Inspection notice for GFP products featuring a possible unsafe condition due to a supplier defect in a specific style of swivel snaphook supplied to Guardian between 8/26/2011 and 6/25/2012.

Date: 6/26/2012

To: All Valued Customers and Distributers who have purchased Guardian Fall Protection (GFP) products featuring a specific SWIVEL SNAPHOOK shipped from GFP after 8/26/2011.

Background:

GFP was made aware of a non-injury incident involving a GFP Self-Retracting Lifeline (SRL) where a swivel snaphook experienced a failure. The nut that holds the swivel eye to the hook body backed off the hook stem and came loose. The non-injury incident was discovered during initial inspection of the equipment performed by the user.

The potentially dangerous and faulty condition was caused when GFP’s supplier of a particular swivel snaphook missed a swaging operation that encapsulates the swivel eye and prevents the threaded nut from backing off of the hook stem. This situation is restricted to a certain type of swivel snaphook supplied to GFP and is identified in this notice. Upon discovery, both GFP and the supplier have increased inspection processes to ensure this cannot occur in the future. Supplier and GFP inventories have been inspected for this condition upon discovery. No defective units were found in inventory. Any products you receive after June 26th have been 100% inspected specifically for this condition and any other defect.

Notification Action Required:

We believe the number of possible defective swivel snaphooks is very minimal. We are asking you to please inspect your inventory of GFP parts listed below. Also we ask you to directly communicate this INSPECTION NOTIFICATION to your customers who have purchased Guardian SRLs since 8/26/2011. If customers have products with defective hooks, GFP will replace them and cover the freight costs. GFP’s network of Territory Managers and Representatives can assist you at your request.

THIS INSPECTION NOTIFICATION APPLIES TO:

This notice applies only to the following parts with a manufacture date between 8/26/2011 and 6/26/2012:

• MK EDGE Series
• YELLOW JACKET Series
• DAYTONA Series
• 3-WAY RESCUE RETRIEVAL Series
• AARDVARK Series
• EDGE Series 20ft.-30ft. lengths (this notice DOES NOT apply to the 11ft. web EDGE style SRLs)
• ROPE LIFELINE PART # 01131 6 dual leg shock rope lanyard with polyplus rope with aluminum rebar hooks and high strength swivel snaphook
• CUSTOM PARTS manufactured after 8/26/2011 with swivel snaphooks

See the following instructional page and follow the instructions for determining if your product contains the specific swivel snaphook that is part of this inspection notice. Note: NOT ALL GFP PRODUCTS WITH SWIVEL SNAPHOOKS FEATURE THE HOOK IDENTIFIED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS NOTICE APPLIES TO A SPECIFIC SWIVEL SNAPHOOK MANUFACTURED BY A PARTICULAR SNAPHOOK SUPPLIER FEATURING THIS DESIGN.

How to identify the SWIVEL SNAPHOOKS that might contain the faulty condition:

NOTE: Hooks may be gold or silver plated.

Swivel Snaphook Style:

• Specific to the models shown with the Guardian G Gear Marking shown:
  • And
• Swivel Snaphook model 01825-HS or Swivel Indicating Snaphook model 01826-HS
  • And
• Featuring the nut and swage design for swivel attachment

If you identify that your product contains the hook identified in this notice, CLICK HERE (pdf) to continue to the “How to inspect for the faulty swage condition” section.