Fall protection inspection: how often and what to look for?

Fall protection must be inspected by a competent person at least every 12 months, and also after any fall or other exceptional event. Petzl applies this timeframe to, among others, the Newton harnesses, the ABSORBICA fall lines and the Vertex helmets. Before each use, check the equipment yourself. The maximum lifespan of textiles and plastics is 10 years. Below you will find out what needs to be checked for each product, and what often goes wrong in practice.

How often should fall protection be inspected?

There are three occasions, and you need all three:

• Before each use: the user performs their own check. Also have a colleague check the areas you cannot see yourself, such as the back ring.
• Every 12 months: a competent person performs a detailed inspection according to the Petzl procedure. This is also the timeframe specified in standard EN 365.
• After an exceptional event: think of a fall, use or storage at extreme temperatures, or an adjustment outside the factory.

Those 12 months is a minimum. According to Petzl, intensive use may require more frequent inspections.

How long does Petzl fall protection last?

Petzl gives textile and plastic products a maximum lifespan of 10 years. This applies to, among others, the Newton, Volt and ABSORBICA. It is an upper limit and not a guarantee: an exceptional event may mean you have to retire a product after just one use.

The clock does not start only when you take the product out of the packaging. If a harness sat on a shelf for two years, those years count. You can find the year of manufacture in the serial number. Petzl uses two codes interchangeably, but in both cases, the first two digits are the year of manufacture.

What do you check for each Petzl product?

For every product, you start with the same: is the serial number legible, is the CE marking present, has the lifespan not expired, and are there no missing parts? After that, the check varies by product.

Product	What to look for?	Easily overlooked
Harness (Newton, Volt)	Webbing, safety stitching, metal and textile attachment points, buckles and comfort parts	The pieces of webbing under buckles and attachment points. You can recognize the safety stitching by its different color
Fall line (ABSORBICA-Y MGO)	Rope arms, stitching, pouch, energy absorber, attachment point, hooks and STRING	The absorber itself: open the pouch, take it out and check that nothing is torn
Helmet (Vertex)	Inner and outer shell, foam, adjustment slots and the ventilation sliders on the Vertex Vent	The foam under the comfort parts. Remove it, but leave foam that is attached to the shell in place

Four things you might not expect

• The fall indicator is not on every harness. Petzl only includes the visible indicator on the back for the international versions of, among others, the Newton and Volt. If it is missing on your European version, that does not necessarily mean there is a defect. But you cannot determine a fall from that indicator either.
• A closed pouch says nothing. Whether an ABSORBICA has arrested a fall can only be seen for sure on the absorber itself. For ABSORBICA-I and -Y models from 2016 onwards, you also check the fall indicator.
• Do not mark your helmet with just anything. Petzl states that you should not mark a helmet with chemical agents. Use water-based adhesives for markings.
• An unknown history is enough to reject it. If you do not know what a product has been through, for example because the label is illegible, then according to Petzl it must be retired. This also applies to an inherited harness that was lying loose in a box.

When should you reject fall protection?

Petzl lists five reasons to retire a product:

1. The lifespan has expired.
2. The product has been subjected to a severe fall or load.
3. It has been rejected during inspection or you doubt its reliability.
4. You do not know the full usage history.
5. It is outdated, for example due to new rules or standards, or because it does not fit your other equipment.

Destroy rejected material so that no one accidentally uses it again. If you have any doubts, set it aside until a competent person has looked at it.

What do you put on the inspection form?

Petzl lists this data: type, model, manufacturer contact details, serial number, the dates of manufacture, purchase, first use and next inspection, remarks, and the name and signature of the inspector.

How do you store fall protection?

Hang harnesses and lines in a clean, dry, and ventilated area, away from sunlight, heat sources, sharp objects, and chemicals. That does not extend the 10 years, but poor storage can shorten the lifespan.

Do you also have other brands?

Then do not rely on Petzl's rules, because the manuals differ. Two examples from our assortment:

• Edge: the maximum of 10 years counts from the first use, provided that date is in the logbook. According to Edge, only the manufacturer or an authorized inspection center may perform inspections.
• MSA V-TEC fall arresters: no fixed maximum, but an inspection every 3 to 12 months, depending on use, by someone other than the user. After a fall, the fall arrester must be destroyed.

Frequently asked questions

How long can you use a Petzl harness?

Maximum 10 years, calculated from manufacture. Before that, the harness must pass every inspection.

Can I inspect my own harness?

You perform the check before use yourself. The periodic inspection is for a competent person. According to EN 365, that is someone who knows the requirements for periodic inspection and the manufacturer's instructions.

Can a harness still be used after a fall?

After a severe fall or load, a Petzl product must be retired. Remove it from use immediately no matter what and set it aside until it has been assessed.

What if the inspection date has expired?

Do not use the equipment until it has been inspected again.

Inspection needed or equipment replaced?

Hef en Hijs Online also inspects fall protection, see inspections. Feel free to send us the model and serial number of your equipment, and we will see what is needed. If something needs to be replaced, check our harnesses and fall lines. Also read how much free fall space a fall line needs and which safety helmet you need.

Sources: Petzl harness inspection procedure (110526), Petzl ABSORBICA inspection procedure (020524), Petzl helmet inspection procedure (221225), Petzl Newton and ABSORBICA user manuals, Edge harness user manual (2024), MSA V-TEC user instructions (2024), Stigas information sheet on fall protection and EN 365. Images: AI-generated based on Petzl product photos, and our own chart. Last checked on November 7, 2026. This article does not replace the user manual and the risk assessment of your workplace.