How to Wear a Safety Harness

Wearing a safety harness properly can prevent fatal falls. If you are required to work at significant heights, never leave the ground without being properly outfitted with a safety harness. A harness will not benefit you unless you know how to wear it properly, so educate yourself and stay safe.

Things You'll Need

  • Safety harness
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Instructions

    • 1

      Unbuckle all the straps to reduce confusion.

    • 2

      Grasp the harness by the "D" shaped dorsal ring. This is the large "D" shaped ring that connects to the lanyard.

    • 3

      Shake out the harness so all the straps hang down and untangle themselves.

    • 4

      Identify the shoulder straps. They are the large padded straps that branch off from the webbing holding the D ring.

    • 5

      Slip into the shoulder straps as if you are putting on a jacket.

    • 6

      Make sure the shoulder straps are flat against your body and not twisted. The D ring should be centered in your back between your shoulder blades.

    • 7

      Bend at your waist, reach back through your legs and grab the leg straps hanging down.

    • 8

      Pull the leg straps back through your legs and buckle them. The buckles are located approximately in front of each hip.

    • 9

      Buckle the waist buckle on your harness if it has one. This strap and buckle stretch around your waist at the level that a belt would.

    • 10

      Buckle the chest strap. This strap and buckle stretch across the front of the harness and connect the shoulder straps to one another.

    • 11

      Double-check all of your straps and make sure they lie flat against your body and are not twisted.

    • 12

      Check all of your buckles to ensure they are properly secured.

    • 13

      Adjust your straps so that they are snug. You harness needs to be tight, but should not restrict movement.