Competent Inspector – Fall Protection Equipment Inspection Training

Duration 3-4 hours (duration may increase if specialized equipment is included)

Learners will be able to:

• Recall the important elements of an inspection OHS program
• Understand the applicable legislation, guidelines and manufacturer’s instructions
• Apply detailed inspection considerations
• Understand how and when to condemn equipment
• Complete proper and detailed documentation for record-keeping
• Understand best practices for the maintenance and storage of equipment
• Demonstrate the inspection of fall protection equipment.

Course Outline 

• Participants in the workshop will learn to perform proactive inspections of fall protection equipment in order to identify unsafe fall protection equipment in their workplace and how to keep records of inspection to better help your company manage inventory of equipment, identify opportunities for additional training, and meet the requirements of your health and safety responsibilities.

Prerequisites

• Completion of a CPO approved working at heights or equivalent training 
• WHMIS
• Workers taking the workshop should complete the mandatory Worker Health and Safety Awareness in Four Steps required for all workers in Ontario
• Supervisors taking the workshop should complete the mandatory Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness in Five Steps required for all supervisors in Ontario
• Joint Health and Safety Committee Members or Health and Safety Representatives taking the workshop would benefit from completing a CPO-approved JHSC Part 1 training course. 

Equipment types:

This workshop focuses on the most common fall protection equipment used. To include specialized equipment arrangements must be made and an example of the equipment must be provided in order to conduct the training. 

Basic equipment covered by the workshop includes

• Temporary anchors
• Full body harness
• Lanyards
• Shock Absorbing devices
• Temporary life lines (vertical and horizontal)
• Fall arresters (i.e. rope grabs)
• Connecting components (i.e. carabiners)
• For more specialized equipment (listed below) please contact us directly and provide the make and model of the equipment and when available manufacturer’s instructions or engineer’s drawings. 
  • Davitt arms
  • Confines space access systems
  • Mobile Anchorage systems
  • Rescue systems

What you Get 

Upon successful completion of the workshop learners will receive: 

• Wall certificate
• Detailed training record (Private classes only)

Taking a Fall Protection Equipment Inspection course offers a wide range of benefits for individuals and organizations, significantly contributing to workplace safety, compliance, and efficiency. Here are some key advantages:

1. Enhanced Safety and Incident Prevention:

• Reduced Accidents and Injuries: The primary benefit is to prevent falls from heights, which are a leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities in many industries. By ensuring equipment is in good condition, the risk of equipment failure is dramatically reduced.
• Proactive Hazard Identification: Inspectors learn to recognize potential hazards, defects, wear and tear in fall protection equipment before it's used, mitigating risks if an incident occurs. 
• Improved Safety Culture: A workforce that is confident in the reliability of their equipment and sees a commitment to safety from their employer leads to a stronger overall safety culture.

2. Legal Compliance and Due Diligence:

• Meeting Regulatory Requirements: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations mandate regular inspections of fall protection equipment by a "competent person". This course provides the necessary training to meet these legal obligations.
• Avoiding Fines and Penalties: Proper inspection training helps companies avoid these costly consequences.
• Reduced Liability: Demonstrating that a competent person is regularly inspecting and documenting fall protection equipment provides a strong defense in case of an accident, showing due diligence.

3. Cost Savings and Operational Efficiency:

• Costs Savings: With a corporate internal inspector, your organization saves money by not outsourcing the work. This is particularly significant with multiple equipment types, greater equipment volumes, and dispersed workforces. 
• Reduced Downtime: Accidents lead to investigations, clean-up, and potential work stoppages, all of which result in lost productivity and revenue. Proactive inspections minimize such disruptions.
• Extended Equipment Lifespan: Proper inspection, care, and maintenance techniques taught in the course can help extend the life of valuable fall protection equipment, delaying replacement costs.
• Optimal Resource Allocation: By preventing accidents, businesses can allocate resources towards growth and innovation rather than dealing with the aftermath of preventable incidents.

