Back to Personal Fall Arrest Systems

Body harnesses are designed to minimize stress forces on an employee's body in the event of a fall, while providing sufficient freedom of movement to allow work to be performed.

Do not use body harnesses to hoist materials.
As of January 1, 1998, body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system, because they impose a danger of internal injuries when stopping a fall.

• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, Fall protection. OSHA Standard.
  • 1926.502, Fall protection systems criteria and practices
    • 1926.502(d)(18)