Why Annual Anchor Inspection Isn't Optional (And What Happens If You Skip It)

It's a common assumption: an anchor point that was properly installed and pull-tested is done, permanently. In reality, that test certificate has a shelf life. SANS standards require annual re-inspection of anchors and lifelines, and treating that as a formality rather than a real check is one of the more common compliance gaps we find on sites we didn't originally install.

What actually degrades over a year

• •Weather exposure - UV, rain, and temperature cycling affect fixings and fabric components differently to how they perform fresh out of the box
• •Corrosion at fixing points, especially where roof sheeting has been walked on or disturbed since installation
• •Structural changes to the building - re-roofing, added rooftop equipment, or renovations near the anchor
• •Wear from use itself - repeated loading, even well within rated capacity, is not the same as no loading

The events that trigger inspection outside the annual cycle

Beyond the yearly schedule, an anchor needs inspection immediately after any fall arrest event, storm damage, roof repairs near the anchor, or any structural change to the building. A fall that was successfully arrested doesn't mean the anchor is still rated for the next one - it needs to be assessed, not assumed.

What actually happens if it's skipped

The immediate risk is obvious: equipment that's quietly degraded is exactly the equipment most likely to fail when it's actually needed. The less obvious cost is what happens at audit or after an incident. An anchor without a current inspection record is functionally non-compliant even if it would physically pass a pull test today - because there's no documentation proving it, which is precisely what an inspector or an insurer asks for first.

What a proper inspection actually checks

A real inspection goes beyond a visual glance from the ground. It includes a physical check of the anchor fixing and surrounding substrate for corrosion or movement, a re-test of the connection where the anchor design allows for it, a check of the roof surface immediately around the anchor for changes since the last visit, and an updated written record dated and filed, not just a verbal "looks fine." If the last inspection your site had didn't produce a dated document you could hand to an auditor, it's worth treating it as if it didn't happen.

Keeping this off your plate

We offer scheduled inspection and recertification, including for systems we didn't originally install, so this doesn't depend on someone remembering a date a year later. Every visit produces an updated inspection sheet that slots straight into your safety file.