As a fall protection system, safety harness can greatly reduce the risks and injuries of falls from height. And with the help of safety harnesses after proper training, workers can get more confidence and less anxiety of working at height. Since the safety harness is so important, we as a leading safety harness factory in this industry since 2019 are going to get into a further look to know more about the life saver for high-sky workers.
Types of Safety Harnesses
- Full-Body Harness distributes forces throughout the body. With maximum protection, the safety harness is preferred in construction, industrial work, and high-risk environments.
- Sit Harness is often seen in rock or tree climbing where lower body support is necessary.
- Chest Harness is primarily used when a full-body harness is not needed, but upper body support is required.
Comparison of the 3 Types of Safety Harness
| Feature | Full-Body Safety Harness | Sit Harness | Chest Harness |
| Support Areas | Shoulders, chest, waist, thighs | Waist, thighs | Chest, shoulders |
| Primary Function | Fall arrest, work positioning, rescue | Work positioning, suspension | Upper body stability (when paired with sit harness) |
| Fall Protection | Excellent (distributes fall forces across body) | Limited (not recommended for fall arrest) | Poor (cannot be used alone for fall protection) |
| Comfort for Suspension | Good for short-term suspension, but can be heavy | High comfort for seated or suspended activities | Requires combination with a sit harness |
| Mobility | Moderate (due to bulk) | High (lightweight and flexible) | Moderate (used mainly for upper body stability) |
| Applications | High-risk work environments, construction, rescue | Climbing, tree work, rope access | Climbing, rescue, paired with sit harness |
| Attachment Points | Multiple (back, front, sides) | Typically one front attachment point | Used with sit harness for additional attachment |
| Weight | Heavier due to full-body coverage | Lightweight | Lightweight (especially when combined) |
| Ease of Use | More complex, takes longer to wear | Easy to wear, adjust, and remove | Simple to wear when combined with sit harness |
Components of a Safety Harness
- The webbing in polyester or nylon forms the main structure.
- D-Rings are the connection points at the back, front, or sides for anchorage lanyards.
- Friction or quick-connect buckles to secure the harness on the body.
- Lanyard and lifeline are for movement flexibility while keeping the wearer safely connected.
Applications of Safety Harnesses
1) falls from towers or poles for workers at height in construction industries, telecommunication
2) falls in mountain climbing
3) being lowered or raised in a limited space like tanks
4) performing window cleaning and facade maintenance at height
5) for workers on offshore rigs in oil and gas industry
Safety Standards and Regulations
· OSHA 1910.140: Covers personal fall protection systems for general industry.
· OSHA 1926.502: Specifies requirements for fall protection systems in construction, including safety harnesses, lanyards, and anchorage points.
· ANSI/ASSP Z359: This is the overarching standard that governs fall protection and related systems. It includes guidelines for harnesses, lanyards, connectors, and anchorage points.
· ANSI Z359.11: Specifically addresses the performance requirements of full-body safety harnesses.
· EN 361: Specifies requirements for full-body harnesses used in fall arrest systems.
· EN 358: Covers harnesses used for work positioning and restraint.
· EN 813: Covers sit harnesses used for work positioning and restraint but not intended for fall arrest.
· CSA Z259.10: Governs the design and performance requirements of full-body harnesses.
· CSA Z259.2.2: Focuses on self-retracting devices and energy absorbers used with harnesses.
· AS/NZS 1891.1: Specifies the design and performance requirements for industrial fall arrest systems, including full-body harnesses.
· AS/NZS 1891.4: Details how to correctly use, maintain, and inspect fall arrest systems.
· ISO 10333-1: Specifies requirements for personal fall arrest systems, including the harnesses, energy absorbers, and connecting devices.
· ISO 10333-4: Provides specific guidelines for full-body harnesses used in fall arrest systems.
Proper Use and Donning Techniques
1) Ensure that the harness is properly fitted to the user’s body. Don’t put the leg strap in the wrong legs. Do not be too tight or too lose.
2) Select safe and reliable anchorage points in various working environments.
3) Calculate fall distance to ensure sufficient clearance and avoid injury in case of a fall. Below is a picture, which can clearly and simply show you how to make the calculation. Remember to add the height of the worker and the safety factor. The required distance from the anchor point to the ground shall be at least 5.6m.
Fall Protection Systems
Fall arrest systems aim to prevent the user from hitting the ground or a lower level after a fall, while fall restraint systems are devices that stop a fall within a short distance.
What is a fall arrest system? See the picture below. A complete fall arrest system shall include the anchorage, connection and the fall arrest harness.
And below is a picture to help tell the difference between fall arrest systems and fall restraint systems.
Positioning systems allow workers to be supported on an elevated vertical surface, with hands-free for operations.
Self-Retracting Lifelines is a kind of rescue system for prompt and safe rescue operations after a fall. Or need other rescue system.
Common Mistakes & Training of Safety Harnesses
Common mistakes include improperly fitting or adjusting the harness, having no regular inspection and maintenance, and inadequate training on fitting, inspection, and fall protection systems. All of these behaviors could cause the missing of effective use from the safety harness.
To get over the troubles, ensure workers are properly trained on harness use, fall arrest systems, and emergency procedures and provide workers with certification in the use of them, which will to our maximum reduce the risks of falling with the ability to use the equipment properly.
Conclusion:
The blog here enables us to have a comprehensive view of safety harness. Not only shall we select the right type of safety harness, but also we shall get proper trained for proper use of the safety harness relevant systems. Only then, can workers get the best guarantee for their life.
