Harness Safety - a little dated but a good read.

I thought this was particularly interesting since most tree climbers use a ventral attachment point on their harnesses. Read the article and see if you catch what I mean. I'll give you a hint, it has to do with self rescue after a fall.

http://www.elcosh.org/docs/d0500/d000568/d000568.html

I have read one of those articles about Suspension Harness Syndrome. It has to do with loosing circulation to your legs and the potential for a mayor problem. Thanks for bringing it back again.

Baker wrote:
I thought this was particularly interesting...

I remember when you posted this earlier. I think it is interesting when people suggest that a double or triple bowline can be used as a temporary/rescue harness.

Davej wrote:

I remember when you posted this earlier.

Did I? Sorry. Good reference though.

Baker wrote:
Did I? Sorry. Good reference though.

Yes, back when CulinaryTracker came onboard with his homemade strap harness. It is exactly the sort of info that ought to be repeated here periodically, since these absurd ideas about using raw rope saddles are floating around.

Suspension trauma is something that every climber should be aware of. There are many different post-fall care recommendations. They all basically agree that returning the climber to a horizontal position needs to take time. Release the leg straps slowly to allow the kidneys and liver to filter out the bad chemicals in the blood.

Tree climbers use work positioning harnesses not fall arrest harnesses. The effect of a fall is different with both. IN rope access the usual setup is to have a rope with a friction device on a lanyard attached to the climber's harness. In a fall there will be a whip. The effect of a fall on tree climbers will be different. Even if a climber is using a chest ascender the fall will be different unless there is a lot of slack in the access rope. It's very rare to see slack in an SRT access line.

Tom Dunlap wrote:
Tree climbers use work positioning harnesses not fall arrest harnesses. The effect of a fall is different with both.

Ok, correct me if I'm wrong but I'm thinking that suspension trauma has very little to do with the fall and everything to do with being held essentially upright with restricted blood-flow to the legs. The actual shock force of a fall would be more damaging to a person in a work harness but the risk of suspension trauma would be much less. Right?

The effects of a fall and suspension trauma are two different issues.

There is good reason to have fall arrest harnesses in certain work situations. While tree climbing we use overhead support and keep tension on our ropes. It's rare that there is slack in the system.

After the fall most harnesses will leave the climber a bit more horizontal than vertical. Using work positioning harnesses will almost guarantee much more horizontal position.

Either way, the blood pools in the extremities. Even with a well supported harness and in an upright position, without muscle movement the blood will pool. The blood very quickly becomes toxic. Having the climber move their limbs if possible is a key way to reduce suspension trauma.

Trying to figure out survivability from a fall or suspension trauma in either harness would be difficult. There are so many variables. I guess...the best way to reduce suspension trauma would be to have a batten seat that doesn't restrict the hips or groin and supports the climber in a sitting position naturally. That sort of harness doesn't translate to being a very comfortable harness to climb in. Over the years I've tried harnesses like that. If I was doing a LOT of cabling or crane rigging I would consider having a specialized harness like that...but not primarily for suspension trauma survivability.

Tom Dunlap wrote:
I guess...the best way to reduce suspension trauma would be to have a batten seat that doesn't restrict the hips or groin and supports the climber in a sitting position naturally. That sort of harness doesn't translate to being a very comfortable harness to climb in. Over the years I've tried harnesses like that...

I have wondered if any saddles offer an on-the-fly scheme for adjusting the angle of the sitting position?

The purpose of a full-body fall arrest harness is to do just that, arrest the fall. After that, the victim MUST be rescued/evacuated as soon as possible, as these harnesses are not designed to be hung in for ANY extended period of time.

Q: Who falls in their harnesses more than anyone else?
A: Rock climbers.

Q: On what part of their harnesses are they attached to their TIP?
A: The ventral ring/belt.


Why? Because it's MUCH, MUCH easier to self rescue from this point than from a dorsal attachment point. Many fall arrest harness deaths have been documented. Not because the victims were hurt badly in the fall, but because the victim could not self-rescue and hung in the harness much too long.

One of the main reasons full body fall arrest harnesses are required by govt. standards, is that it IS possible to fall out of a seat-only type harness if the victim falls head-first. Usually this is because the wearer has the harness belt too loose. Keeping the victim vertical does provide protection from being bent in half during a fall too, but, think about the \"snap\" one would experience if caught by a dorsal attachment during a head first fall. Injury will occur. Risk of the attachment line, cord, or strap becoming wrapped around the victims neck also exists.

