Does your fall protection harness fit?

Most workers will answer yes with confidence. About a quarter of those people, in reality, are making do with a harness that does not fit properly. Not only does OSHA require that a fall protection harness be worn at height – 4 feet in general industry, 6 feet in construction – OSHA requires that all PPE must correctly fit the person wearing it.

A harness that is too loose may not protect you in a fall and can present a choking hazard. A harness that is too tight is uncomfortable and can cause injury such as muscle strains or a pinched nerve. Not only does the harness need proper sizing for your body, it requires proper adjustment on your body.

Follow the steps below with a correctly sized harness to ensure the correct fit:

STEP 1

Pull leg straps between legs and connect to opposite ends. For a belted harness, connect waist strap after leg straps.
Use two buckles at base of shoulder straps to adjust shoulder straps. Position extra seat strap below seat of pants.

STEP 2

Fasten chest strap across chest. Chest strap should be comfortably snug.
Chest strap should NOT be close to user’s neck, as strap may contact neck if back D-ring slides up during fall arrest.

STEP 3

After all straps are buckled, tighten all buckles so that harness fits snug and allows full range of movement.
Pass excess strap through strap keepers.

Most safety professionals know that fall protection is the OSHA standard with the most violations among U.S. employers. Sadly, 2023 marked the 13th year in a row with fall protection as the top citation. Fall protection training is also on the top 10 violations list. Perhaps by focusing more on education and training, such as a proper fitting harness, we can remove both instances of fall protection from the violations list. And more importantly, protect the lives and livelihoods of all workers at height.

Watch the Harness Donning Authorized Person Training on YouTube.

Contributed by Jill K. Alexander, VP Marketing for Safewaze. Since 1994, Safewaze has been on a mission to protect workers at height.