Improper Use of Your Safety Harness Can Be a Costly Mistake

The effectiveness of any fall protection system depends on proper use of each component. Improper use, carelessness, or use of a damaged harness can result in death or severe injury, as well as damage to equipment and the work environment. The full-body safety harness is an integral part of a modern fall protection system. Here I’ll briefly review the common mistakes to avoid when using a harness.

Failure to Perform Proper Inspection
It is essential for workers to inspect their harness before every use. Hurried, incomplete, or improper equipment inspection can mean overlooking a critical sign of fatigue or damage. Check for a tag or label noting the harness’s last inspection date and its condition at that time. No worker should attempt to don or use a harness that has failed inspection. Failed equipment should be disposed of in a way that avoids accidental use. Check the webbing, D-rings, grommets, belts, and buckles thoroughly for compromised integrity, deformity, and worn condition.

Failure to Don the Harness Properly
Misuse of a body harness through neglect or ignorance greatly reduces the equipment’s ability to provide sufficient protection. Be sure that the D-ring is properly positioned and that there are no twists, snags, or tangles in the straps. Check that buckles fasten properly and check for any slippage. A snug harness is an effective harness.

Improper Fit
A body harness that is not properly adjusted for fit is almost as dangerous as working without any harness at all. A snug fit on both the top and bottom sections of the harness is essential. Slipping loose from one portion of the harness while working at height can leave a worker in a perilous situation requiring urgent rescue. Traumatic, organ damage, and neurologic injuries can result after only minutes of prolonged suspension in some cases. Weight limits are specific to each make and model of harness, though the typical range is between 130 and 310 pounds (weight includes the harness itself, the worker’s clothing, and any tools the worker will be using on the job). For obvious reasons of safety, harness weight limits should not be exceeded, and body harnesses should not be used to lift materials or equipment.

Overuse
Know when enough is indeed enough. A harness that has exceeded its typical 5-year working life should be discarded if it shows any signs of wear or aging. Workers should check not only inspection dates but also the date at which the harness entered service. A harness that has exceeded its work life may risk equipment failure, even though it may display no obvious signs of fatigue, damage, or wear.

The best way to ensure that any fall protection device performs properly and reliably is through proper inspection and maintenance.

Inspect your harnesses and thank you for reading!

Michael Evanko
Marketing Manager

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May 17, 2012
06:50 AM

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