4. Professional Development and Career Advancement:

• Specialized Expertise: Becoming a certified inspector demonstrates a specialized skill set that is highly valued in industries where working at heights is common (e.g., construction, oil & gas, utilities, manufacturing).
• Increased Value to Employer: Individuals with this certification become a crucial asset to their organization, directly contributing to the safety and well-being of their colleagues.
• Career Opportunities: The "competent person" designation can open doors to new roles and responsibilities within a company.  
• Boosted Confidence: Having the knowledge and skills to confidently inspect and assess equipment instills a greater sense of confidence in performing tasks at heights.

5. Comprehensive Knowledge and Practical Skills:

• Understanding Equipment Components: The course covers the various types of fall protection equipment (harnesses, lanyards, lifelines, anchor points, etc.) and their specific inspection criteria.
• Manufacturer Requirements: Training emphasizes understanding and adhering to manufacturer guidelines for inspection, use, and retirement of equipment.
• Documentation and Record-Keeping: Participants learn how to properly document inspections, maintain records, and establish an effective inspection regime for all personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Wear and Tear Identification: The course teaches how to identify signs of damage, wear and tear (like UV exposure or chemical degradation) that can compromise equipment integrity. It helps to identify how equipment is being used and in making informed equipment purchase decisions. 
• Practical Application: This course includes hands-on exercises, allowing participants to apply their knowledge in a practical setting.

In essence, taking a fall protection equipment inspection course is an investment in safety, compliance, and professional competence that yields significant returns for both individuals and the organizations they serve.

• Occupational Health and Safety Act
• O.Reg 213/91 Construction Projects
• Film and television industry guideline No. 21 Working at Heights
• Changes in the CSA Standard for Self-Retracting Devices (Effective Aug 2019)

1. Who is responsible to ensure fall protection equipment is in good condition?

While workers are responsible to inspect their equipment before each use, ultimately the responsibility to ensure that workers use equipment that is in good condition falls on employers. In the Occupational Health and Safety Act employers are given the responsibility to ensure that all protective devices used by workers are not only used as required, but also maintained in good condition. 

Regular proactive inspection by a competent person is an effective way to ensure damaged equipment is not used by workers. These inspections should occur at least annually.

2. Does fall protection equipment expire?

No. While some manufacturers may make suggestions about the service life of a piece of equipment, they do not assign an expiry to equipment. Instead, manufacturer’s will often use the term “indefinite lifespan”. This does not mean however that equipment doesn’t have a service life, only that the service life is not based on age. 

Instead, the decision to take equipment out of service must be based on the condition of the equipment and the circumstances under which it is used. Exposure to harsh chemicals, for example, may negatively affect the condition of equipment or cast doubt on the integrity of exposed equipment. 

Employers should in consultation with the JHSC or health and safety representative determine if fall protection equipment should be assigned a maximum service life based on factors related to the nature of the work and work environment. They may also require more frequent proactive inspection of equipment to ensure damaged fall protection is removed from service. 

Regardless of age, all defective equipment must be removed from service.

3. Does this training cover the revalidation of Self Retracting Devices (SRDs)?

No. This workshop only covers the required external visual inspection and function testing of SRDs by a competent person. Revalidation can only be done by a manufacturer-trained technician. 

4. How often should fall protection equipment be inspected?

All fall protection equipment is to be inspected before each use by a competent person, usually the worker(s) using the equipment as part of their start of day procedures. The CSA standards for most fall protection equipment also requires that the equipment be inspected at least annually by a competent person who is not the user of the equipment. These annual proactive inspections are also required for those seeking to maintain or acquire certain health and safety certifications for their company such as the COR® program.

5. Why have inspections by a competent person other than the user?

It is a known phenomenon that people will develop a tolerance towards risk in the workplace. This risk tolerance is often referred to as complacency, where a worker is more likely to make risky decisions because of confidence in their abilities or because they have become used to the presence of a hazard. This risk tolerance can lead to workers continuing to use damaged or defective equipment or neglect to perform proper pre-use inspections of equipment. Having someone other than the user inspect the equipment can ensure that defective equipment is removed from service and identify need for additional training for workers.

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