According to OSHA, what specific action is required regarding damaged fall protection equipment before resuming work?

According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), any damaged fall protection equipment must be immediately removed from service. This means that if a harness, lanyard, lifeline, or any other component of a fall protection system shows signs of damage, wear, or defect, it cannot be used. The damaged equipment must be taken out of service to prevent accidental use and potential injury. Specifically, OSHA requires that the damaged equipment be either repaired by a qualified person or discarded. A 'qualified person' is someone with specific training and experience to inspect, repair, and certify fall protection equipment. If repair is possible, it must be performed by this qualified individual according to manufacturer's specifications. If repair is not feasible or cost-effective, the equipment must be permanently removed from service and disposed of to prevent its reuse. The action of removing it from service must be immediate upon discovery of the damage; work cannot resume using damaged fall protection.