In brief
A full body harness does not provide protection on its own; it is part of a system that works together with an anchor, a shock-absorbing lanyard and a connector. The harness is chosen to comply with TS EN 361, and the lanyard and shock absorber with TS EN 354 and TS EN 355; it is checked by the user before every use and examined by a competent person at least once a year. A harness and shock absorber that have arrested a fall are withdrawn from use unless a competent person decides otherwise in writing.
A full body harness is part of a system
The full body safety harness is the most widely issued but least questioned item of personal protective equipment on construction sites. Often no one knows which standard the harness taken from the store was made to, whether the lanyard has a shock absorber, whether there is enough clearance below, or whether it arrested a fall last month. Yet a harness only works if these three components are all correct together: a sound anchor point, a full body harness that wraps around the employee’s body, and a connecting element that links the two and absorbs the energy of a fall.
First, a reminder: the harness is not the first resort. The legislation gives priority to collective protection; relying only on a harness for a job where guardrails, platforms or safety nets could be used is wrong. For the order of measures, see our article on what work at height is. This article focuses on choosing the right harness and inspecting it correctly for jobs where a harness is required.
The employer’s PPE obligations are set out in the Regulation on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment at Work: PPE is provided free of charge by the employer, its maintenance, repair and periodic checks are carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Art. 6/1-e), it is checked before every use, and faulty PPE is not used until the fault is remedied (Art. 8/3). On the product side, equipment protecting against falls from height is in the highest risk category of the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation; next to the CE marking is the four-digit identification number of the notified body.
Harness standard EN 361 and the other parts of the system
European standards are applied in Türkiye under TS EN numbers. When buying, look for these numbers on the label and in the user manual:
| Component | Standard | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Full body harness | TS EN 361 | Distributes the force over the body while arresting a fall |
| Lanyard | TS EN 354 | Connects the harness to the anchor |
| Energy absorber (shock absorber) | TS EN 355 | Limits the force on the body at the moment of a fall |
| Connector (karabiner, hook) | TS EN 362 | Joins components with a locking connection |
| Retractable fall arrester | TS EN 360 | Arrests a fall over a short distance |
| Guided type fall arrester | TS EN 353-1 and 353-2 | Moves along a vertical rigid or flexible line |
| Work positioning belt | TS EN 358 | Holds the employee in place; not for arresting falls |
| Anchor device | TS EN 795 | Provides a connection point for the system |
| Use, maintenance, periodic examination | TS EN 365 | Manual and examination requirements |
When choosing a harness, check the following:
- Attachment points. For fall arrest, the back (dorsal) D-ring or the chest loops marked “A” are used. The side rings on the waist belt are for work positioning; the lanyard is not attached there.
- Size and adjustment. The harness should fit the body once the leg and chest straps are adjusted. A one-size harness does not fit a slim employee and a heavily built one in the same way.
- Job-specific needs. For welding work, models with straps resistant to heat and spatter are preferred; for electrical work, non-conductive components; and for confined spaces, harnesses with a rescue ring. For the other risks of welding work, see our article on the workplace safety risks of welders.
- Comfort. On a harness that will be worn all day, padded shoulder and leg straps make it easier to wear the harness correctly.
Shock-absorbing lanyards and free fall distance
Arresting a fall with a rope without a shock absorber puts a force on the body that it cannot withstand. An energy absorber complying with TS EN 355 limits the arrest force to 6 kN and, in doing so, extends by up to 1.75 metres as it deploys. The total length of the lanyard, shock absorber and the connectors at its ends does not exceed 2 metres.
These figures tell us something else: a shock-absorbing lanyard works only if there is enough clearance below. Where the anchor is level with the employee’s back ring, a rough calculation is as follows:
| Item | Distance |
|---|---|
| Lanyard length (free fall) | 2.00 m |
| Deployment of the shock absorber | 1.75 m |
| From the back ring to the soles of the feet | about 1.50 m |
| Safety margin | 1.00 m |
| Clearance required below the anchor | about 6.25 m |
If the anchor is at foot level, the free fall is two metres longer. In jobs without this much clearance below, for example on a 4-metre platform, a shock-absorbing lanyard may not save the employee from hitting the ground; in this case, a retractable fall arrester, a higher anchor or a work positioning solution that prevents the fall in the first place is chosen.
