title: Sizing and fit of fall-protection harnesses.
abstract: Full-body fall-protection harnesses have been a critical work-practice control technology for reducing the number of fall-related injuries and fatalities among construction workers; yet, very little is known about the fit of these harnesses to the population that wears them. This study evaluated the fit and sizing efficacy of a harness system. Seventy-two male and 26 female construction workers participated in the study. Their body size-and-shape information was measured while they were suspended (with a harness) and standing (with and without a harness), using a 3-D full-body laser scanner and traditional anthropometric calipers. Fisher's discriminant analysis results did not point to the need for a change in the current sizing selection scheme by body height and weight for end users. However, an integrated redesign of harness components is needed because 40% of subjects did not pass fit-performance criteria in either the standing or suspended condition. A multivariate accommodation analysis has identified 15 representative body models for the 'standard-size' harness design. These models can serve as a useful population to test harness design until a larger survey of the nation's construction workers can be done. Finally, further developments in 3-D shape quantification methods are recommended to improve the harness design process; the point-to-point anthropometric information currently used seems to be insufficient for harness design.
authors.affiliation: Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA. hhsiao@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bradtmiller
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Whitestone
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods*; D006804:Ergonomics; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011482:Protective Devices; D014481:United States