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Yes, personal fall protection equipment should be cleaned regularly. Occupational health and safety regulations require fall protection equipment to be maintained in a condition that preserves both its protective performance and hygienic standard throughout its service life. Regular cleaning also helps extend the lifespan of your equipment.
Why Is Cleaning and Maintenance Important?
Cleaning and maintenance are essential parts of a comprehensive fall protection programme, yet they are often overlooked. Personal fall protection equipment is frequently used in demanding environments where it is exposed to dirt, dust, moisture, sweat, oils and other contaminants that may affect both performance and durability over time.
Regular cleaning and proper storage not only improve hygiene and user comfort, but also make it easier to identify damage, defects and abnormal wear before they become safety risks.
Regulatory Requirements for Maintaining Fall Protection Equipment
Occupational health and safety regulations require personal fall protection equipment to be maintained, inspected and stored in a manner that preserves both its protective effectiveness and hygienic condition throughout its service life. Employers are responsible for ensuring that equipment remains safe to use and is maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Failure to maintain equipment properly may result in reduced performance and could prevent it from meeting applicable safety requirements.
How Poor Maintenance Affects Fall Protection Equipment
Dirt and contamination can negatively affect the performance of personal fall protection equipment. Textile components such as harnesses, lanyards and energy absorbers may deteriorate when exposed to chemicals, oils, UV radiation, moisture and other environmental factors.
Metal components may also be subject to corrosion if equipment is not cleaned and dried correctly after use.
Poor cleaning and maintenance practices can make it more difficult to identify important safety issues during user inspections and periodic inspections.
Cleaning Personal Fall Protection Equipment
Personal fall protection equipment should always be cleaned in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Improper cleaning methods may damage materials and reduce the protective performance of the equipment.
As a general rule, equipment should be:
- Cleaned regularly to remove dirt and dust.
- Dried after use in wet or humid environments.
- Stored in a clean, dry location away from direct sunlight.
- Protected from chemicals, contamination and excessive heat.
It is particularly important to inspect equipment after use in environments where it has been exposed to contaminants, salt water, concrete dust, chemicals or other substances that may affect performance.
Maintenance and Workplace Safety
Well-maintained fall protection equipment contributes to a safer and more professional work environment. Clean and properly maintained equipment improves user comfort and reduces the risk of damage or defects being overlooked.
Where equipment is shared between multiple users, proper cleaning and maintenance become even more important for ensuring both safety and workplace hygiene.
Inspection and Maintenance Go Hand in Hand
Cleaning and maintenance should always be combined with regular inspection of equipment condition. During cleaning, it becomes easier to identify cuts, abrasion, deformation, corrosion and other signs that equipment may need to be removed from service.
Learn more about inspections and user checks of personal fall protection equipment and periodic inspection of fall protection equipment to help ensure safe work at height.
Sources and Regulatory References
AFS 2023:11
Chapter 15, Section 12 The employer shall ensure that personal protective equipment is used only for its intended purpose. The equipment shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, which must be available and understandable to employees.
Chapter 15, Section 16 The employer shall ensure that personal protective equipment is maintained, inspected, repaired and stored in a manner that preserves its protective effectiveness and hygienic standard. No person may use personal protective equipment that is damaged or that can otherwise be assumed to provide insufficient protection.