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Inspecting climbing harnesses: what the codes require

Pre-use checks, the annual inspection and the removal rules for tree climbing harnesses in the NSW and New Zealand codes, the ICoP, OSHA and WorkSafeBC.

Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.

This page reports what the named codes, regulators and makers say. It is not training and does not teach the work. This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. Every source below was read on October 9, 2026. The kit itself is described in the guide on saddles and harnesses, and the general rules for all kit are in gear inspection rules.

Credits: HSE text is adapted from HSE pages published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. SafeWork NSW text is adapted from the Tree works code of practice (March 2026), copyright State of New South Wales (SafeWork NSW), licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0; changes were made, because the text is summarised and reworded. WorkSafe New Zealand material is summarised from its Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Arboriculture, with the source acknowledged.

What each source says

SourceWhat it says
SafeWork NSW code, 4.4, New South WalesHarnesses are used and maintained to the maker's recommendations, or if those are not available, to the guidance of a competent person. Inspections must be carried out at least annually. A work positioning harness is not for a free fall over 600 mm and should stop the wearer slipping out if inverted, otherwise a full-body harness is worn.
WorkSafe NZ code, 3.2.6, New ZealandHarnesses conform to the AS/NZS 1891 standards or equivalent. Before use, the arborist checks all components for damage, cuts, abrasion and deterioration, and replaces worn parts or removes the whole harness. Only attachment points designed for load bearing support are used. Harnesses are not altered, and are carried and stored like climbing lines.
OSHA 1910.140(c)(18), United StatesPersonal fall protection systems are inspected before initial use in each workshift. Under (c)(17), equipment subjected to impact loading is removed from service immediately.
WorkSafeBC Part 26, 26.12.0.1 to 26.12.0.6, British ColumbiaA qualified arborist inspects the climbing system before it is first used on each shift. A system in which any piece of equipment has arrested a fall is taken out of service, and returned only after the manufacturer, its authorized agent or a professional engineer certifies it safe.
ICoP 3.11, United KingdomThree levels of check: pre-use, interim and thorough examination. Records are kept for each item, with lifespan set by the manufacturer, and equipment past a stated lifespan is withdrawn unless the maker grants evidenced dispensation. Storage is dry, dark and chemically neutral.

Standards named

The NSW code points to AS/NZS 1891.1:2020, the manufacturing requirements for full body combination and lower body harnesses, and AS/NZS 1891.4:2025 for selection, use and maintenance. The ICoP leaves the content of a thorough examination to the maker's guidance and to a competent person.

What the sources leave out

No source read lists a harness retirement age. The NSW code sets a fixed minimum inspection interval for harnesses, annually, in addition to checks before use. The ICoP, in its summary of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations, gives thorough examination at least every 6 months for equipment used for lifting people and at least every 12 months for other rigging equipment.

Sources