Page 1 from 5 HARNESSES ČSN EN 358 ČSN EN 361 ČSN EN 813 PPE for work positioning and prevention of falls from a height work positioning systems PPE for prevention of falls from a height full body harnesses PPE for prevention of falls from a height sit harnesses To simplify the terminology of this text all the products that fit at least one of the standards are called harness. 1 ESSENTIALS 1.1 Inspection objectives Primary objective of the inspection is to review the qualification of the Harness for further safe use. Qualified assessment of the probable external cause of irreversible damage to the connector resulting in its putting out of further safe use. 1.2 Inspection instructions a) During inspection and assessment of all the under mentioned points, the inspector (the person authorized by a manufacturer to conduct periodical inspections of PPE) recommends the user to discard the harness from further use, if at least one assessment is negative (see more information in annex Nr. 1). b) Inspector is obliged to provide the user with a written inspection sheet containing the list of inspected products and the inspection results. In case of negative result of inspection the record of harness inspection has to be filled-in. If the user provides filled-in the Product record sheet, the results of periodical inspection including possible recommendation of discarding the product for further use can be recorded in this Product record sheet. In this case the Record of harness inspection is made only on request of the user. Taking over the inspection sheet and inspection protocols the user takes full responsibility for recommendations and orders in this record and the inspector does not bear any further responsibility. If the user does not follow inspector s recorded recommendations, the inspector does not bear any responsibilities for damages or accidents connected with the use of the harness. Periodical inspections do not limit user s obligation to conduct the inspections before and after every use and conduct an overall inspection every 3 months (following the instructions for use). It is necessary to warn the user that the connector may be damaged during its first use after inspection. It means that the periodical inspection serves especially the purpose of prevention. 1.3 Inspection schedule The record of harness inspection can be used as a schedule for the inspection. All the items in the schedule consist of several sections: a) designation (e.g. dating) b) description of the action to be taken c) solution This record of harness inspection has to be filled in case of negative result of the inspection. In other case only inspection sheet is filled in with the basic data of the product. 1.4 Recommended devices a) illuminated magnifier b) sliding gauge c) round-ended wire of the diameter of 2 mm d) electric or gas hot knife e) fine needle file 2 DEFINITIONS 2.1 webbing/strap woven surface textile of a specific width with edges that do not unravel. Webbing consists of warp (vertical set of yarns) and weft (horizontal set of yarns) and two locking threads in one edge of the webbing (so called 5 system). The webbing sometimes has both edges woven (so called rotary system of weaving). 2.2 seam solid connection of surface textiles, especially webbing, by threads. The seam consists of stitches. 2.3 stitch part of a seam between two pricks that is formed by upper and lower thread 2.4 thread twisted yarns (connected by twisting) yarn set of multifilament (twisted multifilament). multifilament set of filaments filament/ fibre basic hair-like unit (infinite fibre), it can be PAD or PES 2.5 metal components metal buckles and other components of various shapes especially fixing, setting and connecting devices. 2.6 material
Page 2 from 5 polyamide polyester also called nylon, PAD abbreviation is used. It is used especially for harnesses. PES abbreviation is used; rarely used for harnesses. It is used for stitching threads. 2.7 manufacturer SINGING ROCK s.r.o., Poniklá 317, 512 42 Poniklá 2.8 inspector person delegated by a manufacturer to conduct periodical inspections. 3 HARNESS DATING 3.1 Traceability label Harness dating can be obtained from the date of manufacturing on the traceability label that is a part of the harness. Traceability label contains: individual number of the harness, batch number, month and year of production, harness name and other information required by EN 365 standard. Solution: If the harness is more then ten years old (from the date of manufacture), Inspector recommends to discard the harness from further use (because of natural degradation of PAD/PES). 3.2 Inspection card Moreover, the age of the harness is evident from the information on the completed Product record sheet that is a part of the instructions for use (if filled in by the user). Solution: If the harness is more then ten years old (from the date of manufacture), Inspector recommends to discard the harness from further use (because of natural degradation of PAD/PES). Lifetime of textile ropes, lanyards, anchor devices and harnesses produced until the end of 2004 is 10 years from the date of production and 5 years from the date of first use, whichever comes on earlier. Lifetime of harnesses produced on 1.1.2005 and further is 10 years from the date of production. Lifetime of all PPE produced under the Singing Rock trademark after 1.1.2008 is 10 years from the date of production with the exception of metal components (connectors, braking devices, ), for which the lifetime is limited only by frequency of the use, wear and functioning. 4 LABELS INSPECTION 4.1 Instruction pictograms The inner printed tags contain the following information: the number of EN standard, approval mark, name of harness, pictograms showing correct fastening and setting of the harness, and the name of the manufacturer. All the tags must be undamaged and legible and permanently fixed to the harness. Solution: If some of the tags are illegible or if the harness tag is damaged or torn off it is necessary to discard the harness from further use. 4.2 Traceability label On the smaller textile tag there are: the individual number, the batch no., month and the year of manufacture, the size and the name of the harness. All the tags must be undamaged and legible and permanently fixed to the harness. In case of need of any other marking a textile marker recommended by manufacturer can be used. Solution: If some of the tags are illegible or if the harness tag is damaged or torn off it is necessary to discard the harness from further use. 5 GENERAL WEAR INSPECTION Assessment of dynamic and static qualities, and overall harness condition (it is possible only on the condition that the user possesses the records of the harness use). Solution: Should the fall arrest system was set-up using static rope subsequently without incorporating of a fall absorber (EN 355) and the day-book reports any fall, Inspector shall advise the user not to use any textile, metal and other components of the fall arrest system.
