Abstract
Objective: This study investigated the effect of body size and shape and harness fit on suspension tolerance time. Background: Fall victims may develop suspension trauma, a potentially fatal reduction of return blood flow from legs to the heart and brain, after a successfully arrested fall if they are not rescued quickly or the harness does not fit them well. Method: For this study, 20 men and 17 women with construction experience were suspended from the dorsal D-ring of a full-body fall-arrest harness. Their suspension tolerance time, physical characteristics, and harness fit levels were assessed. Results: Body characteristics (i.e., weight, stature, upper- and lower-torso depths) were associated with decreased suspension tolerance time (r = -.36 ~ -.45, p
Keywords
Humans; Men; Women; Harnesses; Fall-protection; Injuries; Traumatic-injuries; Accidents; Construction-industry; Construction-workers; Workers; Physiological-factors; Tolerance-threshold;
Author Keywords: 3-D scan; body shape; harness fit; suspension; anthropometry; fall arrest; rescue
Contact
Hongwei Hsiao, PhD, Chief, Protective Technology Branch, Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Rd., Morgantown, WV 26505
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
hxh4@cdc.gov
Priority Area
Services: Public Safety