April 23rd, 2021

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We recently completed teaching a 2-day fall protection competent person class, and the biggest surprise for our client was the Fed-OSHA requirement for snaphooks and carabiners, which are required to have a gate strength of 3600 pounds (16 kN), and that the hook is self closing, self locking, and is operated by double action.

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1910.140(c)(8): The gate strength of snaphooks and carabiners must be capable of withstanding a minimum load of 3,600 pounds (16 kN).

1910.140(c)(9): Snaphooks and carabiners must be the automatic locking type that require at least two separate, consecutive movements to open. Opening a snaphook requires two separate actions. Snaphooks are generally one of two types:

1. Automatic-locking type (permitted) with a self-closing and self-locking gate that remains closed and locked until intentionally unlocked and opened for connection or disconnection;
2. Non-locking type (prohibited) with a self-closing gate that remains closed, but not locked, until intentionally opened for connection or disconnection. Be safe out there and check your snaphooks and carabiners.

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