Page 3 from 5 In case of correct fall arrest system following the instructions for use supplied by manufacturer, the fall absorber shall be withdrawn from further use immediately. Other parts of fall arrest system subjected to fall must be inspected by inspector as soon as possible. If there is no evidence of any damage caused by the fall on the other parts of fall arrest system (use these regulations to check it), Inspector approves them for further use. The user is obliged to provide Inspector with full and accurate information regarding the fall circumstances. The user bears full responsibility for suppression of any information regarding the fall. In case of incomplete information Inspector informs the user of his full responsibility for any further use of the harness. 6 STITCHING INSPECTION We recommend use an illuminated magnifier (magnification 10) with a magnifier gauge (basic unit 0.5 mm). The inspection is necessary to be done also on less accessible parts of the harness. It is necessary to focus especially on broken, cut, worn through and unravelled threads. 6.1 Seam damage The basic characteristic of a safety stitch is that no thread (or stitch) is broken, cut, worn through or unravelled. It is also important to check the right and wrong side. The stitching interruption should be accepted only at conditions, when the sewing threads terminations are sealed form production. Later sealing of threads terminations outside of production facilities of the manufacturer is prohibited. Solution: If any thread in a seam is completely broken (cut or worn through) and the thread ends are not sealed it is necessary to warn the user that further use may be dangerous, and the inspector should recommend to discard the harness from further use. 6.2 Fuzzy seam Filaments in the yarn of the sewing thread are damaged (roughness of the seam). It is important to recommend discarding the harness from further use if the seam is damaged in such a way that one of three yarns of the sewing thread is completely broken (1/3 of the sewing thread). It is necessary to check the upper and lower threads of the seam. Solution: If the seam is rough and one of the three yarns is observed under the magnifier completely broken, it is necessary to discard the harness from further use promptly. 6.3 Local colouring of seam Local colouring of seams, which does not disappear after washing the harness in lukewarm soap water (no washing powders can be used) can be described as chemical damage (of any chemical composition). Permanent damage of the seam by chemicals leads to degradation of static and dynamic qualities, the thread can become fragile. Solution: Suggest discarding the harness from further use because of possible unanticipated breaking of the seam during fall arrest. 6.4 Glassy surface of seam Local colouring of seams that can be characterised as clotted yarns (glasslike effect). Glasslike surface of the seam is usually result of chemical or heat damage. This damage appears hard and smooth, the colour of the seam gets black in the stricken place; when bent, it brakes. Solution: Suggest discarding the harness from further use because of unanticipated breaking of the seam during fall arrest. 6.5 Ripped out seam All the seams in the harness must have the terminations sealed in such a way that a loose end of the thread is not longer than 2 mm and the visible sealed end prevents the seam from spontaneous unravelling. If the loose end of the thread is longer than 8 mm it is necessary to discard the harness from further use because it means that more than two stitches unravel. If the loose end of the thread is not longer than 8 mm the inspector seals it in such a way that the seam can not unravel any more and the loose end of the thread is shorter than 2 mm. It is very important to protect the webbing from open fire and heat, and protect the area around the loose end of the thread during sealing. In case of doubts about once repaired seam, Inspector shall compare the seam with the same one on another part of the harness or with the same seam on the different sample of the same type of the harness.
