Fall Arrest Harness Safety
A safety talk focused on fall arrest harness hazards, including inspection, fit, anchor points, lanyards, connectors, fall clearance, rescue planning, and removing damaged equipment from service.
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Key Hazards
- Falls from elevated work areas
- Harness failure from damaged webbing, stitching, or hardware
- Incorrect anchorage or connector use
- Improper harness fit causing injury during a fall
- Insufficient fall clearance below the worker
- Suspension trauma or delayed rescue after a fall
2–3 Minute Talk Script
A fall arrest harness can save a worker’s life, but only when the full system is selected, inspected, connected, and used correctly.
Workers should inspect the harness before each use. Webbing, stitching, D-rings, buckles, labels, grommets, keepers, and adjustment points should be checked for cuts, burns, fraying, chemical damage, deformation, or missing information.
Lanyards, self-retracting lifelines, shock absorbers, hooks, carabiners, and connectors should also be inspected. A good harness does not make up for a damaged connector or lanyard.
The harness should fit snugly and correctly. Leg straps, chest straps, shoulder straps, and dorsal D-ring position should be adjusted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Anchor points must be approved for the intended fall protection use. Workers should not clip to guardrails, pipe, conduit, equipment, ladders, or structural members unless they are confirmed as acceptable anchor points.
Fall clearance should be considered before work begins. The length of the lanyard, deceleration distance, worker height, anchor location, and lower-level hazards all affect whether the system will prevent impact.
A rescue plan must be ready before work at height begins. A worker who falls and is suspended in a harness may need prompt rescue.
Safe fall arrest harness use depends on inspection, proper fit, approved anchorage, correct connections, fall clearance awareness, and rescue planning.
Safety Reminders
- Inspect harnesses before each use.
- Inspect lanyards, lifelines, hooks, and connectors.
- Remove damaged fall protection equipment from service.
- Adjust the harness for proper fit.
- Use only approved anchor points.
- Confirm fall clearance before starting work.
- Make sure a rescue plan is ready before work begins.
Ask the Crew
- Has the harness been inspected before use?
- Are lanyards, hooks, and connectors in good condition?
- Is the harness fitted correctly?
- Is the anchor point approved for fall arrest?
- Is there enough fall clearance and a practical rescue plan?