Harness Inspection & Fitting

A harness that is damaged or worn wrong can fail or seriously injure you during a fall. Inspect it before every use, choose one that fits your body and your work, and put it on the same careful way every time.

• Construction
• General Industry

Parts of a harness

• Back (dorsal) D-ring: the main fall arrest connection, between your shoulder blades.
• Front (sternal) D-ring: for ladder safety systems and some rescue and climbing systems.
• Side D-rings: for positioning only (like rebar or pole work), never for fall arrest.
• Shoulder, chest and leg straps with buckles and adjusters.
• Fall indicator: shows the harness has been in a fall.
• Labels: date of manufacture, standards, size and weight capacity.

Choosing the right harness

• Size: Harnesses come in sizes. One that fits a 6-foot-3 worker won’t fit a 5-foot-2 worker safely. See PPE That Fits.
• Capacity: Most harnesses are rated for 130 to 310 pounds including tools. Heavier workers need a harness and connectors rated for their weight.
• Work type: Welders need harnesses with heat-resistant webbing; arc flash work needs arc-rated harnesses; linemen and tower climbers need positioning and climbing harnesses.

Pre-use inspection

• Labels: present and readable (manufacture date, standards, capacity)
• Webbing: no cuts, frays, burns, holes, broken fibers, chemical damage, paint, or hard or stiff spots. Bend it in small sections to check.
• Stitching: no pulled, broken or cut stitches
• Hardware: D-rings, buckles and adjusters not cracked, bent, corroded or sharp-edged; buckles work smoothly
• Fall indicator: not deployed (shows the harness has been in a fall)
• Lanyard or SRL: shock pack not torn open; snap hooks close and lock; SRL retracts and locks when you yank it

If anything fails, tag it “Do Not Use” and take it out of service. A competent person should also do a documented inspection at least once a year (more often in harsh conditions). A harness that has stopped a fall must be removed from service for good.

Putting on a harness

1. Hold the harness by the back D-ring and shake it so the straps fall into place.
2. Slip the straps over your shoulders like a vest. The D-ring should be in the middle of your back, between your shoulder blades.
3. Connect the leg straps. Each one goes around its own thigh. Don’t cross them.
4. Connect the chest strap and position it at mid-chest, about armpit level.
5. Tighten all straps. You should fit a flat hand, but not a fist, between the leg strap and your leg.
6. Tuck loose strap ends into keepers.
7. Have a coworker check the back D-ring position and the straps.

Common fit mistakes

• Leg straps left loose “for comfort” or unbuckled
• Back D-ring sliding down to the lower back
• Chest strap at the belly or up at the throat
• Twisted straps
• Wearing the harness over a bulky coat, then taking the coat off without readjusting
• Connecting a lanyard to a side D-ring or the chest strap

Care and storage

• Store in a cool, dry place out of sunlight, away from chemicals and sharp objects. Hang it up; don’t throw it in a truck bed.
• Clean with mild soap and water and let it air dry, away from heaters.
• Don’t mark webbing with paint or markers, or punch new holes.
• Retire harnesses on the manufacturer’s schedule or when inspection says so.

Last updated: October 1, 2026