What belongs in a pre-climb gear inspection?

Do a hands-on check before every use, and follow the manufacturer’s retirement criteria. The formal documented inspection by a competent person is normally done at least annually, per the manufacturer and ANSI/ASSP Z359.2. Harness and lanyard: cuts, frays, glazed or melted fibers, chemical or paint damage, broken stitching, stretched or faded webbing, a tripped shock-absorber indicator, bent or corroded D-rings and buckles. Hardware (carabiners, snap hooks): gates close fully and lock, no cracks, burrs, rust or distortion. Tags: legible label, in-date inspection, no missing marks. Rope and descent device: sheath damage, glazing, stiff spots; smooth operation. Anything doubtful goes in the red bag, not in the truck. The cost of a new lanyard is small compared with the alternative. — CrewRating Team. General guidance, not a substitute for your company safety program, manufacturer instructions or the carrier’s scope of work. If this conflicts with them, follow them and tell us so we can fix it.