The body harness is one of three components of a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS), with an anchorage & connection device completing the equipment list. Some organizations put a lot of effort into choosing the “right” harness for their folks, and others treat the body harness as nothing more than a commoditized accessory. There is no right or wrong way to approach supplying body harnesses to a crew, as long as workers are donning them correctly and are using their harnesses properly. This article will discuss some of the features and accessories commonly offered with body harnesses and their various use applications to provide guidance in differentiating between the available options.  

Before proceeding, it’s important to understand that no matter what a manufacturer may claim, there are no features that can be offered with a harness that inherently make a harness any “safer” than any other harness on the market. That said, there are some harness features that increase user comfort or ergonomics and make the user more likely to properly don the harness or less likely to remove it due to discomfort. Sometimes, the best PPE is not the one that costs the most or has the most features, but it’s the PPE that a user will wear correctly every time. Thorough training can ensure workers are using the right harness for them in terms of equipment and fit.