Eyebolts are the smallest pieces of fall protection on a building and the easiest to forget. A corroded or loose anchor eyebolt looks identical to a sound one from a few feet away, yet it is the single point holding a person if something goes wrong. That is why UK standards treat eyebolt testing as a fixed part of building maintenance, not an optional extra.

Why Eyebolts Need Regular Testing

An eyebolt spends its life outdoors or in a window reveal, exposed to moisture, frost and building movement. The fixing behind it is invisible, so the only way to know it still holds is to examine and test it. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require anchor devices to be maintained and inspected, and BS 7883:2019 sets out how anchors should be examined, tested and documented.

There is also a practical reason: contractors are increasingly refusing to clip on to anchors without a current test certificate. An untested eyebolt can stop a window cleaning or maintenance visit on the day.

How Often Should Eyebolts Be Tested?

• Every 6 months where eyebolts are used to suspend people, for example abseil access and rope access maintenance. This follows the LOLER principle that equipment lifting or suspending persons needs thorough examination twice a year.
• Every 12 months where eyebolts are used for fall arrest or fall restraint attachment, in line with the BS EN 365 annual examination cycle.
• Immediately after any fall or shock load, if corrosion or damage is visible or after structural work near the fixing.

What Does an Eyebolt Test Involve?

• Visual examination of the eyebolt, thread and surrounding structure for corrosion, cracking and movement
• An axial pull test using a calibrated load tester, applied to the values set out in BS 7883 guidance for the anchor type
• Checking the fixing and substrate: an eyebolt is only as strong as the material it is anchored into
• Reviewing installation documentation, which BS 7883:2019 expects for every anchor system
• Tagging each tested anchor with its identity and test date and issuing a certificate listing every anchor on the building

Anchors that fail are clearly marked out of service and quarantined. You receive a report setting out the remedial options, which usually means replacing the anchor rather than repairing it. The documentation side matters as much as the pull test itself. We explain why in our guide to roof access systems and anchor inspections.

Eyebolt Testing FAQs

Do window cleaning eyebolts need testing?

Yes. Eyebolts installed for window cleaning harness attachment are fall protection anchors and need the same periodic examination as any other anchor device. Six-monthly testing is standard where they are used for suspension.

How much does eyebolt testing cost?

Cost depends on the number of anchors and access to them. Testing is priced per visit rather than per bolt, so certifying a whole building in one visit is far more economical than testing piecemeal. Contact us for a fixed quote.

Who can test eyebolts?

A competent person with the training and equipment to examine and load test anchor devices against BS 7883. In practice this means a height safety specialist, and the tester should be independent of any pressure to pass the anchors.

What happens if an eyebolt fails the test?

It is tagged out of service immediately and recorded on your report. The usual remedy is replacement with a new anchor installed and certified to current standards. Nearby anchors are checked with extra care since they often share the same installation history.

Book Certified Eyebolt Testing

Think Worksafe tests and certifies eyebolts, anchor points and complete fall protection systems across the UK as part of our inspection and testing service. We also design and install new anchor points where coverage falls short, including abseil and davit systems. One visit covers testing, certification and a schedule of any remedial work.