OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has brought regulations for adopting full-body harnesses in workplaces for employees who are assigned to work at height. As per OSHA regulation, while using a full body harness is mandatory, the devices must be accompanied by a lanyard, safety harness, D-rings, and all other components that are vital to work and prevent falls of a worker. Furthermore, the harness system must be thoroughly inspected by safety officials as well as the employees before wearing them. As of today, full-body harnesses are used across different industries and users have different questions about the uses of PPE.
- What is personal protective equipment?
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a fall protection device that prevents employees from falling to a low level during they work at height while providing them the necessary comfort and freedom to complete their job successfully. Typically the tool contains three important parts namely full body harness, anchor devices, and connecting devices.
According to Jason Wible Frenchcreek safety harness or PPE is the first line of ensuring the safety process. It holds an employee during as well as after a fall. This is a must-have outfit to be worn at workplaces that is prone to falls or trips. The type of the harness depends on its type of application. Apart from ensuring safety, wearing PPE is integral for having ease of movement. It is to remember, it consists of a series of accessories that play different roles in safety protection and productive working.
- What are the different types of safety harnesses available in the industry?
In general, the most commonly used safety harness types are stated below. Noteworthy, is that they are designed depending on the type of their uses.
Construction harness: specifically engineered for construction work, this type of harness is made of heavy-duty material while aiming to maximize, comfort as well as protection. In general, some extra features of construction harnesses include adjustable straps, tool loops, multiple D-rings, padding, etc.
Rescue harness: Designed particularly for rescue operations, these are chiefly made of lightweight but hard-wearing material for extreme mobility. Some of its features include quick-release buckles, adjustable D-ring, and straps.
Sport harness: Recreation and sports are also another industry where the harness is used extensively. For example, mountaineering, bungee jumping, rock climbing, etc. Typically, the harnesses are made of lightweight material and have been designed to maximize comfort and absolute protection.
- What are the safety guides for wearing fall body harnesses?
According to Jason Wible Frenchcreek, while getting outfitted with a safety harness, it is crucial to follow certain safety guidelines as recommended by OSHA. Some of these vital tips are narrated:
- Never forget to inspect the safety harness before using it.
- Get the harness attached to a horizontal lifeline, lanyard, and all other components of full-body arrest systems.
- Ensure the D-ring has been appropriately positioned at the rear of the safety tool.
- Straps must be adjusted for a fitting snugly and they should be free from any kind of tangles or knots.
- The weight limit of the harness must not be exceeded.
- Old and worn harnesses must be replaced with new ones.
Regular inspection and upkeep of safety harnesses are vital for fall protection as per. So, before using the users should ensure to perform proper and routine inspection and maintenance as guided.