PICKING YOUR ROOFING HARNESS
My DO's and DO NOTS.
DO: Learn to use pre-sternal ring (at your chest) along with keeping your rope tight. Limit any free fall to 2 feet or less.
OSHA 1910.140 (c)(22) pertaining to fall protection in the general industry permits: "The attachment point may be located in the pre-sternal position if the free fall distance is limited to 2 feet or less." Generally, you will find rope access workers utilizing the pre-sternal ring, but is also perfectly suited for working on ladders and steep roof work. A tight rope will save a life, and a suspension from the pre-sternal rings (try it) is much more comfortable than the dorsal ring. It will allow self-rescue, assisted rescue, or simply just greatly increase the safe suspension time duration (allowing more time for a rescue) because the femoral veins are not cut off by the harness leg straps.
DO: Buy a harness with a pelvic (belt buckle position) if you really want to learn to work safely, and comfortably on steep pitch roofs.
DO: Buy a harness with quick release leg buckles. They are fantastic and you'll never regret it.
DO: Inspect your harness before each use. Expect to replace them periodically. They don't last forever, and that's ok.
DO: Write a Site Specific Fall Protection Plan if you are an employer, and stick to it. A Daily Safety Checklist is awesome too.
DO: Give up wearing a tool belt and switch to suspending all your tools off your harness loops in gear bags.
DO NOT: Expect a worker to be safe with a "compliance in a bucket" harness. It's like paying $100 to give right-handed person a left-handed tool. It takes too much work to learn to use it properly, so they won't. Notice them as you drive around, worn without ropes attached, or with so much slack in the rope that the roofer will hit the ground before the rope tightens. They can be used safely, but I've rarely seen it done.
DO NOT: Expect a worker to use their harness and ANY rope properly, without training and practice.
DO NOT: Expect a dorsal ring attachment point to save someone's life without a speedy rescue system on site and ready to use. A six minute suspension from the dorsal ring may result in death, even after the rescue. My team does not use the dorsal ring. Google "suspension trauma" to learn more.
DO: Learn to use pre-sternal ring (at your chest) along with keeping your rope tight. Limit any free fall to 2 feet or less.
OSHA 1910.140 (c)(22) pertaining to fall protection in the general industry permits: "The attachment point may be located in the pre-sternal position if the free fall distance is limited to 2 feet or less." Generally, you will find rope access workers utilizing the pre-sternal ring, but is also perfectly suited for working on ladders and steep roof work. A tight rope will save a life, and a suspension from the pre-sternal rings (try it) is much more comfortable than the dorsal ring. It will allow self-rescue, assisted rescue, or simply just greatly increase the safe suspension time duration (allowing more time for a rescue) because the femoral veins are not cut off by the harness leg straps.
DO: Buy a harness with a pelvic (belt buckle position) if you really want to learn to work safely, and comfortably on steep pitch roofs.
DO: Buy a harness with quick release leg buckles. They are fantastic and you'll never regret it.
DO: Inspect your harness before each use. Expect to replace them periodically. They don't last forever, and that's ok.
DO: Write a Site Specific Fall Protection Plan if you are an employer, and stick to it. A Daily Safety Checklist is awesome too.
DO: Give up wearing a tool belt and switch to suspending all your tools off your harness loops in gear bags.
DO NOT: Expect a worker to be safe with a "compliance in a bucket" harness. It's like paying $100 to give right-handed person a left-handed tool. It takes too much work to learn to use it properly, so they won't. Notice them as you drive around, worn without ropes attached, or with so much slack in the rope that the roofer will hit the ground before the rope tightens. They can be used safely, but I've rarely seen it done.
DO NOT: Expect a worker to use their harness and ANY rope properly, without training and practice.
DO NOT: Expect a dorsal ring attachment point to save someone's life without a speedy rescue system on site and ready to use. A six minute suspension from the dorsal ring may result in death, even after the rescue. My team does not use the dorsal ring. Google "suspension trauma" to learn more.
People come in different sizes, harnesses should too.
Petzl harnesses come in 3 different sizes (size 0, 1, 2).
At 6'-0", 180 pounds, size 1 fits me perfectly.
Petzl harnesses come in 3 different sizes (size 0, 1, 2).
At 6'-0", 180 pounds, size 1 fits me perfectly.
Note: Only gear that has an ANSI certification, automatically meets or exceeds OSHA standards.
FalconMy personal favorite!
Not OSHA compliant by itself. Designed for suspended rescue operations, so it's light, super comfortable, durable, with lots of places to hang gear. Add the TOP or Top Croll L to turn this into a full body harness with a sternal ring attachment point. Retail is $219.95. |
TopThis easily attaches to the Falcon, and the carabiner on the front makes it simple to put this harness on and take it off.
Retail is $119.95. There is no dorsal ring present. |
TogetherNotice the Top carabiner attaches through Pelvic webbing BEHIND the Pelvic ring, not to the Pelvic ring itself.
Together, this system meets CE EN 361 , UKCA, and EAC standards (most of Europe and parts of Asia). It DOES NOT meet ANSI standards, so it does not guarantee OSHA compliancy, however, it may still exceed OSHA requirements used properly. |
Volt - InternationalComfortable, extremely versatile, and SO easy to get in and out of, even with both feet on the ground! Meets ANSI Z359.11 and retails for $369.95. This harness is great for fall protection on walkable roofs. It was my favorite harness for years while visiting job sites and doing more managing at height than working.
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AVAO BOD FAST INTERNATIONALMy team has worn this harness for years. It's our go-to for being able to work safely on steep pitches. It's the best you can buy, and is certified ANSI Z359.11. Retail is $509.95.
Notice the torso connecting carabiner attaches through the webbing behind the pelvic carabiner (not to it). This also makes the harness fairly easy to put on. |
Here's why this (Compliance-in-a-Bucket) is not my choice.Perhaps this system is used effectively in some trades, but it's a dangerous system for roofing work. Retails around $110.
1. People don't use them properly. 2. Dangle from your dorsal ring for 2 minutes (near the ground where you can stand up), and then tell the world what you think. Be honest. 3. Google "suspension trauma". 4. Show me how a worker can keep the rope tight (which helps you avoid a fall) while working on a steep roof. It doesn't work. The dorsal ring center of gravity is too high and the roofers run the rope under their arm or crotch to get the rope in front of them so they can face uphill. Yes, crazy and very uncomfortable. That's what they do though, and they hate it. 5. It's so bad that workers just don't tie off or have slack, trip over the ropes and will only tie off if someone is watching. 6. The anchor was good in the days people followed directions and before ridge vents and metal roofs became popular again. |