or lanyard that has arrested a fall should be taken out of use and not used again.
Keep a record
Detailed inspections and thorough examinations should be recorded. Give each harness and lanyard its own ID, so you can show which item was inspected, when, and what was found. If HSE asks, "we check them regularly" won't do. The record will.
Who can inspect a harness?
A competent person: someone with the training and experience to spot defects and judge how serious they are. That can be someone in your own team who's been trained, or an independent examiner.
For LOLER thorough examinations, HSE says the examiner should be independent enough to make objective decisions, and shouldn't be the person who maintains the equipment.
Book a harness inspection
PULO inspects harnesses, lanyards and fall arrest equipment alongside lifting equipment, across Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and the rest of the Midlands. Each item gets its own record, and we contact you before the next inspection is due. [CONFIRM: that Ryan inspects harnesses and rope access kit, and whether he does LOLER examinations for arborists]
See our PUWER inspections page or call 07412 957 441. Using harnesses in MEWPs? See our MEWP inspections too.
FAQs
Do harnesses need a LOLER inspection? It depends how they're used. A harness used to lift or hold a person, in rope access, work positioning, tree climbing or rescue, is lifting equipment under LOLER and needs a thorough examination at least every 6 months. A fall arrest harness comes under the Work at Height Regulations, with a detailed inspection at least every 6 months.
How often should a safety harness be inspected? HSE recommends a pre-use check every shift, and a formally recorded detailed inspection at least every 6 months, or every 3 months for frequently used equipment or arduous work such as scaffolding and steel erection.
Is a fall arrest harness lifting equipment? Not usually. A fall arrest harness doesn't lift anyone, so it's personal fall protection under the Work at Height Regulations. A harness used to raise, lower or hold a person, such as in rope access or tree work, is lifting equipment under LOLER.
Do tree climbing harnesses need a LOLER inspection? Yes. HSE's arboriculture guidance lists harnesses, strops, ropes and karabiners used for rope access and work positioning as lifting equipment. They need a thorough examination by a competent person, and the climbing rope should be checked every day.
Do MEWP harnesses need a LOLER inspection? A harness worn in a MEWP basket is fall protection, not lifting equipment, so it comes under the Work at Height Regulations. It still needs a recorded detailed inspection at least every 6 months. The MEWP itself needs a LOLER thorough examination every 6 months.
Who can inspect a harness? A competent person with the training and experience to find defects and judge how serious they are. That can be a trained member of your team or an independent examiner.
What happens to a harness after a fall? A harness or lanyard that has arrested a fall should be taken out of use and not used again.
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