Rope access equipment and PPE inspection – periodic examinations
We inspect the equipment and personal protective equipment used for work at height: harnesses, ropes, connectors, devices and helmets. We assess condition, wear and damage against the manufacturer’s instructions, and every item leaves with a clear status and an inspection record.
Why have your equipment inspected by us?
All your kit in one inspection
Harnesses, ropes and slings, connectors, descenders and ascenders, fall arrest devices, helmets and other PPE, regardless of the manufacturer.
A focus on what affects safety
Inspections are carried out by a trained person who checks condition, wear, damage and any signs that could affect safe use. Every item receives an inspection record.
A team that works at height every day
We know the conditions in which this equipment is used: sharp edges, concrete, paint, chemicals and steel. That is where most of the wear comes from.
What equipment do we inspect?
We inspect fall protection equipment and rope access equipment from all manufacturers. Every item is assessed against the instructions and inspection criteria set by its manufacturer.
Harnesses, ropes and slings
Full body harnesses, work positioning belts and sit harnesses, low-stretch kernmantle ropes, lanyards, slings and webbing. We check stitching, abrasion, cuts and heat damage, and every rope is examined visually and by hand along its full length.
Connectors, including karabiners
We check the body, gate and spring, the locking mechanism and the rope contact areas, looking for cracks, deformation, corrosion, grooves and sharp edges that could damage a rope.
Descenders, ascenders and fall arresters
Descenders and ascenders, guided type fall arresters on a flexible anchor line and self-retracting devices. We check moving parts and locking function as set out by the manufacturer. Where a manufacturer requires inspections to be carried out by the manufacturer itself, we let you know.
Helmets and other PPE
For industrial safety helmets and mountaineering helmets, we check the shell, cradle, chinstrap and date of manufacture. We also inspect energy absorbers, lanyards and the rest of your work-at-height equipment.
Equipment that has arrested a fall
Any equipment that has arrested a fall or taken an unusual load should be withdrawn from use. We will help you decide what to do next, in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Other work at height equipment?
Can’t see your equipment on the list? Give us a call and tell us what you have – we inspect equipment from all manufacturers.
How it works
Send us your equipment list
Call or email us with the type and approximate quantity of equipment. We can inspect it at your premises, or you can send it to us.
Identification
We check markings, serial numbers, dates of manufacture and the service life set by the manufacturer. If you have the user instructions and existing records, we review them alongside the equipment.
Inspection
A visual, tactile and functional check of every item, following the manufacturer’s procedure. We assess wear, damage and anything that could compromise safety.
Results and records
Each item is given a status: fit for use, temporarily withdrawn (pending clarification or servicing) or permanently withdrawn. You receive an inspection record listing any withdrawn items and the reasons.
Client reviews
What our clients say
Book an inspection of your work at height equipment
Is an inspection due, or are you not sure when the last one was? Tell us the type and number of items. We can inspect on site or once you have sent the equipment to us.
Frequently asked questions
PPE and rope access equipment inspection
We carry out periodic examinations of personal protective equipment (PPE) against falls from height and of rope access equipment. Our clients include construction and industrial companies, work at height contractors and health and safety teams. We inspect equipment from all manufacturers. Inspections are carried out by a trained person in line with the manufacturer’s instructions and criteria, and every item receives a clear status: fit for use, temporarily withdrawn or permanently withdrawn. Call 729 887 929 to book an inspection.
Full range of work at height equipment inspections
We inspect equipment used in construction, industry and rope access. Each product is assessed according to its intended use, the manufacturer’s instructions and the relevant standard:
- Harnesses – full body harnesses for fall arrest (EN 361), work positioning belts and components (EN 358) and sit harnesses used in rope access (EN 813).
- Ropes, lanyards and slings – low-stretch kernmantle ropes (EN 1891), lanyards (EN 354), cow’s tails, slings and webbing.
- Karabiners and connectors – connectors to EN 362, including locking karabiners and wide-gate connectors.
- Rope access devices – descenders and ascenders (EN 12841).
- Fall arrest devices – guided type fall arresters on a flexible anchor line (EN 353-2), self-retracting devices (EN 360) and energy absorbers (EN 355).
- Helmets – industrial safety helmets (EN 397) and mountaineering helmets (EN 12492), used in line with their intended purpose and the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Other personal protective equipment used for work at height.
What we check during an inspection
An inspection is more than a quick look. Every item is examined visually, checked by hand and tested for proper function, step by step, following the manufacturer’s procedure:
- Markings and identification – the markings required for the product, including the CE mark, standard number, item identification, date of manufacture and label legibility.
