Harness training is essential for any individuals who work at height and need to be safe while doing so. It is important to understand how to properly inspect and wear a harness. This ensures that the harness is secure and will provide the necessary protection from a fall. Training also covers the use of lanyards and other related equipment, as well as any relevant safety regulations. Knowing how to inspect and wear a harness correctly can help to save lives and prevent serious injury.
Harnesses
When you’re selecting a harness, it is important to make sure you choose one designed specifically for the proposed project. For example, if you’re carrying out electrical installations, you will need to combine fall arrest and positioning, in which case you would probably select a 5-point harness where the waist connections are used for positioning.
Harness safety is of the utmost importance when engaging in activities that involve high heights. Therefore, it is essential to make sure that the harness being used is the correct type for the activity and is fitted correctly. It should also be inspected for any signs of wear or tear prior to each use. Common features of harnesses include side, rear and frontal D–rings, lanyard connections, adjustable waist and leg straps. If these features are not included, or the harness is not worn correctly, serious injuries or even death can occur should a fall occur.
Inspect the Harness
It is vital that all harnesses must be inspected or have a third party inspect the harness every 12 months, as well as having Pre–Use Checks, periodic inspections and interim inspections conducted on them.
These must be carried out before each use and should include the following visual and tactile inspections such as:
Webbing – Check the signs of damage like bobbing/strained or badly pulled webbing, cracks, cuts and fraying, as well as loose stitching or fading which may affect the strength.
Buckles – Make sure all rivets are tight and the buckles aren’t bent, chipped or have sharp edges that could damage the rest of the harness.
D-Rings: Check for any signs of distortion, fatigue or rust and make sure the ring pivots freely.
The Straps – You must carefully check the straps and also the rope for signs of fraying or broken fibres, also check for loose stitching.
Most importantly, is the label, serial number and inspection all date? This could be missed if not checked.
How do you wear a Harness?
It is essential that you wear your harness correctly in order to avoid any potential dangers. Make sure to read and follow the instructions provided with your harness and report any damages immediately. Failure to do so could put your life at risk.
It’s better to be safe
Ensuring that a harness is safe and properly fitted is a critical component of any fall protection system. If a user falls and the harness fails, the potential for serious injury is high. To ensure optimal safety, it is imperative that users and managers are trained on properly selecting, inspecting, and using harnesses. This training should provide a complete understanding of how to ensure the equipment is suitable and secure.