For jobs that require continuous attachment, a twin-leg (Y-type) lanyard is used; the employee does not unclip one leg until the other has been clipped to the new anchor. The unused leg is clipped not to the chest or back ring of the harness but to the parking loop on the harness.
Safety harness inspection: before every use
Art. 8/3 of the Regulation on the Use of PPE requires a check before every use. This check is done by the user and takes no more than a minute:
| Part | What to look for | If something is found |
|---|---|---|
| Webbing | Cuts, tears, abrasion, burns, chemical stains, stiffening | Do not use |
| Stitching | Broken, loose or discoloured stitching; a deployed fall indicator | Do not use |
| Buckles and adjusters | Cracks, deformation, failure to lock | Do not use |
| D-rings | Bending, cracks, sharp edges, corrosion | Do not use |
| Label | Is it legible? Can the standard, date of manufacture and serial number be seen? | A harness with an illegible label goes for examination |
| Connectors | Does the gate close and lock by itself? | Do not use |
| Shock absorber | Is the cover torn, are there signs of deployment? | Destroyed |
| Lanyard | Crushing of the rope, broken fibres, traces of weld spatter | Do not use |
Equipment with a finding during the check is put on a separate shelf and tagged “do not use”. It should be easy for an employee to return a faulty harness to the store and get a new one in its place; otherwise the defective harness stays on site.
Periodic examination and records
In addition to the user check, the harness and connecting elements are periodically examined by a competent person according to the manufacturer’s instructions. TS EN 365 requires the manufacturer’s manual to state that periodic examination is carried out at least every 12 months; in heavy-use conditions, the manufacturer may specify a shorter interval.
Open a record card for each harness:
- Serial number, model and standard
- Date of manufacture, date of purchase and date of first use
- To whom it has been issued
- Periodic examination dates, examiner and result
- Date of and reason for withdrawal from use
You can track examination dates with the OHS calendar. For the general logic of PPE selection, see our article on PPE selection, and for the full set of obligations, see our article on the regulation on the use of PPE.
Equipment that has arrested a fall and harness lifespan
There is no single legal period for the lifespan of a harness. Art. 6/1-c of the Regulation on the Use of PPE requires periods of use to be determined according to the degree of risk, frequency of use and the performance of the equipment. In practice, three sources are considered:
- The maximum lifespan given by the manufacturer. The manual states a service life from the date of manufacture or a period subject to examination.
- Conditions of use. Sunlight, chemical contact, weld spatter, and abrasion from concrete and sand can wear textile straps before the period in the manual.
- The examination result. A competent person may also withdraw a harness whose period has not expired.
Storage conditions determine the lifespan of a harness. Store the harness hanging in a dry place away from sunlight and heat and separate from chemicals; do not carry it in a vehicle boot or among reinforcing bars. Clean a soiled harness using a method permitted by the manufacturer and let it dry naturally; do not use solvents or heaters.
For practical training on using the harness, see our article on work at height training, and for attachment on scaffolding, see scaffolding inspection. For construction and industrial businesses in Bursa and the surrounding provinces, harness selection, the record system and practical training are part of the occupational safety specialist service of Bursa Sistemer OSGB.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which standard should a safety harness comply with?
A full body harness used for fall arrest should comply with TS EN 361. The lanyard is chosen to comply with TS EN 354, the shock absorber with TS EN 355 and connectors with TS EN 362. A work positioning belt (TS EN 358) is not used to arrest falls.
How often is a safety harness inspected?
The user checks it before every use. In addition, a competent person carries out a periodic examination according to the manufacturer’s instructions; under TS EN 365, this interval is at most 12 months.
Does a shock-absorbing lanyard work at every height?
No. The lanyard and the deployment of the shock absorber together create a fall distance of about 3.75 metres; with the employee’s height and a safety margin, a clearance of more than six metres is required below the anchor. For lower work, retractable fall arresters or work positioning solutions are considered.
Can a safety harness that has arrested a fall be used again?
The shock absorber must never be reused. The harness and other components are withdrawn from use unless a competent person examines them according to the manufacturer’s instructions and finds them suitable in writing; most manufacturers require them to be destroyed.
A certified specialist matched to your hazard class: site inspections, approved logbook, training plan, annual plan and report follow-up.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.