- Service life – determined solely from the manufacturer’s documentation. For many textile and plastic products, manufacturers set a maximum lifespan, often 10 years from the date of manufacture, but this is not a rule for all PPE.
- Textile components – stitching, abrasion, cuts, heat damage, discolouration and chemical contamination. Ropes are examined visually and by hand along their full length, looking for changes in diameter, unusually soft or stiff sections and deformation that may indicate core damage.
- Metal components – cracks, deformation, corrosion, rope grooves, sharp edges and gate function.
- Mechanisms – moving parts, springs, locking functions and overall operation, following the manufacturer’s procedure.
What you get
- Inspection by a trained person – every item is assessed against the instructions and inspection criteria for that product.
- A clear status for every item – fit for use, temporarily withdrawn pending clarification or servicing, or permanently withdrawn.
- Inspection records – you receive a record after every inspection. This helps demonstrate that equipment checks are being managed properly during audits, inspections by the authorities and site inductions.
- Clear information on withdrawn equipment – listed in the record together with the reason for withdrawal.
- Inspection alongside other work – if we are already carrying out work at height on your site, we can inspect your equipment on the same visit.
- On site or by post – we can inspect at your premises, or you can send your equipment to us.
Who we inspect equipment for
- Construction, roofing and facade contractors
- Work at height contractors and rope access companies
- Manufacturing plants and maintenance departments
- Energy and telecoms companies
- Health and safety teams managing PPE records
When an inspection becomes urgent
An inspection becomes urgent when it is overdue, records are out of date, or nobody knows how old a harness in storage really is. Clients and main contractors also often ask for up-to-date inspection records before letting a team on site. We sort this out in one inspection: we identify every item, check the date of manufacture and service life set by the manufacturer, assess its condition and give it a clear status.
Equipment involved in an incident that may have affected its condition, such as arresting a fall, is a separate case. It must be withdrawn from use immediately until a decision is made in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. For self-retracting devices and other complex equipment, the manufacturer’s instructions may require inspection or servicing by the manufacturer or an authorised service centre. We will help you work out what to do with each item.
How is an inspection priced?
The price depends on the number of items, the type of equipment and whether we inspect on site or you send the equipment to us, so every quote is prepared individually, free of charge and with no obligation. The easiest way is to send us a list (type, manufacturer, model, quantity) or photos of the labels. We will then send you a quote and suggest a date. Call 729 887 929 or use our contact form.
Standards, regulations and manufacturer requirements
PPE designed to protect against falls from height is classified as Category III under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. Health and safety regulations require employers to ensure that PPE retains its protective properties and that its condition is checked and recorded at regular intervals. EN 365 sets out general requirements for the use, maintenance, periodic examination, repair and record keeping of this equipment.
- Under EN 365, the periodic examination should be carried out by a person competent for that type of equipment, following the manufacturer’s procedure. A pre-use check by the user does not replace it.
- Fall protection equipment is typically examined at least every 12 months, and more often if required by the manufacturer, the conditions of use or the risk assessment.
- In rope access under IRATA guidance, detailed inspections are carried out at intervals not exceeding 6 months, unless a written inspection scheme is in place.
- Inspection results should be recorded, and records kept that allow the history of every item to be traced.
- After any event that may have affected the equipment, such as arresting a fall, an unusual load or contact with chemicals, the equipment is withdrawn from use and handled in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Inspection records
After the inspection, you receive an inspection record showing the status of every item. You know at a glance which equipment can stay in use, which needs clarification or servicing and which must be permanently withdrawn. The records also make it easier to keep your PPE register up to date and to track when the next inspections are due.
What we don’t do, and why it matters
We do not repair PPE. Where a manufacturer allows a product to be repaired, the repair may only be carried out by a competent person or organisation authorised by the manufacturer, following its procedure. If the manufacturer’s instructions reserve inspection of a device for the manufacturer or an authorised organisation, we tell you and explain the next steps. If an item can be repaired, we note it in the record, and it is up to you whether to send it back to the manufacturer.
Where we work
We are based in Łódź, Poland. We can inspect your equipment on site, or if you are further away, you can send it to us. We can also combine the inspection with other work on your site. See our other work at height services, installation and dismantling and our full range of rope access services. We also work for developers and investors and public buildings.
Book an equipment inspection
Call 729 887 929 or use our contact form. Tell us the type and number of items and, if you know it, the date of the last inspection. We will agree a date and the scope of the inspection. You can also read what our clients say.