Introducing Our New Fall Protection Gear Inspection Course
Associated Courses: Fall Protection Equipment Inspection | Fall Protection Training
Do you work somewhere that requires you to work off the ground and from a height, such as the construction industry? If so, how often do you inspect your fall protection gear? If the question has you trying to think back to the last time you did, the answer is: not often enough!
It is fairly common knowledge that people that work from a height (could be 3 meters/10 feet or more) or at an awkward position are at risk from falling and getting injured. That is why we have fall protection systems in place for jobs like this – to reduce or eliminate completely the risk of falling. While it is important (not to mention required) to take a Fall Arrest training course, it is equally as important to properly maintain and inspect your fall protection equipment.
This is why Advantage Learning Solutions is now offering a Fall Protection Equipment Inspection course (owned by Fall Protection Group/3M Safety Training). To make sure you are getting the best in safety training! Here are a few things to know about fall safety gear and our new Fall Protection Gear Inspection Course:
Your Fall Safety Equipment Should Be Inspected Regularly!
If it is a requirement to wear fall safety equipment at work, you will be familiar with wearing some of the equipment. There are different types of fall safety equipment. As previously stated, the gear you wear will depend on those job expectations. Since there is a large selection of fall safety gear, it is important that you choose the right system to fit your work environment. Below is a list of some fall safety equipment:
- Safety belts (body, suspension etc.)
- Harnesses (full body or chest)
- Lanyards (rope, web, cable etc.)
- Shock absorbers
- Rope grabs
- Retractable lifelines
- Safety nets
- Rails
*Note: All equipment must be compliant with jurisdictional standards.
So how often should you be inspecting this equipment? The answer is that your equipment should be inspected every day before each work shift! On top of that, your fall safety equipment should be formally inspected. Formal inspections should occur at least every 6 to 12 months (some more frequently) by someone qualified. You should also have written records of all these inspections and approvals. Who is “someone qualified”? Someone who has successfully taken and been certified in the Fall Protection Gear Inspection course.
There are three types of inspections performed on fall protection gear. The three types are:
- End-user inspections (covered in Fall Protection Training)
- Formal inspections (covered in Fall Protection Equipment Inspection course)
- Recertification/revalidation inspections (performed by manufacturer only)
End-user inspections are inspections that are completed prior to each use by the person/worker who is wearing or using the equipment. These inspections are also covered in our Fall Protection (Energy Safety Canada) course offering.
Formal inspections are what is covered in the Fall Protection Equipment Inspection course. It has been designed to meet manufacturer requirements for formal inspections that are completed by a competent and qualified person other than the end-user.
Recertification/revalidation inspections can only be completed by the manufacturer, an authorized dealer, or engineer.
Along with frequent inspections, your fall safety equipment should also be maintained. It also needs to be kept away from any kind of substance or condition that will deteriorate the effectiveness of it. If you want to find out how often your safety equipment should be inspected, consult the manufacturer’s requirements specific to that piece of equipment.
It is important to note that there are some equipment types that the Fall Protection Equipment Inspection course does not cover. This is because some equipment can only be certified through the manufacturer or an engineer (or someone certified through the manufacturer or engineer). If you are not certain if your equipment is covered by this course offering, please contact us to find out more.
Fall Protection Systems Are Designed To Help You
Whether you are washing windows on a skyscraper or changing light bulbs in an auditorium, if you are at risk of falling at work, then it is a requirement to wear fall protection equipment. Furthermore, in a work environment like that, it is also important to have a good fall protection system in place. A fall protection system often includes three components:
- Fall restraint (travel restraint)
- Fall arrest
- Work procedures
To elaborate, fall restraints—or travel restraints—are equipment that prevent workers from falling. Fall arrest is the equipment used to stop or protect a worker’s fall (in the case that they do fall). Lastly, work procedures are plans that are designed to eliminate hazards or to control the risks of working from heights. All three of these aspects are important when designing your fall protection system.
Is your fall arrest certification expired? Book your fall protection training course today.
Fall Protection Gear Inspection Will Help You Stay Safe
The new Fall Protection Gear Inspection course is designed for anyone that is responsible for setting up fall safety equipment. It is highly recommended for those who work with fall safety equipment and are interested in learning more about the proper inspection of the gear involved. This is because the course will train participants on how to formally inspect and maintain personal fall arrest systems.
Please keep in mind that this course does not certify you to perform third-party equipment inspections. It is only designed to certify you to inspect the equipment for the employer you completed the training under. Furthermore, this certification is not transferable should you change employers unless you are just moving to a sister/parent company of the same employer.
Some of the topics that will be covered in this course include:
- Government legislation on fall protection and the appropriate gear involved
- Equipment manufacturers requirements for their gear
- Appropriate record-keeping practices
- Proper maintenance and storage practices
- The process of inspecting the equipment
- And much more!
Taking Fall Protection Gear Inspection training is a great way to ensure that the fall arrest gear at your workplace is maintained and kept up to proper safety standards. This way you can keep yourself and everyone else safe while on the job. Interested in learning more or booking this training? Please check out our course page for more details.
At Advantage Learning Solutions, we strive to provide the best safety training available. Our extensive selection of training classes—from online training courses to Energy Safety Canada certification courses—are designed to train you to succeed on the job. Want to learn more about the courses we offer? Please visit our homepage for a complete list of course offerings.