PPE inspection and when to retire gear
Harnesses, helmets, ropes, carabiners and devices are personal protective equipment (PPE). How safe they are depends on regular inspection and retiring them in time. This guide is a general overview, the manufacturer’s instructions always take priority.
Checks before and after every use
- Textiles (harnesses, slings, ropes): cuts, worn or melted areas, discoloration, stiff or glazed sections, damaged stitching.
- Metal (carabiners, devices): cracks, sharp edges, corrosion, grooves worn by the rope. The gate must close and lock on its own.
- Plastic (helmets, device parts): cracks, deformation, damaged buckles.
- Check that every part works as the instructions describe.
Periodic inspection
Besides the pre-use check, gear should be thoroughly inspected by a competent person at the intervals the manufacturer specifies. For fall protection equipment at work that is at least every 12 months, and more often with intensive use or harsh conditions.
Record keeping
Keep a record for each item: model, serial or batch number, date of manufacture, date of first use, dates and results of inspections and who did them. For companies this is often a legal duty, for athletes it is a good habit.
Lifespan
The manufacturer sets the lifespan, which depends on the material, the date of manufacture and how intensively the gear is used. Textiles and plastics age even when unused. Metal gear can last a long time but is retired when worn or damaged.
When to retire it straight away
- After a serious fall or load.
- If it fails an inspection.
- If it has been in contact with chemicals or exposed to high heat.
- If you do not know its full history.
- When it reaches its lifespan.
If in doubt, retire it. Mark retired gear and destroy it so nobody uses it again. Never buy used PPE with an unknown history.