3M™ DBI-SALA® are experts at providing top-of-the-line safety equipment for both work and extreme sports alike. It doesn’t matter if you’re working at 10 feet or 100 feet—if you’re working above the ground, you need a fall arrest system in place to keep you safe on the job and catch you to prevent a fatal fall.

 

When you’re looking to stay safe, start with your harness.

There are plenty of stories around the world where individuals credit their safety harness for saving their lives on the job. Just this year in Miami, Florida, United States, a bridge near Florida International University collapsed. Carlos Chapman, who was working on the bridge when it collapsed, doesn’t remember much about the incident. What he does remember, though, is locking in his harness—a move that just might have saved his life.

For rope access and rescue workers, wearing the right harness is of the utmost importance. In some cases, a class II seat harness that fits around the waist and legs may be all that is needed to allow you to move up and down a surface such as a tree, pole, or rock face. Chest harnesses, which fit around the upper body like a vest, are mainly ideal for situations where the fall hazards are limited.

When the risk of falling is high, or you are conducting rescue work, you must wear a class III, full body harness. These provide full body support and wrap over the shoulders, around the waist, and around the upper legs.

While safety is the number one factor you must consider when choosing a harness, you should also factor in comfort. If you can expect to be suspended for long periods of time working or waiting for rescue, you want to do so comfortably.

At Mountain Productions, we personally love the DBI-SALA Exofit NEX™ Blackout Harness because it is the most comfortable and reliable harness to work with.

DBI-SALA Exofit NEX™ Blackout Harness

 

Built for tactical use, perfect for every industry

The Exofit NEX™ Blackout Full Body Harness is the most advanced safety harness you’ll find on the market for rope access and rescue work. Its design is the culmination of ongoing research and new materials. All of the materials that make up this harness have been incorporated so as not to add any additional weight, including the hybrid shoulder, back and leg comfort padding and Tech-Lite™ aluminum D-rings.

When your work demands speed and efficiency, ExoFit NEX™ provides the freedom and confidence to function at your maximum potential when compared to other full body harnesses. These harnesses are built to last and give you peace of mind.

Personally, members of our Mountain Productions team utilize DBI-SALA® harnesses to meet the demands of stage rigging work. However, the ExoFit NEX™ is also the perfect solution for a variety of demanding industries, including construction, oil and gas, utilities, window washing, forestry, wind energy and even rock climbing.

 

Building your personal fall arrest system

While the harness is an important piece of safety equipment, it needs to be correctly used in conjunction with other fall arrest elements.

Your full body harness provides you with the connection point for your personal fall arrest system (PFAS). Another element you need is the anchorage, the point where you will be suspended should you fall. This point should be able to support, at a minimum, 5,000 lbs. per worker.

To connect your harness to your anchorage or anchorage connector, you also need a connector, such as a safety lanyard. 3M™ DBI-SALA®’s shock-absorbing lanyards can be used for direct connection to anchorage structures like scaffolding and towers.

These lanyards have a unique, stretchable design that gives you complete freedom of movement while reducing trip hazards, dragging or snagging. When it comes to DBI-SALA® lanyards, you have a couple of options.

The 100% tie-off shock absorbing lanyards have a snap hook on either end so even when you move, you can remain connected to your anchor. The 6’ Shockwave2 100% Tie-Off Shock Absorbing Lanyard has the lightweight, aluminum connection hooks. The 6’ EZ-Stop 100% Tie-Off Shock Absorbing Lanyard has zinc-plated steel harness connection hooks.

Shockwave2 100% Tie-Off Shock Absorbing Lanyard 6'

For a single anchor connector, we carry the Shockwave2 Single Leg Shock Absorbing Lanyard with aluminum connection hooks.

All DBI-SALA® safety lanyards compliant with OSHA and ANSI standards. Remember, once a safety harness lanyard has been used in a fall, it cannot be used again.

 

Optional accessories for additional safety

While it is not required, we also recommend DBI-SALA’s Suspension Trauma Safety Strap for a complete PFAS system. A fall can be a dangerous situation even if you’re wearing the proper harness and safety lanyard. A fall and lengthy suspension can result in suspension trauma, which you can read more about here. Meant to relieve pressure around the legs, these safety straps allow you to stand, while suspended, and relieve the pressure being applied to the arteries and veins around the top of the legs. The continuous loops designs can accommodate one or both feet at a time. 

DBI-SALA’s Suspension Trauma Safety Strap

 

At Mountain Productions, we believe that safety is paramount. To learn more about our line of 3M™ DBI-SALA® safety products, visit ShopMTN.EU