Full body harness: Selection matters

Whether you are looking for a full body harness or any fall protection equipment, selecting something that is complicated to put on or uncomfortable to wear or adjust will decrease the chances of that crucial PPE being used.

Choosing a harness

A harness is the main component of the fall arrest system, designed to hold the body when the fall is halted (arrests), to distribute the forces generated by the fall and to suspend the worker ‘head up’ (post fall). 

The harness should be selected based on the work that will be done at height and how the user will access that height safely. If the work application only requires a person to be attached to protect against a fall, a 1 or 2-point harness will be sufficient: 1-point with an attachment in between the shoulder blades (dorsal) and 2-points with a dorsal attachment and one on the front (sternal). The dorsal attachment is recommended for general use, but in some cases a connection to the sternal point is more appropriate (for example when climbing up a ladder being connected to an anchor rail installed on that ladder).

 

In some cases, the application will require hands-free work. In this case, a work positioning harness will be most appropriate with either dorsal only or dorsal with sternal attachment in addition to two side attachments at waist level for use with a work positioning lanyard.

 

A specific application like work in suspension will require technical attachments connected in the middle of the waistbelt that maintain the body position.

A harness should be selected based on the duration and frequency of use. Selecting a harness which is worn for 8h/day every day should be selected on comfort. A high quality harness will also last much longer in this situation.

Size issues

Many manufacturers rely on universal sizing – which means a harness should fit the average person. However, universal sizing is designed to fit most, not all, workers. Some harnesses have a minimum adjustment on the chest strap that is unusable by shorter workers. 

Harness safety

Before purchasing, Honeywell suggests asking:

•  Does the manufacturer have ISO 9001?

•  Do the products meet EN 361: 2002 standard for a full body harness? 

•  Does the manufacturer have qualified engineers designing/testing products in an in-house testing facility? 

Hardware that is comfortable

A harness should have hardware that’s sturdy, but not oversized and awkward, and that easily attaches to connecting devices. For example, the D-Rings on some harnesses are so small that hooking a lanyard can be tricky.

Harness hardware also poses a hazard if it has any sharp edges as they can cut into harness webbing, or can be positioned in such a way that they dig into the skin in the event of a fall.

Webbing design

Webbing may seem like an innocuous item that would be similar in all cases, but it varies greatly from brand to brand. It should be sturdy and slide easily through the hardware. If it snags when it slides through the hardware it can result in cuts to the webbing. Once cut, the harness must be taken out of service.

Inspections

To ensure that a harness will perform the ultimate function – saving a life – it must be inspected before every use. All harnesses have a limited life that will vary depending on the amount of use it receives and in what type of environment it will be worn.

For example, a harness worn outdoors endures a variety of environmental forces and may show visible signs of damage or corrosion in a matter of months. When inspecting any items of personal fall protection equipment a good rule of thumb is: If there are any doubts – scrap it.

The results of any inspection must be recorded and kept until the next inspection. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions and maintenance procedures.

Culture of safety

When workers have comfortable, stylish, high-performance personal protection, they are more likely to wear it – day in and day out – significantly reducing the threat of injuries and helping build a culture of safety. The world class brands of Honeywell Safety Products, for example, offer head-to-toe solutions that are designed to provide the fit, comfort and style that workers need.