b'Safety CSIA 9fall protection equipment, and harness fit should belower pelvic area.part of that inspection. Ensuring the harness is free of defects is as important as ensuring proper fit.Correctly tightened leg straps will still feel like they tighten during a fall, but they will not move Determining the correct harness sizeup the legthey will stay in the desired area. One of the most common misuse violations seenConnect the leg buckles and tighten them so that in the field is when employees incorrectly don theira flat palm can fit between the leg and the strap, fall protection harnesses. Manufacturers offerbut not a fisted hand. When properly tightened, multiple sizes for harnesses, and proper fit is thethe leg straps should not move up and down the first step in ensuring a personal fall arrest systemleg while walking but remain stationary in their (PFAS) will work as expected in the event of a fall. location.The industry standard is a five-point adjustableTips for adjusting torso and shoulder straps harness that will range between the printed sizesAt this point, the user should have two properly on the label. For example, a harness can be soldadjusted leg straps and now must adjust their torso as small/medium, meaning it will fit a small workerand shoulder straps. Align the torso strap so that to a medium worker. This is to accommodateit sits horizontally across the chest. Similar to the people with longer torsos, shorter legs, bulkierleg straps, incorrect placement of the torso strap clothing in colder climates, etc. When adjusting thecould cause further injury.harness,s there are several techniques to ensure an employee has the correct size harness for theirIf the torso strap is too high on the users chest body type. Its important to note that the Americanduring a fall, it has the potential to slide up and National Standard Institute (ANSI) only allowsput pressure on the users neck. If the torso strap workers ranging from 130 pounds to 420 poundsis too low, the dorsal D-ring on the back of the to use fall protection equipment, regardless if theharness will not sit in its proper position. To verify harness fits properly. the proper placement of the torso strap, the user should place their arms flat against the side of their Tips for adjusting leg strapsbody. If the strap is in the right place, it should sit When donning a harness, the user should unfastendirectly between the two crevices made from the the torso and leg connectionsand loosen theusers armpits. CENTRAL STATES INSULATION ASSOCIATIONshoulder and leg straps to their fullest extension before placing them on their shoulders, similarThe user might need to tighten the two shoulder to putting on a backpack. This allows for easystraps at this time to achieve proper alignment of adjustments to fine-tune a fit to the users heightthe torso strap. The shoulder straps should be and body shape. tightened to the level that they put slight pressure on the users shoulders, but not so much that The user should first attempt to connect the legthey feel uncomfortably tight over the shoulders. straps. When connecting the leg straps, the userA properly fit harness should be felt all over the should situate the strap as horizontally as possibleusers body. Some people describe their harness in a comfortable position on the upper thigh. Theas feeling like an exoskeleton that is conformed leg straps should never come in contact with theto their body. groin area. This part of the harness is of great significance in successfully arresting a fall withoutIdeal dorsal D-ring location further injury to the worker. If the leg straps areOnce a user believes their harness is properly too loose, they will tighten instantly during afit, they should have another user or the sites fall, and the user will feel abrupt forces on theircompetent person approve the fit. Straps should csiaonline.org'