Harness & Lanyard Inspection

Inspection of safety equipment is imperative to ensuring that the life saving equipment is in the best working order before and after every use. Failure to undertake this simple task could lead to a person working onsite being injured or even killed.

Inspection of equipment manufactured from webbing only takes a few minutes. Survey Express Services have produced a simple guide which can be downloaded.

Click to download the Harness and Lanyard Inspection Guide

Lanyard Fall Clearances

Why is it important to know the stopping length of a fall arrest lanyard?

A fall arrest lanyard features a shock absorber which helps slows down the fall of a person. This additional length is in addition to the initial length of the lanyard. So hypnotically, a person could still receive major injury even though the fall arrest lanyard has deployed its shock absorber pack.

The overall combined length of the deployed lanyard and the height of the individual could be longer than the height of the fall. If so, injuring to the person will happen.

Fall Clearance
A 2.0m shock-absorbing lanyard allows for up to 2.0m of free-fall distance before activating, and another 1.75m of deceleration distance before arresting a fall. In addition you will have the height of the individual on top of the lanyard lengths.

So a simple calculation needs to be undertaken to understand the fall clearance:
Lanyard length – 2.0m
Shock absorber length – 1.75m
User length –2.0m
Over length of fall – 5.75m

If you have 5.75m of fall clearance or less, you're going to hit the ground.

It is advised to add an extra 1.0m to the overall deployed length to adjust for harness stretch and ‘D’ ring slip.


Anchor point will affect the fall clearance
Another element for safety of lanyards, is the position of the anchor point. The anchorage point should be at a height that minimizes the risk of contact with the ground or a lower level.

Why it is important to anchor as high overhead as possible?

If there is not enough room below to accommodate a potential fall clearance, use other equipment such as a restraint lanyard.


Restraint Lanyard
A restraint lanyard is to restraint the worker from approaching the fall edge and not to decelerate the fall. A restraint lanyard length should be specified to stop the person from gaining access to the edge of the floor or roof. This short length is to ‘restraint’ or prevent the fall, not assist in slowing of the fall.

IPAF Harness Kit

Working at height is one of the most dangerous professions, so it is imperative that safety is never overlooked.

Employers and operatives alike have an extensive list of precautions to undertake before a mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) is operated. This includes checking ground conditions, weather and overhead crushing hazards.

But what would happen if the platform preformed a sudden movement? You may not be in any position to avoid violent movement of the basket. But there is a real risk of serious injury or death from being catapulted out. The correct use of a harness can prevent you from being thrown out.

The recent Clunk Click campaign by The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) highlighted the importance for all users of platforms to wear a full body harness with a short restraint lanyard attached to a suitable anchor point.

Similarly the HSE has published an information sheet - HSE Information Sheet MISC614, detailing that a work restraint system for use on a MEWP should normally be a combination of a full body harness.

Older lanyards offend feature shock absorbing packs and lengths of up to 6 feet. This type of lanyard would not stop an operative falling out of the basket. By utilising a short restraint lanyard, the operative is ‘stopped’ or restrained from falling.

Working with IPAF, Ridgegear has developed a harness kit specifically designed for operatives working from heights.

The Ridgegear RGHK5 IPAF harness kit features the RGH2 harness combined with a Ridgegear RGL12 adjustable restraint lanyard.

Ridgegear RGH2 Harness
The Ridgegear RGH2 harness is the "workhorse" of the industry. This harness is fitted with both a rear and a chest mounted front dee rings. The ring connection between the chest and the shoulder straps, ensure no stress loading when force is applied the front dee ring. Featuring fully adjustable straps and rip stitch indicators.

Ridgegear RGL12 Adjustable Lanyard
The Ridgegear RGL12 is an adjustable restraint lanyard, allows for adjustability to ensure the correct length can be selected to act as a leash for an operative working at height.


Ridgegear have been pioneering the development of height safety equipment for over 70 years. Their range of safety lanyards are at the forefront of technological developments to provide maximum safety and protection to the operative.

Click to view the full range of Ridgegear harness kits

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