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Competent Person Equipment Inspection
COMPONENTS
COMPONENTS
I
t is important to understand the inspection criteria of each component in a fall protection product.
For example, a lanyard is comprised of snaphooks, web strap, adjuster, and label, which is
inspected one component at a time. Individual components make up the product that will link
with other products to become the personal fall arrest system. Let’s study components.
Connectors
Connectors come in many shapes, sizes and forms. A connector is a component or element used to
join together parts of a system or components within the system. A connector is also sometimes
referred to as hardware. They serve a wide variety of purposes and may be a separate and distinct
component, such as a carabiner or an integral part of a component, such as a snaphook spliced to a
rope lanyard. The term integral means not removable without mutilating any part of the component
or without use of a special tool.
Snaphook
A snaphook is a connector comprised of a
hook-shaped body with a normally closed
gate or similar arrangement which may be
opened to permit the hook to receive an
object and, when released, automatically
closes to retain the object.
Snaphooks are one of the most frequently
used parts of systems for safety at heights. They are integrally spliced or sewn into lanyard and
lifeline components. In use, they are frequently connected to and disconnected Figure 1
from parts of other components of the system. Most commonly, they are
connected to D-rings of harnesses and anchorage connectors.
Because snaphooks are so widely used, and because they are mechanisms with moving parts that
require manual operation, their inspection is always critical.
REVISED June 2007
Section C: Policy 3.0 / Page 9 of 34