Working at height always involves the risk of slipping, losing balance, or falling from a height, especially on construction sites, scaffolding, rooftops, or steel structures. Therefore, safety harness is an essential piece of protective equipment, helping enhance worker safety while performing tasks at height. Join Thien Bang to learn more about this important safety equipment through the information below.
What is a safety harness?
A safety harness is a system of straps or webbing designed to secure the user’s body in a safe position, helping reduce the risk of falls, impacts, or injuries in hazardous situations. In the event of an accident or fall, the harness helps distribute the impact force across stronger load-bearing areas of the body, such as the pelvis and thighs, rather than concentrating the force on the abdomen or spine. As a result, the equipment can help reduce the severity of injuries when an accident occurs.
Safety harness construction
Webbing
The webbing is the part that comes into direct contact with the user’s body:
- It is typically made from synthetic polyester or specially engineered nylon fibers, offering moderate flexibility and high tensile strength of more than 1,500 kg.
- The tightly woven surface helps resist abrasion, UV exposure, and deterioration when used in humid or dusty environments.
- The design fits closely around the shoulders, hips, and thighs, helping keep the body stable during work.
Connecting lanyard
The connecting lanyard links the safety harness to an anchorage point, helping the user remain connected to the fall protection system when working at height. Depending on the design, lanyards typically include:
- Static lanyards are designed with little to no elasticity and are suitable for tasks with limited movement.
- Shock-absorbing lanyards feature an energy-absorbing component that helps absorb part of the energy generated during a fall and reduce the force transmitted to the body.
Some lanyards also feature a shock absorber pouch made of plastic or specialized rubber, which helps protect the energy-absorbing component and is better suited to work environments where there is a risk of falling from height.
Adjustment buckles
Adjustment buckles allow users to change the length of the straps to fit their body size and provide a secure, comfortable fit when wearing the harness.
- Usually made from high-strength alloy, offering good durability during use.
- The adjustment mechanism operates smoothly, making it convenient to loosen or tighten the straps when needed.
- The buckle helps keep the straps securely in place without slipping during work.
Shoulder and back padding
Some high-end safety harnesses feature additional padding around the shoulders, hips, or back, helping improve comfort when the harness is worn for extended periods.
- The padding helps reduce pressure on the shoulders and pelvic area during work.
- This design is particularly suitable for workers who wear a safety harness continuously for 4 hours or more.
Common types of safety harnesses in occupational safety
By harness design
- Half-body safety harness: Designed to fit around the waist and thighs, with a simple and lightweight structure. It is commonly used for low-height work, gently sloped roofs, or areas with a lower risk of falls.
- Full-body safety harness: Features straps that secure the shoulders, chest, waist, and thighs, providing better body support when working at height. It is commonly used in construction, installation, facility maintenance, scaffolding, and work on elevated structures.
- Upper-body safety harness: Includes shoulder and chest straps, while the lower-body section has a more simplified design than a full-body harness. It is suitable for tasks that require frequent movement and handling at height, such as installation, maintenance, or working on scaffolding.
- Positioning belt: Designed with a waist belt and positioning connection system to help keep workers stable in a specific position. It is commonly used when working on electrical poles, telecommunications poles, scaffolding, or fixed ladders.
By number of hooks
- Single-hook safety harness: Features one hook connected to an anchorage point, suitable for tasks that require little movement, such as wall painting, roof tile installation, or maintenance at a fixed location.
- Double-hook safety harness: Features two connection hooks, allowing users to keep one hook connected while moving to another position. This type is suitable for tasks that require frequent movement at height, such as electrical work, scaffolding installation, or working on steel structures.
How to choose the right safety harness
A suitable safety harness should not only be durable but also match the specific job requirements, fit the user properly, and be compatible with the fall protection system. When choosing a safety harness, consider the following:
- Type of work: Determine whether the job involves staying in a fixed position or moving frequently, and whether it takes place on rooftops, scaffolding, electrical poles, or steel structures to select the appropriate harness.
- Harness design: For work involving a fall hazard, a full-body harness should be prioritized. If the main purpose is to keep the worker stable in a specific position, a positioning belt may be suitable.
- Duration of use: If the harness needs to be worn for extended periods, especially more than 4 hours per day, choose a model with shoulder and back padding to reduce pressure and improve comfort.
- Size and load capacity: Choose a harness that fits the user properly, is easy to adjust, and supports the user’s weight. Many full-body harnesses have a load capacity of around 100–140 kg; however, always check the specific product specifications before use.
- Safety standards: Prioritize products with clearly stated standards such as EN 361 or ANSI/ASSP Z359. Check the product label and technical documentation to verify the exact model and specifications.
- Brand and origin: Choose genuine products with clear origins and transparent warranty policies. Some brands to consider include COV, SSEDA, 3M, and others.
Buy genuine safety harnesses at Thien Bang
Thien Bang specializes in supplying high-quality safety harnesses, safety belts, and fall protection equipment, suitable for electricians, construction workers, installation technicians, and other professionals working at height.
✅ Wide range of options: Full-body safety harnesses, half-body harnesses, safety harnesses for electricians, fall protection harnesses, and more.
✅ Competitive prices, products in stock, and fast nationwide delivery.
📞 Contact us for a quotation:
Hanoi office: 0981.056.066 – 0961.203.270
Ho Chi Minh City office: 0966.831.477 – 0986.720.134