Tower Climbing Harness
Hands free work, safety, and fall prevention are all functions of the tower climbing harness. To safely climb towers with the proper training your Harness, Fall-Arrest Lanyard, Positioning Lanyard and Carabiners will be necessary tools of the trade.
The tower climbing harness gets you up the tower safely and offers you a comfortable work position, considering you may be in that position for a duration of an hour or more. Your tower harness will be used for positioning and fall arrest. A good tower harness will have at least four D-rings: 1 on the chest (sternal), 1 on the back (dorsal), and 2 on the sides for positioning. The D-rings on the chest and/or back or specifically for fall arrest.
essential components
- side D-rings - use with work positioning strap. This is what hold you in place so you can use both hands while in the work position.
- chest D-ring - use for fall arrest devices or descenters.
- breakaway storage rings - these are usually plastic and are only for storing your climbing lanyards.
- climbing lanyards - use these 2 as you walk up the tower, keeping one connected at all times while moving the other to the next high position. The Double Leg Lanyard is one type of climbing safety lanyard.
- Positioning Strap - this is used when you reach your work position, again, so you can use both hands while working. It should be adjustable. Use an Adjustable Positioning Strap to ensure you have a comfortable work distance between you and the tower.
- carabiner - The clip that goes between the D ring and the harness equipment and tower. Equipment to tower connections are made with the carabiners.
carabiners
Always use ANSI Z359.1 (07) rated carabiners. You will use the carabiners to connect gear such as your positioning strap to the side D-rings on your harness.
