What to consider when buying a safety harness

Falls from height are one of the most common causes of severe work-related accidents. That is why they're one of OSHA's fatal four for the construction market. To keep employees safe at height, OSHA needs equipping any employee subjected to vertical drops of six feet or longer using a personal fall arrest system. But with all of the options on the current market, how do you know which safety harness is right for you?
When working at heights, your fall protection harness is the first line of defense. However, the Type of exploit you require will depend on the type of task being done, and also the surroundings where it's located.

Why is a fall harness so important?

In accordance with OSHA, employers must ensure that workplace guards are in place that will prevent employees from falling from overhead platforms, elevated work stations, or into holes in the ground and walls. Regrettably, not every organization is getting the message. Fall protection topped the list of most frequent OSHA violations for 2016.

Making sure employees have the right safety equipment is an important factor in staying compliant, but it can be difficult to know where to get started. To understand the various Sorts of harnesses, it is helpful to start by knowing the purpose of fall protection systems.
Safety Harness
Safety Harness


Fall protection overview

Employers must plan their jobs in a manner that ensures that the job could be accomplished safely. The ideal way to start is by finishing an onsite assessment with a group of security and compliance professionals. The objective of the assessment is to prevent personnel injury or death, loss, fines, legal actions, and other expensive disciplinary action associated with security. It is important to be certain the project complies with all criteria and guidelines set from OSHA, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and other regulatory associations.

The evaluation will identify the fall dangers workers face. Then, employers will need to execute fall protection measures and supply the suitable fall safety gear to those working at adequate elevation. 

Elevated locations requiring protection include:
  • Walking-working surfaces
  • Scaffolds
  • Steel erections
No matter the job, workers need to be provided with the fall protection acceptable for it. For example, workers necessary to tie off to an anchorage apparatus must be equipped with a fall harness and lanyard. The PPE should also fit the wearer correctly and be inspected frequently to Make Sure that it is in good condition.

Most importantly, employers need to train workers in hazard recognition and the best way to safely use ladders, scaffolds, and fall protection methods.

Factors to consider
When You Understand the Sort of work is being done, you will find a few other factors to consider when choosing the ideal harness:

· Durability
Employees who invest whole shifts or long intervals inside their harness ought to be issued with a harness that's durable enough to manage the surroundings where it's used. Alternately, if employees will not be utilizing a harness continuously during their normal workday, an easy harness with fundamental comfort features may be a more suitable option.

· Comfort
The highest quality safety harnesses are designed to optimize comfort and functionality. They offer more cushioning and an ergonomic fit that raises productivity and ensures a safe and comfortable fit. This restricts the potential for harm, making these an excellent investment.

· Keeping Cool
For work completed during the hot summer months or at any other environment where the temperatures may grow, start looking for a harness whose relaxation accessories are made out of breathable material. These will help keep workers cool and reduce their risk of heat-related illness.

Understanding why a safety harness is vital, the gaps involving fall protection harnesses, and also how to pick the ideal harness for your job are important security skills. Employees trained to comprehend that the PPE required for the job they do along with also the purpose of each piece of equipment are more inclined to utilize it properly and consistently. Possessing that training can help make sure they work smoothly while remaining out of harm's way.

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