Equipment exposed to the environment can have an effect on technician safety, effective use, and longevity. The focus of this Planning Advisory Notice (PAN), published with permission by the Telecommunications Industry Foundation, is: Best safety practices for slings, ropes, harnesses, and hard hats to help technicians identify and prevent environmental exposure and ultraviolet degradation.
In 2017, Brigham Young University conducted a study on webbing strength loss, “Long-Duration Environmental and Blood Effects on Webbing Strength Degradation.” The methodology of the study was simple, they took 6’ sections of nylon webbing and hung them outside for one year in seven separate climates and elevations across North America.
