A full-body harness is an arrangement of straps secured around a worker's shoulders, chest, waist and thighs, with a back D-ring or other attachment point for a lanyard or self-retracting lifeline. In a fall, it spreads the arresting forces over the thighs, pelvis, chest and shoulders. It is the body support component of a personal fall arrest system.
Since January 1, 1998, OSHA has not allowed body belts to be used as part of a personal fall arrest system in construction, because belts concentrate force on the abdomen and can cause serious internal injury.
OSHA Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems
OSHA's construction fall protection standard, 29 CFR 1926.502(d), and the general industry standard, 29 CFR 1910.140, set performance criteria for systems using a body harness. Key requirements include:
- Maximum arresting force: 1,800 pounds on the employee when used with a body harness.
- Free fall: rigged so the employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet nor contact any lower level.
- Deceleration distance: bring the employee to a complete stop and limit deceleration distance to 3.5 feet.
- Anchorages: capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per employee attached, or designed, installed and used as part of a complete system with a safety factor of at least two under the supervision of a qualified person.
- Inspection: components inspected before each use for wear, damage and other deterioration, and defective components removed from service.
- After a fall: systems subjected to impact loading must be removed from service until inspected by a competent person and determined to be undamaged.
- Rescue: the employer must provide for prompt rescue of employees after a fall or ensure they can rescue themselves.
Harness design and testing are also covered by the ANSI/ASSP Z359.11 consensus standard.
How to Inspect and Wear a Harness
- Check the label. Confirm the harness is within its service life, the label is legible, and it is rated for the user's weight.
- Inspect webbing. Look for cuts, frays, burns, chemical damage, broken stitching and stiffness.
- Inspect hardware. Check D-rings, buckles and adjusters for cracks, corrosion, distortion and sharp edges.
- Check fall indicators. Remove the harness from service if an impact indicator is deployed.
- Don it correctly. Hold by the back D-ring, shake out straps, and fasten chest and leg straps.
- Adjust for fit. Position the back D-ring between the shoulder blades and the chest strap at mid-chest. Leg straps should be snug, allowing about a flat hand between strap and leg.
- Connect properly. Attach to an approved anchor with a compatible connector, and calculate fall clearance before work begins.
Suspension Trauma and Rescue
After a fall, a worker hanging motionless in a harness can develop suspension trauma, also called orthostatic intolerance, as blood pools in the legs. OSHA has warned that this can become dangerous within minutes. Every fall arrest plan should include a rescue method, and trauma relief straps can help a suspended worker relieve pressure while waiting.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wearing leg straps loose, which can cause injury or allow the worker to slip out.
- Tying off to anchors that are not rated or approved.
- Ignoring fall clearance, so the worker hits the level below before the system stops them.
- Using a harness after a fall without competent person inspection.
- Having no rescue plan.
How SMS360 Helps
SMS360's Audit Management module lets teams create harness and fall protection inspection checklists and complete them on mobile devices, with photos of damage. Failed equipment can be assigned as a corrective action, and completed inspections are stored as records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are body belts allowed for fall protection?
Not for fall arrest. Since January 1, 1998, OSHA has prohibited body belts as part of a personal fall arrest system in construction. Body belts may still be used in some positioning systems, but a full-body harness is required for fall arrest.
How often should a harness be inspected?
OSHA requires personal fall arrest system components to be inspected before each use. Many manufacturers and ANSI Z359 also recommend periodic formal inspections by a competent person at least annually. Any harness involved in a fall must be removed from service until inspected.
How tight should a harness be?
A harness should be snug but comfortable. The back D-ring should sit between the shoulder blades, the chest strap at mid-chest, and leg straps tight enough that only about a flat hand fits between the strap and the leg. Follow the manufacturer's fitting instructions.
