Harnesses & Fall Arrest Devices in the Oil and Gas Industry

Proper Cleaning and Inspections Can Prevent Falls from Elevated Surfaces

Fall prevention is a critical safety concern in the oil and gas industry. Workers are often required to work at heights, making them vulnerable to falls. Harnesses are worn around the body and attached to a lanyard that is secured to a fixed anchor point. This ensures the worker is safely secured and protected from falls while working at heights in the oil and gas industry.

Proper care for harnesses and fall arrest devices in the oil and gas industry is important for ensuring the safety of workers who perform tasks at heights. Failure to maintain and inspect these safety equipment devices can result in serious injuries or fatalities. Regular inspections, cleaning, and proper storage can increase the lifespan and effectiveness of harnesses and lanyards.

Cleaning Harnesses or Lanyards

When visiting job sites, we often see fall protection harnesses or fall arrest devices covered in oil and mud, which can greatly diminish the lifespan of the harness. Harnesses can be easily cleaned with warm water, a light brush like a toothbrush, and Dawn dishwashing soap. It is gentle enough to be used on baby seals, and gentle enough to get the oils out of a harness without damaging it. Only use home washing machines sparingly on the gentle cycle, but never conventional commercial washing machines. Always hang-dry harnesses.

Harness Inspections

What should someone do if handed a harness? First, begin by checking the size to ensure it will fit properly. Then, inspect for mildew, damage, deterioration, and defects. When inspecting:

• Hold the harness by the dorsal ring, letting it hang freely and untangling any kinks or twists.
• Examine the webbing. The visual stitching, approximately 1/8th of an inch from the edge, can be used as a damage indicator. Any tears or fraying touching or past that stitching renders the harness damaged and should be taken out of service.
• Check the rivets for any warping. The rivets are designed to be weak spots of the harness and will become oval or egg-shaped if impacted by a fall or damaged.
• Check the D-rings and O-rings. They should be smooth with no sharp snags or obvious wear and tear, meaning the ring should be the same diameter in all areas.
• The red stitching placed in the folds of the main areas of the harness - such as shoulder straps or where the dorsal ring is attached, can be used as a fall indicator. If the harness has been impacted, the fold will tear open, revealing red stitching.

These are just common trends to look for. Always check each manufacturer's inspection guidelines. There should also be an identification tag that will usually have a serial number, boxes for inspections, and/or an electronic tag that can all be used to track regular inspections.

Fall Arrest Device Inspections

Fall arrest devices connect the harness to a lifeline or engineered anchor point. Examples include lanyards, yo-yos, SALA blocks, self-retracting lifelines (SRL), and slinkies.

• Fall arrest devices have the same visual stitching as harnesses, approximately 1/8^th of an inch from the edge and are there as a damage indicator. Any tears or fraying that touches the stitching renders the harness damaged and should be taken out of service.
• Check the D-rings and O-rings. They should be smooth with no sharp snags or obvious wear and tear, meaning the ring should be the same diameter in all areas.
• Like harnesses, several brands will include an identification tag with a serial number, boxes for inspections, and/or an electronic tag to track regular inspections. If it’s an SRL, it will typically have this at the top of the block to indicate if the block itself is damaged and where the lifeline connects to the harness. This is typically a swivel that once impacted, will reveal a red line.
• For SRLs, check the length of the cable from time to time to ensure no part of it is frayed. Unlike lifting cables, no cables can be frayed or kinked when used for life protection.

By using these recommendations, we can create a safer work environment for everyone. Keeping employees safe should always be the top priority. For more specific jobsite safety recommendations, contact your BITCO Risk Control Consultant. Click the button below to find a BITCO agent near you.

For information purposes only. BITCO's blog content does not address all potential circumstances and is not a substitute for business, safety, or legal consultation.