A full-body safety harness, also referred to as body wear, is an essential component of any personal fall protection system. These systems shield employees in a range of sectors who do tasks at heights from possible workplace dangers such construction sites, railroad operations, and fire and rescue. Although every part of a fall protection system is necessary, the safety harness acts as a conduit between workers and the rest of the equipment, and it must fit snugly and comfortably for the system to function as intended.
While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has stringent fall protection requirements for industrial applications, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) establishes performance requirements for safety harnesses, including minimum and maximum weight limits for workers and their equipment. Full-body harnesses are the only acceptable form of body wear for all fall arrest applications.
Safety Harness Parts
A full-body harness combines the features of a chest harness and a sit harness to support the upper legs, hips, chest, and shoulders. The primary components of a safety harness system include:
- Straps: Safety harnesses contain different fabric types and webbing sewn together to form the system’s waistband and various straps. Typical materials include polyester and nylon for standard systems and fabrics like Kevlar®, Nomex®, and Dyneema® for specialized applications. Padding sewn into the straps — particularly in the shoulder area — maximizes comfort and functionality.
- Buckles: The straps use buckles to tighten the harness system around the worker’s body. Common types of buckles include quick attachment, tongue, and spring tension. The straps and buckles are fully adjustable to accommodate each worker’s weight while providing comfort while working.
- Attachment points: The harness’s webbing contains various sewn-in attachment points made from plastic or forged metal. The locations of these points depend on the specific harness type and its application. Examples of attachment points include a D-ring on the back of the system, grommets on the waistband, and keepers to stow idle lanyards.
Function of Full Body Harness
The primary responsibilities of a safety harness are to distribute forces safely across a worker’s body during a free fall and provide sufficient freedom of movement that allows the worker to perform their job effectively. When properly used, the full-body design contains the human torso and helps keep it upright during a fall event. The D-ring on the back of the harness creates an attachment point for the safety lanyard that keeps the body upright. Depending on the application and specific function, D-rings can be on the sides or front of the harness for easy attachment of the positioning lanyards.
Choosing the Right Full-Body Safety Harness System
Selecting the correct full-body harness based on specific tasks and a worker’s characteristics is critical for maximizing safety. Safety managers must consider the following factors when choosing the optimal harness system:
- The system’s weight limit or rated capacity
- The number of required attachment points
- Potential fall distances
- Freedom of movement
- Worker comfort
- Environmental conditions
When Should You Wear a Full Body Harness
According to OSHA, any industry except construction that requires work above a height of 4 feet must utilize fall protection equipment that includes a full body harness. They refer to these fields as general industry. Regulations also include trigger heights, when fall protection is required, for several specific industries:
- Construction: 6 ft.
- General Industries: 4 ft.
- Long-shoring: 8 ft.
- Shipyards: 5 ft.
- Scaffolding: 10 ft.
Occasionally, some job sites will include work that falls under both construction and general industry regulations. To differentiate between the two, OSHA created descriptions of the unprotected working or walking surfaces that require fall protection systems. Some of these hazards must be above 6 or 10 feet, while others require additional safety measures at any height. In any of these situations, you and your workers must use full body safety harnesses.
At SAMS SOLUTIONS, based in Dubai, we specialize in premium fall protection equipment from renowned brands JECH and AMERIZA. Safety harnesses are crucial components in any fall protection system, designed to safeguard individuals working at heights. Our latest blog delves into the essential role of safety harnesses in preventing fall-related injuries. By investing in high-quality safety harnesses from SAMS SOLUTIONS, you are not only complying with safety regulations but also protecting your team and enhancing overall workplace safety. Read our full blog to gain comprehensive insights into selecting and utilizing safety harnesses effectively.