As a vertical rescue technician, the only way I would EVER allow myself to be attached to the dorsal ring or shoulders of my full-body rescue harness would be if (an only if) there were other equally qualified technicians on scene that could affect a rapid rescue if I were to need help. Even highly trained people have difficulty self-rescuing from a dorsal attachment point. We have removed dead hunters from tree safety harnesses for exactly this reason.

\"FULL-BODY FALL ARREST HARNESSES, WITH A DORSAL ATTACHMENT POINT, SHOULD NEVER BE UTILIZED WHEN THE WEARER IS ACTING ALONE OR IN THE COMPANY OF THOSE NOT TRAINED IN VERTICAL RESCUE.\"
This comes directly from the manufacturer of my fall protection harness.

Baker wrote:
Many fall arrest harness deaths have been documented. Not because the victims were hurt badly in the fall, but because the victim could not self-rescue and hung in the harness much too long.

Seems to me that the dorsal attachment is intended to minimize head injury by minimizing the pivot point for head swing and keeping the safety line away from the face.

Baker wrote:
We have removed dead hunters from tree safety harnesses for exactly this reason.

Yikes. Has this really been a recurring part of your professional experience?

Twice. But I won't be upset if I never have to do it again.

Actually, one COD was listed as cardiac related. The other was asphyxiation - After the results were released, we learned that that was the term this particular coroner used to describe hanging trauma.

Here's LOTS more to read:

CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training

Falls kill more than 300 construction workers every year and hurt thousands. Deadly falls on the job are from unprotected roof edges, roof and floor openings, scaffolds, ladders, structural steel, leading edges, open shafts, and more.

Protect Yourself

Whenever fall protection is needed, make sure you have the right fall-protection system, know how it works, get trained to use it - and use it.

Where eliminating the hazard, guardrails, or safety nets won't work, you need personal protective equipment (PPE) - fall-restraint systems, personal fall-arrest systems, or work positioning systems (on rebar). Restraint systems keep you from falling. Fall-arrest systems stop falls. You will need a full-body harness if you use one of these systems.

A full-body harness has straps worn around your trunk and thighs, with one or more D-rings in back to attach the harness to other parts of the system. If you fall, a properly fitted harness spreads the stopping force over your thighs, pelvis, chest, and shoulders.

Choosing a Harness

* Learn about the types of fall hazards on your job.
* Choose the right type of fall protection for each type of fall hazard. Never use a body belt, seat-only harness, or chest-only harness for fall protection. Use a full-body harness instead.
* You can use a harness with an anchorage, a lanyard, a retractable lifeline, a vertical lifeline, a travel rail, a horizontal lifeline, a fall arrester, and/or a shock absorber. A fall-arrest system should let you fall no more than 6 feet. A work-positioning device should let you fall 2 feet or less.
* A registered professional engineer should design a fall protection system. A qualified person must supervise the setting up.**
* Make sure the harness fits you and is comfortable, to prevent body strain. You can get shoulder and back pads to reduce harness pressure. Full-body cross-chest harnesses are more comfortable for women and can reduce bruising when falls are stopped.

Training

* The employer must fit and train each worker for the equipment to be used.
* A competent person must train workers at risk of falling about types of fall hazards, how to protect yourself, and other hazards and limitations in using fall protection.** Training must cover all that can happen, like hanging in a harness and rescue. The trainer should tell workers about medical conditions that can be made worse by a fall in a harness.
* If the worksite changes or the type of fall protection equipment is changed, workers using the equipment must be retrained.

Using a Harness

Follow manufacturers' instructions for wearing harnesses. Your employer must keep these instructions so you can see them when you ask. For most full-body harnesses, every time you use one, do this:

* Carefully look over the harness.
* Hold the harness by the back D-ring and shake it so all straps fall in place.
* Slip the straps over your shoulders so the D-ring is in the middle of your back.
* Connect the chest and/or waist straps. These straps should fit snugly.
* Reach between your legs and connect one long strap to the buckle or closure on your thigh. Repeat with the second strap.
* After you connect both straps, pull them tight. The harness should be snug but let you move freely.
* Connect the harness to the right fall-protection system.
* Make sure your anchor point is approved for the way you will use it. If you are not sure, check with the competent person for the job.
* Never use gear that has already been in a fall, unless it has been recertified by the manufacturer.

