Before doing any work at heights, you should make sure you have the proper safety harness. Safety harnesses covered with a waterproof protective material that prevents direct contact of substances with the fittings or polyester—thus protecting it from corrosion damage, representing a safety risk. These harnesses should be cleaned and checked after each job to rule out that the protective material has been damaged, allowing dirt to come into contact with the body.

Uses of a Safety harness

Classically the Safety harness is a fundamental piece that is present in almost all activities related to height. Experienced vertical and size workers, alpinists, and cavers know that prolonged suspension of a harness has no consequences other than the discomfort caused by the harness straps pressure on the contact points. The mobilization and the changes in the position make this activity possible without complications.

A safety harness with reflective material allows high visibility even in the night or foggy conditions. For this reason, they are especially suitable for work on public roads, such as maintenance of lights and traffic lights on streets and highways.

When a safety harness of any type is used, it can be suspended from it due to an accident and become immobile. This implies a risk for the suspended person that must be neutralized as soon as possible. In a matter of minutes, this person can lose your life. The fall of a worker secured to a rope using a harness, and his subsequent arrest is not necessarily the most dangerous part of the accident.

Consequences of not wearing a safety harness

After the fall comes to the suspension phase, this phase can become quickly and potentially dangerous and even fatal. Mostly if the victim becomes unconscious or unable to move, it may even be the case of death if the person falls. The victim is lowered consciously, and correct resuscitation maneuvers are not performed. 

This situation causes an accumulation of blood in the legs due to a failure in the venous return, since the harness straps act as a tourniquet, totally or partially preventing the blood passage. It can lead to less blood reaching the heart, which results in a loss of blood flow to other organs. The harness straps pressure will act as tourniquets, and the arms and legs will accumulate toxins from cell death and lack of oxygen.

If someone places you in a horizontal position during a rescue attempt, the blood without oxygen can flow to the rest of the body. This may cause damage to vital organs, brain, kidneys. In addition, this may, unfortunately, even the heart to stop beating.

What is harness syndrome? 

The most obvious risk that a worker runs during his work at height is falling to a different level. However, there is another risk, much less known, with potentially lethal consequences: harness syndrome. It is unknown among workers working at heights and one of the factors to consider when using a safety harness.