13 Jan 2022
SAFETY HARNESSES: WHERE YOU CAN EXPECT TO USE THEM
It is likely that you have seen, heard, or used safety harnesses at some point in your life since they are a well-known piece of protective equipment. This life saving piece of equipment has many uses outside of the construction industry, but where else would you expect to use one?
At Lifting Equipment Store (LES), we always want to inform our website visitors and valued customers about the products we have available and how they will help solve the challenge at hand. That's why in this article we're going highlight what this are and give you a breakdown of which areas you might expect to see or use them.
If at any point in this article you're wondering what version is the right solution for your task at hand, you can contact a member of our LES team who will be happy to find the right product for you.
WHAT ARE SAFETY HARNESSES?
The short and simple answer is that its a form of protective equipment that is designed to protect a person from falling. By wearing one, the risk of the person wearing one falling is reduced along with the chances of serious injury.
The harnesses allow you to attach and anchor yourself to a stationary object, which will stop you from falling and hitting the floor if you slip when suspended.
Falling is one of the most common causes of injury in the workplace, but you do not always have to be in the workplace for this safety wear to come in handy.
You can find out more about what this item is by reading our article 'Safety Harnesses: Everything you need to know'. In this article, you will be given a more in-depth look at the different types, how to use them, the benefits using one can have to you and your team, and more.
SHOULD YOU INVEST IN ONE?
Our recommendation is that if you are above ground and there is a potential for a serious injury to occur, then yes, you should invest in one or several if it's for a number of people in your team.
Please remember that it's a great idea to wear this equipment when you are working at unsecured elevated heights and when there is a chance of serious injury if you were to fall onto hard ground.
Remember, these are only a few examples, and you can always wear one if you feel it would increase your chances of staying safe.
What we haven't done is discuss if your situation requires a safety harness or other supporting equipment.
If you would like to find out more or have any questions about these products, please contact an experienced LES team member who will be happy to help you find a suitable solution for you.
WHICH INDUSTRIES OR ACTIVITIES WOULD YOU EXPECT TO SEE THEM?
To give you an idea of where you can see this personal safety wear in action, we've put together a number of different examples below. It's important for you to acknowledge that the places mentioned below are not all the activities where you will see them being used.
CONSTRUCTION WORK
This industry is one of the most common industries for people to be wearing and using one. Construction workers assemble and disassemble structures and often put up scaffolding. Most of this work is down from above the ground, so to ensure they are safe, they will wear this gear.
POWERLINE WORK (LINEMAN)
A linesman is someone who works on the powerlines and maintains the electric power transmission. You can expect a linesman to wear this harness since they generally work at great heights. You could also expect them to use other protective gear such as gloves, bucket liners, and protective blankets. These workers have to be extremely careful that all equipment they use will keep them protected from energised lines.
WINDOW CLEANERS
Most window cleaners will wear one but there's likely some will avoid wearing them. Often window cleaners will only use ladders when reaching the second floor but for taller buildings, however, anything past this and you should be wearing one. The higher the building, the more likely workers are to wear them to decrease the chances of a potential fall or serious injury.
OPERATORS/ENGINEERS
Many crane operators will have to wear this safety gear when fixing or operating cranes. This is to decrease their chances of falling and ensure they are kept safe when working. This is especially important when working on larger cranes since the higher you are working the more likely a fall will result in death.
ROCK CLIMBING
Rock climbing is a sport where people either climb up or down a rock formation. Rock climbing is known for being a popular activity. Besides rock climbing being a fun activity, safety has to be taken seriously. Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport, and most injuries that occur are due to slipping or falling. That is why you will likely see rock climbers wearing safety harnesses.
Before this safety wear was invented climbers would attach a rope to a stable rock for support when climbing or abseiling down a cliff. As you might be able to imagine, that had dangerous risks associated with it. Luckily, due to advances in technology, climbers can now feel safe and decrease the likelihood of injury by wearing one.
BUNGEE JUMPING
You have probably seen online people jumping from great heights for fun. This is known as bungee jumping and is an extreme sport. One of the most popular places to bungee jump is Nevis Highwire in Queenstown, New Zealand, where you free fall for 134 meters. Most people wear an ankle harness, which secures the bungee to the body, and a body harness to increase security. This is to keep you secure and minimise the risk of injury.
HIGH ROPES
High ropes are another activity where you would expect to wear a safety harness or maybe an ankle harness if you want to be extra secure. High ropes are where you climb on high wooden poles, planks, or stumps whilst being suspended in the air.
