Klein Tools Harnesses - Manual (Page 3)

Personal Fall-Arrest System
(continued)
The shaded area in Figure 3 shows the impact-force
distribution for a typical full-body fall-arrest harness.
OSHA requires that impact force in a fall NOT
exceed an 1,800 lbs. (8kN) limit with a harness. At a
given weight, the longer the free fall, the greater the
resulting impact force. To stay under the 1,800 lbs.
(8kN) limit, minimize slack in the fall-arrest connect-
ing device or use a deceleration unit.
Remember, a personal fall-arrest system only
becomes active in a fall. If equipment is required to
help hold or place a worker in position, a separate
suspension or positioning system must be used in
addition to the fall-arrest system. A personal fall-
arrest system is designed only to aid a worker once
a fall occurs, and must be used whenever there is
danger of falling. When a worker may be in danger
of being killed or injured in a fall, equipment specifi-
cally designed for fall arrest must also be used.
Personal Positioning System
A personal positioning system is required if a
worker must be held in place while his hands are
free to work. OSHA defines a positioning system as
“a body belt or harness system rigged to allow an
employee to be supported on an elevated vertical
surface, such as a wall, and work with both hands
free.” If there is risk of a worker falling from an ele-
vated position, (generally, six feet or more), person-
al fall-arrest protection must also be used.
The ironworker in Figure 4 is using both a personal
positioning system and a personal fall-arrest system.
Each system has its own A-B-C components.
Since the worker’s job requires that both hands be
free, he is using a personal positioning system. The
(A) component is the vertical support beam that
serves as a positioning anchorage. Positioning
anchorages must be capable of supporting at least
twice the potential impact load of the worker’s fall or
3,000 lbs., whichever is greater. The (B) component
is the worker’s full-body harness, which is equipped
with a D-ring at each side for attaching a positioning
connecting device.
The (C) component is the positioning lanyard which
has a locking snap hook at each end. Rig positioning
connecting devices so that a worker cannot free fall
more than 2 feet.
Since the worker is at risk of falling, he is also using
a personal fall-arrest system. The (A) component is
the horizontal beam which serves as a fall-arrest
anchorage. Fall-arrest anchorages must be capable
of supporting at least 5,000 lbs. and must be inde-
pendent of the worker’s support. The (B) component
is the worker’s full-body harness which is equipped
with a D-ring at the back for attaching a fall-arrest
connecting device. The (C) component is the fall-
arrest lanyard equipped with a locking snap hook at
each end.
In some cases, fall-arrest protection is not possible
when using a personal positioning system. For
example, a worker building highway pillars or similar
structures may have no overhead anchorages avail-
able. In these situations, alternative fall-arrest pro-
tection devices such as safety nets must be used.
A positioning system is an active system and is in
use whenever the worker leans back. The positioning
body wear provides solid midriff support, leaving the
worker’s hands free to get the job done.
Remember, a positioning system is only designed to
help hold a worker in place while leaving his hands
free to work. When used with a fixed anchorage, this
system can help prevent a fall. However, positioning
equipment is never a replacement for fall-arrest pro-
tection. A positioning system must be used only for
the positioning assistance for which it was designed.
Do not rely upon a positioning system to provide fall
arrest or any other kind of protection.
Figure 3
Figure 4
(A) Vertical Support
(Positioning)
(C) Web Lanyard
(Positioning)
(A) Beam
(Fall-Arrest)
(B) Full-Body Harness
with Positioning Belt
(Fall Arrest and
Positioning)
(C) Rope Lanyard
Attached to
Choker Hitch
(Fall Arrest)
How OPE Systems Are Used
(continued)
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