PPE Equipment Inspections

Abaris International offer a bespoke Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) inspection services for companies involved in Work at height and outdoor pursuits. Our services range from: inspection and report on current systems in place, through to complete inspection, assessment, marking and logging of all specialist Work at Height / Confined Space / Outdoor Pursuits equipment and introduction of best practice systems).

Why do you need a fully qualified and experienced competent person to inspect work equipment?

It's the law!

'Thorough examinations' by a 'competent person' of any lifting equipment used for lifting persons (such as Rope Access Personal Protective Equipment) are required by law to be conducted at least every 6 months (or less if recommended by the equipment manufacturer) as detailed in the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998 states that 'Work equipment exposed to conditions causing deterioration which is liable to result in dangerous situations must be inspected at suitable intervals' and that any lifting equipment should also be 'thoroughly examined' after it has been subjected to 'any exceptional circumstances which are liable to jeopardise the safety of the work equipment' (such as shock-loading / dropping from height).

Intermittent inspections in between thorough examinations (in addition to standard pre-use checks) should be carried out in accordance with your risk assessment as required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work (MHSW) Regulations 1999.

Logging of the 'thorough examinations' and intermittent 'inspections'

Under LOLER, a 'thorough examination' report must be made by the campetent person as soon as is practicable and any defects reported forthwith to the employer and any person from whom the lifting equipment has been hired or leased. A report of any defects which involve 'an existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury' must be sent to the relevant enforcing authority.

'Certificate of conformities' should be kept for so long as the lifting equipment remains in use, whilst the 'thorough examination' reports must be kept for at least 2 years. Both should be readily available to the end user and to inspectors from any relevant enforcing authority in the case of a 'thorough examination'.

The intermittent 'inspection' reports should be kept until the next 'inspection or' 'thorough examination'.

Why use Abaris International Limited?

The HSE have provided a basic guide to LOLER regulations and how they apply to rope based access systems for work at height. In addition Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) Information Sheet No.1 gives guidance on LOLER to those involved in Work at Height and states that 'It is essential that the person carrying out a thorough examination is sufficiently independent and impartial to allow objective decisions to be made i.e. have appropriate and genuine authority to discard equipment'. Abaris International Limited are experienced in the inspection of Work at Height PPE and can provide you with an independent and impartial view, not only on your equipment but also on your processes for inspecting, logging and maintaining your equipment. Our aim is not just to inspect your equipment but to implement an inspection regime which will help you comply with the legislation.

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