Feeling safe on the job is something that anyone should be. Even a fall from a seemingly short distance can wind up having large consequences. Remaining safe even during the most routine of jobs is necessary.
Where falls are a potential, having a safety harness of some sort is crucial. There are different types out there, so being aware of the factors can be key. Here are a few things to ask yourself when choosing the right safety harness for the job.
What is the Use?
There are a ton of harnesses out there to choose from, including a variety of options when choosing a harness lanyard from RS. In order to make sure that you get the right option, it helps to know going in what kind of use you’re looking to get out of it.
Harnesses can work for with construction to home improvement and beyond. Safety harnesses generally come equipped with a dorsal ring (D-Ring) that acts as the attachment point for the majority of anti-fall systems that you will find. That said, if you are climbing a ladder, you would want a front-facing D-Ring. Know your purpose so you can get the right lanyard and harness.
Is it the Right Size/Fit?
Perhaps the single most important thing when choosing fall protection equipment is ensuring that everything fits correctly. An improper fit is annoying, but it is also quite dangerous as well. A harness should ultimately be snug but not restricting in any way.
Ideally, you should be able to get a couple of fingers – but not your whole fist – between the harness and your body. There also shouldn’t be anything hanging down that could potentially get caught or tangled. The D-Ring should be positioned at the center of your body so that the fall protection equipment can do its job at all times. Proper fitting will not only keep you from falling but equally distribute force across your body, preventing injury as a result.
Is it Comfortable?
While the aforementioned factors are certainly most important, it helps if you are comfortable while wearing the equipment. When safety equipment is uncomfortable, workers tend to find reasons not to wear it. That means being in the line of danger rather than simply being uncomfortable with the fit of the harness.
Find something that is lightweight, which can help reduce the load that your body has to carry. Also, there are a ton of harnesses out there that provide additional padding at the legs, waist, back, and shoulders, which will drastically improve the overall comfort of said harness at the end of the day. Take the time to find a harness that is going to be comfortable to wear, especially if your work requires you to be on elevated surfaces a lot of the time.
Has it Been Inspected?
Even the finest-crafted items can wind up being defective from time to time. For personal fall safety items, never use something without knowing when and how it has been inspected. A harness worth its salt will have had proper maintenance and inspection applied to verify its quality.
Before using a harness of any kind, make sure that there are no clear signs of damage or wear. Check out the stitching, webbing, and hardware to make certain that they are free from excessive wear, damage, breakage, burns, or cuts. Taking the extra steps can help prevent you from being in a compromising position. There are plenty of other factors to consider when choosing personal fall protection equipment, but this is a good place to start.