Fall arrest systems are personal protective equipment (PPE) harnesses with permanently attached lanyards.
These harnesses are often used in traditionally male-dominated industry sectors and have been designed to fit men and are not suited to the female anatomy.
A new range of harnesses specifically designed for women who work at heights, is now available.
A local manufacturer of women’s PPE has unveiled five different harnesses in its Core and Core+ ranges, adding to the line of Sisi protective clothing and footwear designed for women.
The Core range offers three standard harnesses with permanently attached, single- or double-leg shock absorbing lanyards, with snap or scaffolding hooks.
The Core+ range includes two belted harnesses with permanently attached, double-leg, shock absorbing lanyards with snap or scaffolding hooks and adjustable shoulder straps.
The company explains that the design of the Sisi Fall Arrest range takes into consideration the female form through the development of its adjustable and elasticated chest strap. For women, the risk of injury does not stop when the fall does. If placed below the bust area, polyester webbing, which is typically found in men’s harnesses, can rise aggressively up and over the bust at the end of a fall resulting in secondary injuries to the wearer. Replacing the polyester webbing in the chest strap with an elasticated webbing that stretches during a fall, helps to reduce the pressure on the bust area.
Another specific adaptation is the adjustable chest strap. By allowing women to move and adjust the chest strap, they are able to position it in the area that is most comfortable.
With an increasing number of women working in industrial environments once dominated by men, the company has recognised a growing need for gender-specific safety wear and states its commitment to developing industrial work wear and PPE specifically designed for women.