Rescue

Workers who fall in a harness may not be able to rescue themselves. So set up a rescue plan for each possible fall situation. Make sure ladder trucks will be able to reach hanging workers. Or plan ahead for other ways to rescue them. Be sure medical and rescue teams will get there fast, if needed. This is because hanging in a harness for more than a half-hour can be fatal. And a worker who falls may have other injuries.

Inspections

* Inspect your equipment before each use. A competent person should inspect it at least once each year.
* Follow all manufacturer instructions about inspecting, caring for, and storing the equipment.
* After inspecting your equipment as the manufacturer says, inspect it for:
o Missing or unreadable markings or warnings
o Missing parts
o Damage to metal parts – any changes, cracks, sharp edges, distortion, corrosion, chemical damage, too much heating, or too much wear
o Defects in or damage to any straps and ropes – any changes, fraying, unsplicing, unlaying, kinking, knotting, roping, broken or pulled stitches, abrasion, excessive oiling, or sections that are too old, too worn, or too dirty
o Missing parts or signs of defects in or damage to – or improper working of – mechanical parts and connectors.
* If equipment looks as if it needs repair - or it is time for maintenance - tag it, \"Do not use,\" and remove it from service.

Maintenance and Storage

To help keep you safe, fall-protection equipment must be stored the right way.

* The employer should maintain and store the equipment, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
* Store equipment away from heat, light, dampness, oil, chemicals, or other damaging conditions.
* Hang each harness by the back D-ring to help keep the shape when not in use.
* Take special questions, which may arise because of job conditions, to the employer.

For more information, call your local union, CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) (301-578-8500 or www.cpwr.com ), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1-800-35-NIOSH or www.cdc.gov/niosh), or OSHA (1-800-321-OSHA or www.osha.gov). Or check the website www.elcosh.org
**OSHA says a qualified person...by extensive knowledge, training, and experience can...solve...problems related to the subject matter.... A competent person is...capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards...and has authorization to take prompt measures to eliminate them.



This paper appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the author and/or copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their consent. eLCOSH is an information clearinghouse. eLCOSH and its sponsors are not responsible for the accuracy of information provided on this web site, nor for its use or misuse.

© 2004, CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training. All rights reserved. CPWR is the research, development, and training arm of the Building and Construction Trades Dept., AFL-CIO: CPWR, Suite 1000, 8484 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. (Edward C. Sullivan is president of the Building and Construction Trades Dept. and of CPWR and Joseph Maloney is secretary-treasurer.) Production of this card was supported by grant 1 U54 OH008307 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and grants U45-ES09764 and U45-ES06185 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH or NIEHS. 11/2/04

Here's LOTS more to read:

CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training

Falls kill more than 300 construction workers every year and hurt thousands. Deadly falls on the job are from unprotected roof edges, roof and floor openings, scaffolds, ladders, structural steel, leading edges, open shafts, and more.

Protect Yourself

Whenever fall protection is needed, make sure you have the right fall-protection system, know how it works, get trained to use it - and use it.

Where eliminating the hazard, guardrails, or safety nets won't work, you need personal protective equipment (PPE) - fall-restraint systems, personal fall-arrest systems, or work positioning systems (on rebar). Restraint systems keep you from falling. Fall-arrest systems stop falls. You will need a full-body harness if you use one of these systems.

A full-body harness has straps worn around your trunk and thighs, with one or more D-rings in back to attach the harness to other parts of the system. If you fall, a properly fitted harness spreads the stopping force over your thighs, pelvis, chest, and shoulders.

Choosing a Harness

* Learn about the types of fall hazards on your job.
* Choose the right type of fall protection for each type of fall hazard. Never use a body belt, seat-only harness, or chest-only harness for fall protection. Use a full-body harness instead.
* You can use a harness with an anchorage, a lanyard, a retractable lifeline, a vertical lifeline, a travel rail, a horizontal lifeline, a fall arrester, and/or a shock absorber. A fall-arrest system should let you fall no more than 6 feet. A work-positioning device should let you fall 2 feet or less.
* A registered professional engineer should design a fall protection system. A qualified person must supervise the setting up.**
* Make sure the harness fits you and is comfortable, to prevent body strain. You can get shoulder and back pads to reduce harness pressure. Full-body cross-chest harnesses are more comfortable for women and can reduce bruising when falls are stopped.

