Inspecting Personal Fall Protection Equipment

摘要

ANYONE working at height, or in a confined space, needs to have utter faith in their safety equipment, and this only comes with the confidence it has been properly inspected and maintained. Since the introduction of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Work at Height Regulations 2005, I innocently assumed that the risk of a failure in ropes, chains and lifting equipment was minimal, since the law requires them to be examined thoroughly on a regular basis. I knew this requirement applied to workplaces and that the Work at Height (Amendment) Regulations 2007 applied to leisure activities - such as caving and climbing - but I wasn't aware of the wide variety of equipment that now requires regular examination. Having read Dr Dave Merchant's excellent book, I am more knowledgeable and considerably wiser.