Competent Person – Inspection of Personal Fall Protection Equipment

Description

This two-day training course provides participants with the knowledge, methodology and practical skills required to carry out and document periodic and exceptional inspections of personal fall protection equipment as a competent person within the defined scope of the training.

The course covers the complete inspection process – from product identification, manufacturers' instructions and equipment records to systematic inspection, assessment, decision-making and documentation.

Participants work with actual personal fall protection equipment, current manufacturers' instructions and product-specific inspection procedures. Practical exercises include both defect-free equipment and products with controlled, deliberately introduced defects and deviations.

The training is based on the principle that a periodic inspection must always be carried out against the correct product documentation. Without current instructions for use, maintenance and inspection for the specific product, there is insufficient information to safely complete the inspection.

Target group

The training is intended for persons who will carry out periodic and exceptional inspections of personal fall protection equipment as a competent person within the defined scope of the training.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of the training, participants should, within the defined scope of the course, be able to:

• explain the role of a competent person and the limits of their own competence
• distinguish between a pre-use check, periodic inspection and exceptional inspection
• identify a product and verify its markings, identity and traceability
• locate and use the correct and current instructions for use, maintenance and inspection
• register and place personal fall protection equipment into service using a traceable equipment record
• assess the product's history, status and inspection interval
• carry out systematic visual, tactile and functional inspection
• identify relevant damage, wear, functional defects and other forms of exposure or deterioration
• apply the manufacturer's product-specific inspection and retirement criteria
• make and justify a safe decision regarding the continued handling of the equipment
• document the inspection, findings, decision and next inspection in a traceable manner
• recognise when equipment must be withdrawn from use or referred to the manufacturer or another specifically authorised party

Purpose

The purpose of the training is to provide participants with the knowledge, methodology, attention to detail and practical assessment skills required to independently carry out periodic and exceptional inspections of personal fall protection equipment within the defined scope of the training.

Participants should understand the relationship between product identity, equipment history, current manufacturers' instructions, inspection findings and the decision regarding continued use.

The training should also enable participants to recognise when a safe decision cannot be made and when equipment must therefore be withdrawn from use or referred for further assessment.

Quality assurance

The training concept has been developed by Hewall Safety since 2008 and is quality-assured within Hewall Safety's management system, in line with the principles of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. It is based on defined learning objectives, controlled training materials, and theoretical and practical assessment against established criteria.

The course content is based on applicable occupational health and safety legislation, relevant regulations, standards and current manufacturers' instructions.

Prerequisites

Before attending the course, participants must have successfully completed Hewall Safety's: Planning, Work and Rescue with Personal Fall Protection Systems. That course provides the defined foundation for Competent person and ensures that all participants have the required knowledge of personal fall protection equipment, personal fall protection systems, product markings, manufacturers' instructions and safe use before progressing to competent-person inspection.

Requirements for successful completion

To successfully complete the course, participants must:

• participate in all theoretical and practical elements
• achieve a passing result in the theoretical examination
• achieve a passing result in the practical elements included in the training in accordance with established assessment criteria

All mandatory assessment criteria must be met for successful completion.

Course content

The training covers topics including:

• the role of the competent person
• applicable occupational health and safety requirements
• Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment
• CE marking, Category III and product information
• EN 365 and its principles for instructions, periodic inspection, documentation and competent persons
• product identification and markings
• the importance of manufacturers' instructions
• product-specific inspection procedures and retirement criteria
• equipment records, traceability and placing equipment into service
• periodic and exceptional inspection
• materials and common forms of damage
• textile, metallic and mechanical components
• visual, tactile and functional inspection
• service life, history and inspection intervals
• assessment and decision-making
• documentation and communication
• limitations of competence and inspection authority

A systematic inspection method

The training uses a common inspection process to provide structure:

Identify and verify → Establish status and history → Inspect → Assess and decide → Document and communicate

The method does not replace the manufacturer's instructions. It provides a structured way of applying the correct instructions to the correct product.

Participants are therefore not trained to memorise generic retirement limits. Assessment is based on the criteria that actually apply to the specific product being inspected.

Course literature and manufacturers' instructions

Each participant receives a personal copy of CAMP Inspecting PPE, which is used as technical and educational reference material throughout the course.

The book is used to study materials, product construction, common damage mechanisms and practical inspection principles.

Inspecting PPE does not replace the current manufacturer's instructions or product-specific inspection procedure. Product-specific documentation remains the basis for the actual inspection and decision.

Practical application

Day 1 – knowledge, methodology and placing equipment into service

Day 1 consists primarily of theory combined with practical application.

Topics include regulatory requirements, EN 365, the PPE Regulation, the role of the competent person, product documentation, markings, equipment records, materials, damage mechanisms and inspection methodology.

During the practical section, participants identify products, verify the relevant documentation, register the products in equipment records and place them into service. The periodic inspection process is then introduced.

Day 2 – periodic inspection and assessment

Day 2 is primarily practical.

Participants continue carrying out periodic inspections of different types of personal fall protection equipment and work independently with product identification, manufacturers' instructions, equipment records, physical inspection, assessment and documentation.

The equipment includes both defect-free products and products containing different controlled defects and deviations.

Practical assessment is carried out continuously throughout the day, and the course concludes with a theoretical examination.

Assessment and inspection decisions

An important part of the training is learning to make the correct decision following an inspection.

Depending on the product, the findings and the manufacturer's instructions, the outcome may be:

• approved for continued use
• withdrawn from use or retired
• withdrawn from use pending further assessment by the manufacturer or another specifically authorised party

Knowing when the participant's own competence or the manufacturer's requirements do not permit a final decision is itself part of the competence assessed during the course.

Training certificate and scope of competence

Following successful completion, a training certificate is issued.

The certificate confirms that the participant has met the theoretical and practical requirements to act as a competent person within the defined scope of the training.

Competence for periodic inspection is not automatically unrestricted across all brands, models or types of personal fall protection equipment.

For certain products, the manufacturer may require specific product training, authorisation, specialist tools or inspection by the manufacturer or another specifically authorised party.

The training does not cover

The training:

• does not provide unrestricted manufacturer authorisation for all personal fall protection equipment
• does not automatically permit inspection of every brand or model
• does not include dismantling, opening or internal servicing where specific manufacturer training or authorisation is required
• does not in itself authorise repair of personal fall protection equipment
• does not cover design, installation or structural inspection of permanent anchorage devices or permanent lifeline systems
• does not replace product-specific manufacturer requirements and instructions

Equipment must not be approved where its identity, history, documentation or condition cannot be sufficiently verified to support a safe decision.

The "Inspecting PPE" book, containing 256 pages of knowledge, tips, and advice for periodic inspections. Included in the course price (value 650 SEK).