Training

* The employer must fit and train each worker for the equipment to be used.
* A competent person must train workers at risk of falling about types of fall hazards, how to protect yourself, and other hazards and limitations in using fall protection.** Training must cover all that can happen, like hanging in a harness and rescue. The trainer should tell workers about medical conditions that can be made worse by a fall in a harness.
* If the worksite changes or the type of fall protection equipment is changed, workers using the equipment must be retrained.

Using a Harness

Follow manufacturers' instructions for wearing harnesses. Your employer must keep these instructions so you can see them when you ask. For most full-body harnesses, every time you use one, do this:

* Carefully look over the harness.
* Hold the harness by the back D-ring and shake it so all straps fall in place.
* Slip the straps over your shoulders so the D-ring is in the middle of your back.
* Connect the chest and/or waist straps. These straps should fit snugly.
* Reach between your legs and connect one long strap to the buckle or closure on your thigh. Repeat with the second strap.
* After you connect both straps, pull them tight. The harness should be snug but let you move freely.
* Connect the harness to the right fall-protection system.
* Make sure your anchor point is approved for the way you will use it. If you are not sure, check with the competent person for the job.
* Never use gear that has already been in a fall, unless it has been recertified by the manufacturer.

Rescue

Workers who fall in a harness may not be able to rescue themselves. So set up a rescue plan for each possible fall situation. Make sure ladder trucks will be able to reach hanging workers. Or plan ahead for other ways to rescue them. Be sure medical and rescue teams will get there fast, if needed. This is because hanging in a harness for more than a half-hour can be fatal. And a worker who falls may have other injuries.

Inspections

* Inspect your equipment before each use. A competent person should inspect it at least once each year.
* Follow all manufacturer instructions about inspecting, caring for, and storing the equipment.
* After inspecting your equipment as the manufacturer says, inspect it for:
o Missing or unreadable markings or warnings
o Missing parts
o Damage to metal parts – any changes, cracks, sharp edges, distortion, corrosion, chemical damage, too much heating, or too much wear
o Defects in or damage to any straps and ropes – any changes, fraying, unsplicing, unlaying, kinking, knotting, roping, broken or pulled stitches, abrasion, excessive oiling, or sections that are too old, too worn, or too dirty
o Missing parts or signs of defects in or damage to – or improper working of – mechanical parts and connectors.
* If equipment looks as if it needs repair - or it is time for maintenance - tag it, \"Do not use,\" and remove it from service.

Maintenance and Storage

To help keep you safe, fall-protection equipment must be stored the right way.

* The employer should maintain and store the equipment, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
* Store equipment away from heat, light, dampness, oil, chemicals, or other damaging conditions.
* Hang each harness by the back D-ring to help keep the shape when not in use.
* Take special questions, which may arise because of job conditions, to the employer.

For more information, call your local union, CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) (301-578-8500 or www.cpwr.com ), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1-800-35-NIOSH or www.cdc.gov/niosh), or OSHA (1-800-321-OSHA or www.osha.gov). Or check the website www.elcosh.org
**OSHA says a qualified person...by extensive knowledge, training, and experience can...solve...problems related to the subject matter.... A competent person is...capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards...and has authorization to take prompt measures to eliminate them.



This paper appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the author and/or copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their consent. eLCOSH is an information clearinghouse. eLCOSH and its sponsors are not responsible for the accuracy of information provided on this web site, nor for its use or misuse.

© 2004, CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training. All rights reserved. CPWR is the research, development, and training arm of the Building and Construction Trades Dept., AFL-CIO: CPWR, Suite 1000, 8484 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. (Edward C. Sullivan is president of the Building and Construction Trades Dept. and of CPWR and Joseph Maloney is secretary-treasurer.) Production of this card was supported by grant 1 U54 OH008307 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and grants U45-ES09764 and U45-ES06185 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH or NIEHS. 11/2/04

Baker wrote:
Twice. But I won't be upset if I never have to do it again.

Must be pretty bad. How many people are usually involved in a recovery like that?