HOW TO INSPECT AND USE A SAFETY HARNESS

A lot of jobs that we do on a daily basis are filled with risk. Some jobs are more risky than the other. Take for instance, the electrician who deals with electric current all day long, a little mistake on their own end, their life is gone. A man who works in a construction industry must work at height, and at every moment, he is at risk of falling. Most of these jobs comes with high renumerations due to the level of risk that is involved, but for someone who wishes to make a living from such kinds of work, he must be a professional and understand how to use all the safety tools that is needed to properly and safely execute their task.

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In this particular post, we will be addressing the Construction Industry, in which working on heights it a prerequisite for their job, and they can protect them self from the risk of falling with the aid of the Safety Harness Belt.

In 2014, it was estimated that the number of persons in the construction industry who lost their lives as a result of a work related fall was more than 359. When examined it was realized that they did not make use of safety harness tools (or personal fall arrest systems) such as connectors, lanyards, harnesses.

Although these fall arrest systems are not infallible systems, but they are better than when someone who works at a height has no fall protection at all. This is why it's important to ensure that you are putting on a safety harness. Also, it's important to make sure that it is not faulty, and that it's properly strapped or harnessed, as not using it properly it's the same as not using it at all.

HOW TO INSPECT A SAFETY HARNESS BEFORE USE

Below are some steps to take when inspecting a safety harness.

1. Firstly, pick up the safety harness by its D-ring in the back.

2. Gradually, while still holding unto the D-ring, shake the harness so that force the straps into their right position.

3. Check the buckles to see if they are unfastened.

4. Gradually look through the harness to check if they are frayed, worn, cracked webbed, frayed, having a foreign material on it, or damaged in any way.

5. Check the D-ring and metal strap fasteners to check if they are deformed, or cracked in any way.

6. Ensure that the buckle tongues are strongly attached and they are not bent to any side.

7. If your safety harness is equipped with grommets, check if they are firmly attached. Also check if they are deformed or damaged.

HOW TO PUT ON A FALL ARREST HARNESS

After you have checked your safety harness and considered it okay, follow these steps to put them on correctly.

1. Ensure that the D-ring is positioned such that it is at the middle of your back, and also exactly between the blades of your shoulder.

2. Then, pull the leg strap on each leg up, and the fasten your buckles together.

3. After that, stand up straight, and carefully re-adjust the length of the body straps (by the side). Your sim is to ensure that it doesn't have a slack.

4. Fasten your chest strap securely at about mid-chest high, then gradually adjust it to remove any slack.
   

   
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5. Move your body a little to see how tight the leg straps and the shoulder straps are on you. They should be snuggly enough but should be able to allow you move about.

6. If their is any slack on the buckle, gradually remove it by tightening it.

7. Tuck in the lose ends of your straps into the strap retainers.

8. You can check if you have fit in the straps properly, by trying to fit in your flat held fingers underneath your leg straps.

Thank You.

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