Tag Archive for: Working at Height Safety

Fall Arrest Harnesses – Features and Functions

When it comes to working at heights or in environments with fall hazards, ensuring the safety of workers is paramount. Fall arrest harnesses are essential tools designed specifically for this purpose. These harnesses are a crucial component of a fall protection system, providing support and protection in the event of a fall. In this blog post, we will explore the features and functions of fall arrest harnesses to better understand their importance in keeping workers safe.

What is a Fall Arrest Harness?

A fall arrest harness is a piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) used to secure a worker who is working at heights or in potentially dangerous environments. It consists of straps, buckles, and attachment points that distribute the forces of a fall across the body, reducing the risk of injury. Fall arrest harnesses are typically made from strong and durable materials such as nylon or polyester webbing to ensure reliability and longevity.

Key Features of Fall Arrest Harnesses

Shoulder and Leg Straps

All of our fall arrest harnesses consist of adjustable shoulder and leg straps that allow for a customized and comfortable fit. These straps are usually padded to enhance wearer comfort during extended periods of use. Proper fit and adjustment are essential to ensure that the harness distributes the impact forces of a fall effectively and reduces the risk of injury.
Chest and Back Connection Points

Fall arrest harnesses feature attachment points on the chest and back for connecting to a fall arrest system. These connection points are typically D-rings made of strong metal alloys, that can withstand the forces generated during a fall. The location and number of connection points vary depending on the specific harness model, but they are strategically positioned to optimize safety and balance.

Lanyard and Energy Absorber

A lanyard or lifeline, often included with fall arrest harnesses, connects the D-ring on the harness to an anchor point or lifeline system. The lanyard may include an energy absorber, which is designed to absorb and dissipate the forces generated during a fall. This reduces the impact on the body, minimizing the risk of injury. Energy-absorbing lanyards are an important feature of fall arrest harnesses, as they provide a crucial level of protection to the wearer.

Functions of Fall Arrest Harnesses

Support and Balance

Fall arrest harnesses provide key support and balance for workers operating at heights. By distributing the forces generated during a fall across the body, these harnesses minimize the risk of injury. The straps and attachment points of the harness work together to keep the wearer secure and prevent excessive movement that could lead to loss of balance or control.

Fall Arrest Capability

The primary function of a fall arrest harness is to arrest a fall and prevent the worker from free-falling or hitting the ground or other objects. When properly connected to a fall arrest system, the harness absorbs the forces generated during a fall and ensures the deceleration and protection of the wearer. Without a fall arrest harness, the consequences of a fall from heights can be catastrophic.

Confidence and Psychological Support

Knowing that they are securely fastened to a fall arrest harness can provide workers with greater confidence and peace of mind while working at heights or in hazardous environments. The presence of a properly fitted and functioning fall arrest harness can help reduce anxiety and allow workers to focus on their tasks, increasing overall productivity and safety.
Fall arrest harnesses are critical tools for protecting workers operating at heights or in hazardous environments. Their adjustable straps, chest and back connection points, energy absorbers, and quick-connect buckles are essential features that provide support, balance, and fall arrest capabilities. By wearing a fall arrest harness and following safety protocols, workers can significantly reduce the risk of injury and work confidently and safely in elevated work areas.

Are professionals on your team working at height? Ensure their safety with top-tier protection and contact us today for a bespoke quote.

Choosing the Right Fall Arrest System – A Comprehensive Guide

An effective fall arrest system protects your team and fulfills legal obligations for health and safety. However, there are so many different brands and options out there that picking the right fall arrest system can seem like a big task. When it comes to ensuring that you have the right equipment and systems in place to prevent falls from height, this is what you need to think about.

Before you look at equipment…

There are three key steps that need to be completed before you start looking at a fall arrest system. These are:

  1. Look to prevent a fall, by changing equipment so that the need to work at height is removed or reduced.
  2. If that can’t be done, then permanent installations will need to be created to access the work area in question, such as ladders, walkways and platforms.
  3. The last step is to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as an effective fall arrest system that can deliver to high standards.

