Full Body Harness

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Chapter : Fall Protection 

Full Body Harness

A full body harness is a crucial component of personal fall protection systems, designed to safeguard workers operating at heights. It consists of a series of straps that wrap around the thighs, hips, chest, shoulders, and back, distributing the force of a fall across the body to minimize injury.

These harnesses are equipped with various D-rings for  attaching to fall arrest systems. positioning devices. and rescue operations. By keeping the wearer upright during  and after a fall, full body harnesses help prevent suspension trauma and facilitate quicker rescues. This are essential in industries such as construction, maintenance, and emergency services ensuring compliance with safety regulations and enhancing workplace safety.

1. Full Body Harness Belt
• Distributes pressure across the entire body during a fall.
• Equipped with straps that wrap around the shoulders, chest, hips, and thighs.
2. Lifeline
• An elastic or metal rope used as a safety line, connecting the worker to a fixed anchor point. Can be either horizontal or vertical.
3. Rope Grab
• A Sliding device On the lifeline that automatically locks in place during a fall.
4. Locking Snap Hook
• A robust metal hook that attaches ta belt components or an anchor point.
5. D-Clip Connector
• A D-shaped metal ring mounted on the back Of the harness to connect ropes or other equipment.
6. Lanyard with Shock Absorber
• A rope with a built-in shock absorber to reduce the impact force during a fall.

How to use

1. Pre-Use Inspection
• Check for any signsor wear or damage on the belt and Its components.
• Ensure all hooks and straps are intact.
2. Proper Fit   
• Wear the harness so that the straps are snug and comfortable.
• Position the D-Clip metal ring at the center of your back
3. Securing to an Anchor Point
• Use the locking snap hook to attach the harness to a secure anchor point that meets OSHAs weight-bearing specifications (typically 5.000 pounds).
4.  Adjusting Components
• Ensure the rope grab is correctly attached to the lifeline.
• Verify that the shock absorber is functioning properly.
5. Periodic Checks During use
• Regularly check the integrity and safety of all components while in use  
6. Post-use Storage:
• Clean the harness and Store it in a dry place. away from chemical and heat.

Safety harnesses, or to give them their correct title of “fall arrest harnesses”, have a pretty obvious role to perform, namely to stop you hitting a hard surface, like the floor, at a speed likely to cause injury, should you be unfortunate enough to slip or fall when working at height.

Note: Persons over 127 kg must not use this equipment and must not, therefore attempt any work

where a safety harness would be required.

Procedure

• Check the harness has an identification number and is within its inspection period, a test certificate should accompany the equipment. 
• If the harness does not have a number or inspection period tagged do not use it. 
• Do not lend or borrow this equipment – you could be liable if something goes wrong.
• One must be trained, either by the manufacturer or a local facilitator, in the correct use of this equipment. 
• Do not use this equipment until you have had the training.

Basic rules to follow when using a harness:

1. Do not attempt to work at heights if you are feeling unwell or are susceptible to giddiness.
2. Before putting the harness on check the following:
• The harness must be free of cuts, nicks, burns and severe surface abrasion which reduce the width and thickness of the webbing. There should be no severe damage to the weave pattern and the stitching must be good
• The self-locking hooks should have no distortion, sharp edges, burns, cracks and worn parts. Check the snap action and return spring are working correctly and there is no sideways play on the latch in the closed position
• Check the fall arrest block webbing is free from cuts, nicks, burns and that the stitching is in good order. Pull the strap sharply to engage the break mechanism then pull out to its full extent. CAUTION – don not let the strap go when completing this check as it could damage the block mechanism
3. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for putting the harness on – these should be on the harness labels.
4. When you reach your position to select a suitable and correct anchorage point, i.e. one that is perfectly sound and capable of sustaining the shock load should you fall. The anchor point should be as high above you as is possible in a vertical plane to reduce the fall distance and the liability to pendulum. Consider the surrounding area – avoid using an anchor point that would permit you to strike or swing into obstructions before a fall is safely stopped.
5. Where possible make your anchorage connection above the level of the attachment point on your safety harness.
6. When making connections to the anchorage point always observe the following:
• That the screw ferrule on the screw gate hook is fully screwed up into the locked position
• If using an automatic locking hook ensure that the revolving ferrule has moved into a locked position
7. The following methods should not be used to make your connection to the anchorage point:
• Do not tie-off over sharp edges or snap back onto the lanyard
• Do not tie-off where the hook latch will not fully close
• Do not knot the lanyard in any manner
8. Where a much larger working area is required from a single anchorage point than that permitted by the normal lanyard, then a safety harness should be used in conjunction with either fall arrestor blocks or self-locking slide chucks.
9. If a fall occurs the fall arrest block cannot be used again until a service check has been carried out by the manufacturer.
10. If a fall occurs the harness and hooks must be destroyed.