Safety Harness - Working at Heights Safely
Solutions for Safety at Heights
Consult AS/NZS 1891.4 – HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS, these are;
• IDENTIFY all potential fall hazards.
• ELIMINATE the need to access the potential hazard area.
• SUBSTITUTION of the potential hazard area, e.g. walkways.
• ISOLATION, by enclosing or barricading the hazard area.
• FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT shall be provided which prevents a fall,
or reduces the risk of an injury as a result of a fall.
Note: The order of control should be from top to bottom.
Choosing Suitable Fall Protection
1) Safety Harness
What Do I Want?
Comfort. You want the perfect fit. To ensure a perfect fit, harnesses are available in different sizes. A standard size will fit most workers. See sizing selection chart to determine the best size for you.
Ease of Use. You want a harness that is easy for you to get into and adjust. Harnesses are available in primarily two styles:
• Parachute style (vest style). A Vest type harness is put on like a jacket.
• Crossover (cross-chest). A crossover harness is put on over the head, similar to putting on a jumper.
The choice on style is a matter of personal preference.There are also different types of leg and shoulder strap connections available on a harness:
• Qwik-Fit (traditional mating buckle) or
• Klik Connect (auto lock double action unlock) Both styles offer fast and easy connection and adjustment.
The choice of leg strap connections is a matter of personal preference.
You also have a choice of D-Ring configurations on a harness: Rear D-rings, Side D-rings, or chest D-rings (or web loops).
D-ring usage is as follows:
• Chest D-ring (or web loops). Under the new AS/NZS 1891.1:2007 standard.
This chest frontal attach point is the preferred point of attachment for all fall
arrest applications.
• Rear D-Ring. This is also an approved attachment point for fall arrest. It can
also be used as a rescue attachment.
• Side D-rings. Used for work positioning activities to allow the worker to have
their hands free to perform work, using pole strap.
2) Lanyard
How do I know which to choose?
There are two primary types of lanyards:
• Shock-absorbing lanyards used when the free fall distance (fall hazard) can exceed 600mm
• Restraint or positioning lanyards used only when free fall distance (fall hazard) can be limited to 600mm or less (note: a shock absorber must still be used in the lanyard) In choosing the correct lanyard, you must keep the application in mind.
• Make certain the lanyard is the proper length to allow the necessary worker movement/positioning.
• Make certain that the right material type is chosen (depending on your work environment).
– Cable works best in high heat environments or around sharp edges.
– Rope or Webbing works best in most other applications.
• Make certain you have calculated your total fall distance. See diagram below for more information.
You also need to consider the compatibility of the system components. Components produced by different manufacturers may not be interchangeable. The best way to ensure compatibility is to purchase all components from the same manufacturer.
Note: If a lanyard assembly is not suitable then use of a self retracting lifeline (SRL) device is recommended.
3) Anchorage
How do I know which to choose?
Anchorage selection is driven primarily by application. You will need to carefully consider your work environment , in particular the type of structure where the connector will be attached.
Examples include:
• Roof
• Scaffold
• Steel Beam
• Concrete Column
• Rail
Weight should also be a consideration if a worker will need to carry the connector around during the work day.
You will also need to consider the number of workers required to attach to the anchorage. Most MSA connectors are rated for two person use with a 22.2kN minimum breaking strength. Anchorages are required, under AS/NZS 1891.4, to have a minimum breaking strength of 15kN for 1 person attached. An anchorage rated to greater than 21kN is suitable for use by no more than 2 people.
Information supplied by MSA Australia. For more Safety Harness, Lanyards and Anchorgae information download the full document.
Seton Australia stock a full range of MSA Fall protection harnesses, laynyards and anchorage.