Choosing the right fall arrest system

The aim of a fall arrest system is that the person using it comes to a complete stop if they fall. There are three main components in any effective fall arrest system: an anchor point, a harness, and a connector.

Anchor point

This needs to be robust enough to arrest someone who is falling and is reliant, to a certain extent, on the host structure it is attached to (e.g., a building). When you’re looking at your anchor point, you’ll need to start by checking that the static resistance is >12kN. The height of the installation of the anchor point is going to be key – preferably it will be above the head and allow for a drop of two lanyard lengths. Look at the length of the connection in relation to the ground and remember that there could be a pendulum effect when someone falls.

Full body harness

This is a mandatory requirement and a key part of a fall arrest system. A harness is made up of straps, loops, and components that allow it to be effectively fitted to the body of the person using it. It should provide support during a fall and distribute fall arrest forces as evenly as possible. The right harness will depend on factors such as the job, the environment, and the needs of the wearer.

Lanyards & Connectors

There are several different options for a fall arrest connection system. These include an energy-absorbing lanyard, a retractable type of fall arrester, and mobile fall arrestors on vertical anchor lines. See our height safety range for more product ideas.

Is a fall arrest system the right option?

It’s also important to consider the other choices you have when looking at preventing falls. This includes the option of a fall restraint system that will restrict someone’s movements so that they don’t end up in areas where there is a risk of a fall.

Choosing the right fall arrest system will make all the difference as to whether safety standards can be maintained, and your team effectively protected.

At Trans-Web, our height safety equipment can be tailored specifically to your needs. Find out more by contacting us.

The Importance of Safety Harnesses – Ensuring Worker Safety at Heights

Safety harnesses are designed to prevent operators from falling while working at height. When a professional is wearing a safety harness, this significantly reduces the risk of injury from a potential fall. There are lots of different safety harnesses on the market today, each with different straps and restraints, and these are tailored to whatever environment someone is working in. If a job involves tasks at height, then safety harnesses need to be part of the process.

When are safety harnesses necessary?

There are two main situations where safety harnesses are essential: when a role involves working at height, and when there is a risk of a fall. If someone is working at height, then safety harnesses are usually used in conjunction with fall arrest or restraint lanyards. These will either catch someone when they fall or ensure that someone working at height isn’t able to move into an area of risk. If the harness is being used because there is a risk of falling, then this can be a requirement even where that risk is small, and the height is low. We must remember that even the smallest falls can result in broken bones and other serious injuries.

What are the legal requirements for safety harnesses?

Every workplace is different and it’s important to recognise that this will mean different standards need to be met. However, it is generally accepted that there must always be protection where there is an unprotected edge with a fall of 6ft or more. This is a rule that has variations attached to it; In particular for scaffolders and steelworkers this rule may vary. The Health and Safety Executive provides the guidelines on what the legal requirements are when it comes to safety harnesses – and how these apply to all the different industries.

How do safety harnesses ensure worker safety at heights?

Because even the smallest fall from a relatively low height can still do damage it’s vital to have the right protection in place. An unsafe workplace is not acceptable in 2023, and it’s the responsibility of the employer to ensure that the right precautions are being taken. Safety harnesses use a system of straps and restraints to provide specific protection for those whose work regularly takes them off the ground. Whether that is arrest – i.e., a safety harness that stops someone from falling – or restraint, which means a harness that prevents them from entering the danger zone, the right kind of equipment is a vital part of ensuring worker safety at heights. In fact, a workplace where height is a factor simply isn’t going to be safe without safety harnesses as part of the kit. Safety harnesses should always be selected based on the industry they are going to be used in and the specific role that they are designed to support – remember to properly assess the risks that are attached to that role.

Safety harnesses are vital when it comes to ensuring worker safety at heights and protecting the workforce.

At Trans-Web, we have been manufacturing height safety equipment for over 35 years. To request a bespoke package for your project, contact us today!