WAH/General/TBT-WAH-010

Harness and Lanyard Use

Working at Height › General › Harness and Lanyard Use

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A full-body harness distributes fall arrest forces across the shoulders, chest, and thighs to reduce injury during a fall.
Lanyards connect the harness to the anchor point and must include a shock absorber to limit deceleration forces on the body.
Twin-tail lanyards allow continuous attachment when moving between anchor points — one tail is always clipped before the other is released.
The harness must be adjusted to fit snugly — loose straps allow the body to shift position during arrest, increasing injury risk.
The dorsal (back) attachment point is used for fall arrest; the sternal (chest) point is used for restraint and rescue attachment.
The total fall distance including lanyard length, shock absorber deployment, and harness stretch must be less than the clearance below.
Harnesses must be inspected by the user before every shift and formally examined by a competent person every six months.
A harness that has arrested a fall must be immediately withdrawn from service — the shock absorber is single-use only.
Correct donning sequence starts with leg straps, then waist belt, shoulder straps, and finally chest strap adjustments.
Storage must keep harnesses away from heat, chemicals, UV light, and sharp edges that degrade the webbing material.

Force distribution	Without a harness, a lanyard attached to a waist belt concentrates arrest forces on the spine, causing fatal internal injuries.
Clearance calculation	If the fall distance exceeds the clearance below the anchor, the arrested fall ends with impact on the ground or a lower level.
Single-use absorber	A deployed shock absorber has absorbed its energy capacity — reusing it in a second fall provides no deceleration protection.

Don't

Adjust your harness to fit snugly over your clothing before leaving the ground.
Use the dorsal attachment point for fall arrest and the sternal point for restraint.
Use twin-tail lanyards to maintain continuous connection when moving between anchors.
Calculate the total fall distance and confirm it is less than the clearance below.
Inspect your harness and lanyard before every shift for damage and wear.
Arrange six-monthly formal examination of all harnesses by a competent person.
Withdraw any harness that has arrested a fall — the shock absorber is spent.
Follow the correct donning sequence: legs, waist, shoulders, then chest strap.
Store harnesses in a dry, cool location away from chemicals, UV, and sharp edges.
Clip on to a rated anchor point before reaching any exposed position at height.

DON'T wear a loose harness — it shifts during arrest, causing strap injuries.
DON'T use the wrong attachment point — dorsal for arrest, sternal for restraint.
DON'T unclip both tails of a twin lanyard simultaneously when changing anchors.
DON'T use fall arrest where clearance below is insufficient for the total fall distance.
DON'T use a harness you have not inspected that shift for damage and correct function.
DON'T use harnesses overdue for their six-monthly formal competent examination.
DON'T reuse a harness or shock absorber that has already arrested a fall.
DON'T skip any step in the donning sequence — each adjustment affects performance.
DON'T store harnesses in direct sunlight or near chemicals that degrade webbing.
DON'T walk to the edge before clipping on — attach at the safe zone first.

See also: Fall Arrest vs Fall Restraint Systems | Falls From Height Awareness

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