BlueSafe

Harness Use and Inspection SWMS

This SWMS covers harness and lanyard planning, inspection, fitting, connection, use, emergency response and post-use care.

Activities covered include

  • Plan the task and consult on fall-protection arrangements
  • Select anchor points and systems
  • Respond to emergencies and manage post-use inspection, cleaning and storage

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If your client or principal requests changes during document review, BlueSafe will help revise the document at no extra cost and support resubmission until it is accepted.

Harness Use and Inspection SWMS
  • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • Pre-filled Content - Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • Customisable - Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Product Overview

This SWMS covers harness and lanyard planning, inspection, fitting, connection, use, emergency response and post-use care. It supports fall-protection planning and risk management for equipment condition, anchor selection, restraint, fall arrest, exclusion zones and rescue arrangements.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

  • Plan the task and consult on fall-protection arrangements
  • Access and store fall-protection equipment
  • Check harness and lanyard documentation
  • Inspect harnesses before use
  • Inspect lanyards and devices before use
  • Fit and adjust full body harnesses
  • Select anchor points and systems
  • Establish fall restraint systems
  • Use personal fall arrest systems
  • Connect and use equipment at height
  • Monitor work areas and exclusion zones
  • Respond to emergencies and manage post-use inspection, cleaning and storage

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses using harnesses, lanyards and fall-protection systems.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Job Step / Activity Potential Hazards
Pre-start planning and consultation
  • Incomplete job information
  • Unsuitable fall protection method selected
  • Inadequate fall protection system
  • Unclear rescue arrangements
  • Untrained or unauthorised workers on site
  • Adverse weather conditions
Accessing and storing equipment
  • Unsecured storage area
  • Damage from poor storage
  • Unauthorised access to equipment
  • Manual handling strain
  • Contamination of fall protection gear
Checking harness and lanyard documentation
  • Out-of-date harness or lanyard
  • Unknown inspection history
  • Incorrect equipment selected for task
  • Non-compliant fall protection system
Pre-use harness inspection
  • Harness failure
  • Hidden webbing damage
  • Faulty buckles or D-rings
  • Compromised stitching
  • Contamination by chemicals, heat or UV exposure
Pre-use lanyard and device inspection
  • Lanyard failure during fall
  • Deployed energy absorber not identified
  • Damaged hooks or karabiners
  • Incorrect lanyard or device type used
Fitting and adjusting full body harness
  • Improper harness fit
  • Incorrectly adjusted leg straps
  • Loose chest strap
  • Harness roll-out during fall
  • Circulation restriction or discomfort leading to incorrect use
Selecting anchor points and systems
  • Inadequate anchor strength
  • Uncertified or unsuitable anchor points
  • Structural failure at anchor
  • Incorrect use of temporary anchors or static lines
  • Swing fall risk from poor anchor location
Establishing fall restraint systems
  • Incorrect restraint length
  • Worker able to reach edge
  • Trip hazards from restraint lines
  • Misuse of adjustable systems
  • Slipping on unsuitable surfaces
Using personal fall arrest systems
  • Use of fall arrest as first-choice control
  • Insufficient fall clearance
  • Pendulum (swing) fall
  • Impact with lower level or structure
  • Incorrect attachment point used
Safe connection and use at height
  • Incorrect connection to anchor
  • Unclipped movement at edge
  • Roll-out or accidental disengagement
  • Trip and snag hazards
  • Improper use of belts or incompatible hardware
Training and competency in fall protection
  • Inadequate training
  • Incorrect fitting, adjustment or inspection
  • Misuse of restraint or fall arrest systems
  • Lack of emergency knowledge
  • Inadequate supervision of inexperienced workers
Monitoring, supervision and exclusion zones
  • Unauthorised access to work area
  • Workers bypassing controls
  • Objects falling from height
  • Inadequate supervision
  • Work continuing in unsafe conditions
Emergency response and suspension management
  • Suspension intolerance after a fall
  • Delayed rescue
  • Inadequate rescue equipment
  • Poor communication or panic
  • Secondary injury during rescue
Post-use inspection, cleaning and storage
  • Damage not identified after use
  • Re-use of equipment subjected to fall arrest load
  • Degradation from poor cleaning
  • Loss of traceability and records

Need to add specific site requirements?

Use the BlueSafe Portal to tailor this SWMS with site-specific details, job steps, hazards, controls and responsibilities before work starts.

Acceptance Guaranteed: If your client or principal requests changes during document review, BlueSafe will help revise the document at no extra cost and support resubmission until it is accepted.

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

  • WHS Act 2011 - duty to manage health and safety risks and consult workers
  • WHS Regulation 2011 - falls, high risk construction work, information, training, instruction and supervision
  • Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
  • AS/NZS 1891 series - personal equipment for work at height
  • Manufacturer instructions for harnesses, lanyards, devices and anchor systems
Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)
  • Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
  • Initial and residual risk ratings
  • Assigned responsible persons for each job step
  • Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
  • Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
  • Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections

Suitable for Industries

Building and ConstructionWarehousing and DistributionArboriculture and Tree ServicesCivil Construction and EarthworksDemolitionFencing ContractorsElectrical and SolarRoofing ContractorsHandyman and Property MaintenanceGlazing and WindowsMining and ResourcesPainting and Decorating

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