Occupational Protective Equipment
Personal Suspension System

A personal suspension system is required when it is necessary to suspend and hold a worker from above. A typical system involves the use of a winch, cable, and either a bosun's chair or a specially designed suspension harness. A suspension system is an active system (used constantly). Fall-arrest protection must always be used with a suspension system.

For example, the painter depicted above is utilizing both a personal suspension system and a personal fall-arrest system. Each system has its own A-B-C components. Since the worker must be suspended from above in order to get to his work area, he is using a personal suspension system.

The (A) component is the winch that serves as a suspension anchorage. Suspension anchorages must be capable of supporting at least twice the potential impact load of a worker's fall or 3,000 Ibs. (13.3 kN), whichever is greater. The (B) component is the worker's bosun's-chair harness with front suspension O-ring. The (C) component is the winch cable, which is equipped with a locking snap-hook.

Also, since the painter is at risk of falling, he is also using a personal Fall Arrest system. For the fall-arrest system, the (A) component is the eye-bolt attached to the structure, the (B) component is the full-body harness with rear O-ring, and the (C) component is the Rope Grab with vertical life line.

Remember, a suspension system is designed to lower, raise, and suspend a worker at an elevated work station. The suspension attachment points on the harness, such as the front O-ring or seat-strap O-rings, are NOT designed to properly distribute the impact forces that result in arresting a free fall. A suspension system cannot be relied upon to provide fall-arrest protection. Always use the independent fall-arrest features of a suspension harness. NOTE: Klein suspension harnesses provide a rear D-ring which must be used for fall-arrest protection.

The following linked pages show the full line of Klein Fall Arrest System components:

• Harnesses
• Connecting Devices