Page 4 from 5 Solution: Suggest discarding the harness from further use if the seams unravel and the loose end of any seam is longer than 8 mm or the seam is shorter of two or more stitches comparing to the same intact seam. There is a danger of reduced strength of seams. 6.6 Loose stitch Stitches must not be loose (so called looping). A loose stitch is also a reason for discarding the harness from use. A loose stitch means a loose loop of a stitch that allows inserting a rounded wire with a diameter of 2 mm into it. Solution: Should the stitch(-es) are loose, suggest discarding the harness from further use. There is a danger of stitch breaking. 7 WEBBING/STRAP INSPECTION The manufacturer recommends using an illuminated magnifier (magnification 10) with a magnifier gauge (basic unit 0.5 mm). The inspection is necessary to be done also on less accessible parts, especially on edges and spots where the webbing touches metal parts of the harness, rope/lanyard or the other PPE. Inspector should pay attention especially to sharp object cuts and hard coloured spots caused by higher temperatures or chemicals. 7.1 Webbing terminations Safety overlapping of the webbing ends forms on of basic safety features of the harness. Only manufacturer of PPE may repair or modify it. Inspector checks as well consistency of seams. Solution: If seams on the webbing terminations are broken or missing, Inspector shall recommend put the harness out of use until it is repaired at the manufacturer. 7.2 Yarn breakage The basic characteristic of safety webbing is that no yarn on the webbing surface is completely broken, cut, worn through or unravelled. Solution: If any yarn of the webbing is completely broken (cut or worn through), the inspector should warn the user and should recommend discarding the harness form further use. 7.3 Fuzzy webbing Filaments in a yarn can be damaged in such a way that the yarn as a whole is not damaged (roughness of webbing). Solution: It is not important to discard the harness from further use, if some of filaments are broken (fuzzy surface) unless the yarn integrity is not affected. 7.4 Local colouring of webbing Local colouring of the webbing that does not disappear after washing the harness in lukewarm soap water (no washing powders can be used) can be described as chemical damage (of any chemical composition). Permanent damage of the webbing yarn by chemicals leads to degradation of static and dynamic qualities of webbing. The webbing can become less solid. Solution: Discard the harness from further use because of unanticipated breaking of the webbing during a fall arrest. 7.5 Heat damage of webbing Local colouring of the webbing described as clotted yarns (glasslike effect). Or burned hole in the webbing. Solution: Recommend discarding the harness from further use, if there are clotted yarns or burned holes in the webbing. An unanticipated breaking during a fall arrest may occur.
Page 5 from 5 8 METAL PARTS INSPECTION Inspection of metal parts is focused on damages caused by external objects, chemicals and the wear. To assess the metal devices the inspector uses visual/tactile examination or measurement. All metal devices should be checked especially on those spots where they are fastened to the webbing and on less accessible areas. 8.1 Deformation The basic characteristic of safety metal devices is no deformation and smooth surface without any frays, sharp edges or cracks. Reduction of the cross-section of any metal part by more than 5% of its original mass is unacceptable due to serious reduction of the strength resistance. Solution: If a permanent deformation is visible or the cross-section of any metal part is reduced by more than 5% of its original mass, it is necessary to inform the user and suggest discarding the harness from further use. 8.2 Cracks and frays If the surface is not completely smooth, the device can damage the textile parts of the harness. The frays may be smoothed out by a fine needle file to reinstate. Reduction of the cross-section of any metal part by more than 5% of its original mass is unacceptable due to serious reduction of the strength resistance. Solution: If the reduction of the original size of the metal device is more than 5% (due to grinding or using the harness), the harness should be discarded from further use. 8.3 Corrosion/oxidation Corrosion and oxidation of metal devices that do not disappear after washing the harness in lukewarm soap water (no washing powders can be used) can be described as chemical damage (of any chemical composition). Permanent damages of metal devices by chemicals lower their solidity. Solution: Should the metal part show any signs of chemical damage or oxidation, Inspector shall order the user to put the harness out of use. 8.4 Functionality Reduction of function is important to be checked especially if two devices fit into each other (double buckles) or if the device consists of several parts (connector - maillon, carabiner). It is also necessary to check if the webbing in buckles is possible to be fastened and loosened according to the instructions for use (inspector s experience with various types of buckles is necessary). The function of metal devices is reduced if it can be opened unintentionally or if it does not fit the original requirements (non-functioning buckle). Solution: If any of above stated damages appears, inspector suggests to discard the harness from further use because of unanticipated failure of the metal device during a fall arrest.