The acronym PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. PPE is equipment designed and manufactured to protect against one or more risks to your health or safety. In the specific case of risk of falling, we can include equipment such as harnesses, helmets, blockers, descenders, lanyards, ropes, connectors, energy absorbers, etc.
It is the employer's responsibility to provide the necessary PPE for carrying out the work. The different types of PPE to be selected must take into account the functions or tasks performed by the workers, the levels of risk present and several other previously defined parameters.

Fall arrest PPE must be used when working at height.
Work at height is all work that is carried out where or when there is a difference in level in relation to the base (floor or protected platform), whether above or below the ground. In European Legislation there is no defined height that can be considered as a minimum for Work at Height. Several entities are guided by the height of 1.80 meters, defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

All FALL SAFE™ products have an identification label and, in the absence of this possibility, the identification is marked on the equipment itself, as is the case with the connectors.
In the case of harnesses from the Professional range, the label is located inside the silicone pocket located on the upper strap, on the back of the harness. In harnesses whose application/functionality does not allow the placement of this silicone protector, the label is embedded in the same strap. In the case of harnesses from the Basic range, the label is located inside the left strap on the back of the equipment. The strap should be separated and the user will be able to easily find this information.

It is very difficult to establish the duration of the device lifespan, since the equipment can be adversely affected by several negative factors such as intense, improper or inappropriate use; the conditions to which it is exposed (humidity, ice, salinity, contact with chemical products, sharp edges); wear; corrosion; pressure with or without deformation; exposure to heat sources; inadequate storage; device age; exposure to chemical agents, plus any additional reason, not just limited to all of the above reasons. Taking proper care of the device (always refer to the product instructions!) will have a considerable influence and will definitely increase the device's durability and lifespan.
The following may be considered as a rule for determining the standard durability of devices, tools and equipment: ten years for fall arrest harnesses, fall arrest vests/jackets/suits, accessories (lanyards, foot loops) anchor lines, slings anchors, ropes, retractable webbing blocks and tested for sharp edges; eight years for equipment conditioned to extreme environments (harnesses, lanyards, vests, jackets and overalls); indefinite time (until failure in mandatory periodic inspection) for connectors, descenders, rope grabs and clamps, pulleys, anchor points; ten years (5 in storage and 5 in use) for gloves and helmets. However, it is recommended that you replace your devices, tools and equipment at least every 10 years, considering that in the meantime, new techniques or regulations may have become applicable and the equipment may no longer be compatible.
ATTENTION: The useful life of equipment may be limited in the event of serious falls or when it fails the mandatory periodic inspection.

Check before, after and during use that the equipment works correctly. If you need to wash the components, use clean water with a small amount of neutral soap to remove stubborn dirt or if you intend to disinfect, use a disinfectant that contains quaternary ammonium salts, dissolved in warm water (max. 20°C), immersing the equipment in this solution for 1 hour. Wash with clean water and dry in the open air protected from sunlight. ATTENTION: when the equipment gets wet, either when in use or due to cleaning, it must dry naturally and be kept away from heat sources.
If you need to lubricate metal components, use only silicone-based oil spray. ATTENTION: Remove excess oil and check that lubrication does not interfere with the interaction between the device and other components of the system and the user.
Store the equipment at room temperature, in a dry place and protected from exposure to UV rays and chemicals.
Inspect your equipment. According to standard EN 365: 2004, the periodic examination of PPE must be carried out at least every 12 months by the manufacturer or a competent person. The inspection frequency should vary depending on the intensity of use, in order to guarantee the durability of the product and the safety of the user.
References to the maintenance and handling of the equipment can be found in the instructions that come with the product.

No. The ink in the pen itself may not affect the webbing directly, however there is a risk that the ink contains substances that could degrade the webbing leading to a loss of strength. There are also other factors to consider when marking the webbing, namely the possibility that ballpoint pens, brushes, or other writing utensils could damage it through pressure or introduce dirt particles and/or corrosive substances that cause abrasion into its fibers.
Ink can also hide damage to the webbing making it difficult to detect during inspection.
FALL SAFE™ can provide the means to customize the equipment, but no webbing should be altered in any way.

Equipment that suffer a fall must be removed from service.

All FALL SAFE™ products have an identification label and, in the absence of this possibility, the identification is marked on the equipment itself, as is the case with the connectors.
In the case of harnesses from the Professional range, the label is located inside the silicone pocket located on the upper strap, on the back of the harness. In harnesses whose application/functionality does not allow the placement of this silicone protector, the label is embedded in the same tape, inside the equipment. In the case of harnesses from the Basic range, the label is located inside the left strap on the back of the equipment. The tapes should be separated and the user will be able to easily find this information.

In countries complying with the CE standard, PPE must be formally inspected by a competent person other than the user at least every 12 months after the date of first use or more frequently if subject to adverse conditions, excessive use or a more restrictive local standard.
The date of first use is the date the unit is removed from the original packaging and placed into service and must be documented in writing using the registration card on the user instructions or alternatively written on documentation or registration system.
When the date of first use is unknown, then the next likely date should be used, e.g. date of purchase or date of manufacture.
While the above statement applies to all FALL SAFE™ products, there are some products that have more specific recommended inspection frequencies, and in these cases the manufacturer's manual should always be taken into account.

A product shall be placed out of service when:
- It is more than 10 years old and incorporates plastic and/or textile components;
- It has already suffered a fall;
- It fails the inspection process;
- Its reliability is called into question;
- Its background is unknown (e.g. second-hand equipment)
- It becomes obsolete due to changes in legislation, techniques or incompatibility with standards.

The products are guaranteed for 12 months against any material or manufacturing defects. To analyze material and manufacturing defects, contact our after-sales service (support@fallsafe-online.com) to obtain the address to which you must return the defective product in your country.

Warranty exclusions:
- Normal wear or oxidation;
- Battery leaks in flashlights;
- Modifications or alterations to the equipment;
- Poor packaging;
- Missing or improper maintenance;
- Damage due to accident, negligence or misuse.

The FALL SAFE™ warranty policy will also not apply:
- If the serial number has become illegible or any label has been removed from the product;
- If the product is improperly marked or with stickers;
- If the annual inspection by a Competent Person has not been carried out.

You can contact us by email support@fallsafe-online.com, by filling out the contact form on the website or by calling +351 252 480 060.