LOLER 1998 · Lifting equipment

Fall Arrest and Fall Restraint Thorough Examination

Independent thorough examination and certification of your fall protection equipment as lifting equipment, by a competent person under LOLER.

Fall arrest gear is the one item of kit bought in the hope it never works for a living. We carry out 6 monthly thorough examinations on fall arrest and fall restraint equipment, harnesses, lanyards, retractable blocks and anchor points, and certify every item with its own report.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote
  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
6 monthsThe statutory cycle for personal fall protection as lifting accessories
3 monthsThe recommended detailed inspection interval in arduous use such as scaffolding
INDG367The HSE inspection guidance for webbing and rope our checks follow
One fallAny deployed energy absorber means the item is withdrawn, not repaired
Lifting equipment we examine

Why your fall protection equipment needs LOLER examination

Fall arrest and fall restraint sound interchangeable and are engineered for opposite jobs. Restraint uses a fixed length lanyard to stop the wearer ever reaching an edge, so a fall cannot begin. Arrest assumes the fall has begun and manages the consequences: a full body harness to EN 361, an energy absorbing lanyard or retractable block, and an anchor able to take the impact. The two share webbing and buckles, and almost nothing else about how they load.

The law treats both as lifting accessories under LOLER, alongside the Work at Height Regulations 2005 that govern the job itself, which puts every harness, lanyard, block and anchor on a 6 monthly thorough examination by a competent person. Webbing hides its history well: ultraviolet light, cement dust, solvents and one short arrested fall all remove strength without changing how the kit looks on the peg.

Full body harnesses
Energy absorbing lanyards
Restraint lanyards
Retractable fall arrest blocks
Rope grabs and vertical lines
Anchor slings and karabiners
Eyebolt and davit anchor points
Twin tail scaffolding lanyards
How it works

How we examine your fall protection equipment

Each item is examined individually against its identity record: webbing for cuts, abrasion, burns and ultraviolet bleaching, stitching for pulled or broken threads, energy absorber indicators for any sign of deployment, metalwork for distortion, cracks and gate function, retractable blocks for extraction, retraction and lock on, and anchors for security and marking. Anything doubtful is withdrawn on the spot.

  • 1

    Register every item

    Each harness, lanyard and block is logged by its serial number, so the report follows the item and out of date kit cannot hide in a shared store.

  • 2

    Examine to the standard

    Checks follow INDG367 and the manufacturer's criteria, with energy absorbers, stitching and gate actions judged item by item.

  • 3

    Certify or condemn

    Passing items receive their report and next date. Failing items are condemned in writing, because a repaired harness is not a thing that exists.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • Every item certified individually against its serial number
  • Batch visits that cover the whole store in one appointment
  • Independent judgement with no interest in selling replacements
  • Reports and due date reminders through the SEIS client portal
What we examine

Fall protection equipment: what a thorough examination covers

Deployed energy absorbers

The tear ply that saves a life works exactly once. Any extension, burst stitching or torn indicator means immediate withdrawal, however new the lanyard looks.

Ultraviolet and chemical damage

Bleached, stiff or powdery webbing has lost strength invisibly. Outdoor kit and anything used around cement or solvents gets particular attention.

Cut and abraded webbing

Edge loading over steelwork slices load bearing fibres a few at a time. We check the full length, including under labels and keepers where damage hides.

Retractable block function

A block must pay out smoothly, retract fully and lock when snatched. We test all three, because a block that hesitates is a lanyard with extra weight.

Connector gates and swivels

Karabiner gates that do not self close and lock, bent hooks and seized swivels all defeat the system. Every connector is worked by hand.

Anchor points and eyebolts

The anchor takes the impact the absorber leaves behind. Fixed eyebolts and davit sockets are checked for security, corrosion and legible marking.

Intervals and certification

How often, and what you receive

Every item of fall arrest and fall restraint equipment receives its own Report of Thorough Examination under LOLER Regulation 10, tied to its serial number, with defects classified and the next examination date stated. Condemned items are recorded so they cannot drift back into service from a site box. All reports live in your SEIS client portal, which makes harness registers, principal contractor checks and insurer requests a two minute job.

6 monthsEquipment that lifts people, and all lifting accessories
12 monthsOther lifting equipment, unless an examination scheme sets otherwise
Schedule 1A Report of Thorough Examination, your legal record
IndependentWe examine it, we do not sell or maintain it

You receive a Report of Thorough Examination, the record LOLER requires, with anything that needs attention set out clearly.

Full statutory cover

Part of our full LOLER inspection service

Fall protection equipment is one of the many kinds of equipment we cover. We inspect the full range, across every sector, as an independent provider, one item or a whole site, anywhere in the UK.

See our full LOLER inspection service
Other services

Other statutory inspections we carry out

Many sites run more than one regime. We can examine all of it, under one independent provider.

PUWER inspectionInspection of work equipment against the five PUWER duties, with a written record. PSSR examinationWritten Schemes and certified examination of pressure systems. LEV testingLEV thorough examination and test of your extraction systems.
LOLER FAQs

Fall protection equipment examination: common questions

How often does fall arrest equipment need a thorough examination?
Every 6 months as lifting accessories under LOLER, with pre use checks by the wearer every time it is worn. HSE guidance recommends detailed inspections as often as every 3 months in arduous environments such as scaffolding.
What is the difference between fall arrest and fall restraint?
Restraint stops you reaching the edge, so a fall never starts. Arrest catches a fall that has already begun, using an energy absorber to limit the force on your body. We examine both, and the distinction decides what each item must be checked for.
Does a harness that has arrested a fall need replacing?
Yes, it must be withdrawn immediately along with the lanyard or block that took the load. Energy absorbers work once, and hidden overload damage cannot be inspected back into safety.
Do anchor points need examining as well as the harness?
Yes. Eyebolts, anchor slings, davit sockets and running line systems are part of the same load path and are examined on the same cycle. A perfect harness on a doubtful anchor protects nobody.
Is there a legal lifespan for harnesses and lanyards?
No fixed lifespan is set in law, though most manufacturers state a maximum working life, often around 10 years from first use. Condition decides: a harness can fail at 2 years or pass at 8, which is what the examination is for.
Can our own supervisor inspect the kit instead?
Trained staff should be doing the pre use and interim checks, and we encourage it. The statutory thorough examination sits above those checks and must be done by a competent person who is sufficiently independent to condemn kit without pressure.
Where do these requirements come from?
From LOLER 1998, which treats personal fall protection as lifting accessories, working alongside the Work at Height Regulations 2005. HSE guidance on LOLER sets out the duty, and our LOLER regulations guide explains the reports, intervals and defect process.
How do I book a fall protection examination?
Call 0330 043 8191 or list your kit on the contact form. We examine whole stores in one visit, and if your rescue provision needs certifying too, our rescue tripod and winch thorough examination can be done on the same day.

Is your fall protection equipment due a thorough examination?

Talk to an engineer surveyor, get a quote and book your inspection anywhere in the UK.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote