Why Harness Inspections Matter: Staying Compliant with NASC SG16:14

When it comes to working at height, your safety is only as strong as your equipment. For scaffolders, that often means relying on fall arrest harnesses and lanyards. But how often should you check them? What does the law require? And how can you prove you’re doing it right?

That’s where NASC SG16:14: Management of Fall Protection Equipment comes in.

And now, staying compliant is easier than ever thanks to SMART Forms inside SMART Manager. This all-in-one digital compliance solution gives scaffolders the tools to manage inspections, checks, and reports directly within the SMART Manager package, no extra setup required.

Why it matters:

According to the NASC Safety Report 2024, there were 16 falls from height reported by NASC members in 2023, a sharp rise from 10 the previous year. Of those, 7 falls occurred from scaffolds or working platforms, and 3 were only prevented because harness systems successfully arrested the fall. The highest recorded fall reached 14 m. These figures underline the critical importance of ensuring harnesses are inspected, maintained, and traceable at all times.

What SG16:14 requires:

• Harnesses and lanyards must be inspected by a competent person before first use.
• Detailed inspections should be carried out at regular intervals (normally every 3 months).
• All inspections must be properly recorded, with clear evidence that the equipment is safe to use.
• Records must be available for auditors, clients, and the HSE if requested.

In short, it’s not enough to say you’ve checked your harnesses. You need to prove it.

How SMART Manager helps scaffolders comply:

Managing harness inspections on paper can be time-consuming, and paperwork often gets lost or damaged on-site. This is where SMART Forms make a difference.

With SMART Manager, scaffolders can:

• Complete harness inspections digitally on-site
• Store results securely in the cloud
• Generate professional PDF reports instantly for auditors or clients
• Keep a clear, traceable history of every inspection

That means compliance with SG16:14 becomes quicker, easier, and more reliable and ensures no harness goes unchecked or unrecorded.

Final Thoughts:

Harness inspections aren’t just a box-ticking exercise. They’re a vital safeguard that saves lives. Backed by digital traceability, SMART Forms give scaffolders the confidence that every piece of fall protection equipment meets the NASC and HSE’s highest safety expectations. Don’t miss out on the chance to make harness safety faster, smarter, and fully compliant with SMART Forms.