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A Harness You'll Fall For
The Dennington Safety Harness is different from today's standard
safety harnesses because of the use of it patented "Three Point Balancing
System", which keeps the worker vertical in both fall and retrieval
situations. With most other harnesses, when a worker ties off, the D-ring
will often slip to the middle of the back. This causes a head first or
slumped position which makes retrieval hazardous, particularly in confined
spaces. A slumped and head first position also puts the worker at serious
risk of either head or back injury.
Another difference with the Dennington Safety Harness is that there
is less shock to the body during a fall and a reduction in the hazardous
slamming effect. When a worker falls with a "tear away" lanyard, a
whipping motion occurs sometimes turning a worker into a 'pendulum'. This
motion can slam the worker back into the structure which he is tied off,
causing unnecessary injuries or death. It is during the "slamming" stage
of falls where numerous head, back and neck injuries occur. Because of the
design of the harness, when a worker falls, it causes a 'plumb bomb'
effect - absorption of downward inertia by the bungee shock absorbers at
the end of the fall.
The Bureau of Labor provides statistics that shows there were 640
fatal work-related injuries caused from falls in private industry 2000. In
addition there were 303, 817 nonfatal injuries in that same year. Using
these numbers, that means at least 832 workers are injured daily because
of falls. In addition, 2003 statistics show there were 82,670 falls to a
lower level and 79,800 in 2004. There were a total of 162,470 American
workers that fell more than six ft and made contact with a lower level.
For Mark Dennington this is unacceptable. It has become a mission to
educate consumers about this harness that will prevent fall injuries. He
is currently taking his plight to Congress urging them to set higher
standards and enforce the standards set forth in
29 CFR 1926.501, CFR
1926.502(d), 29 CFR 1910.132 (d)
which he discusses in
great detail at his site.
We would like to know what you think tell us at
feedback@ksisafety.com . For links to videos demonstrating the
Dennington Safety Harness and discussing OSHA standards and the Catch-22,
visit us at www.ksisafety.com
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