Fall arrest systems are personal protective
equipment (PPE) harnesses with permanently attached lanyards. These harnesses
are often used in traditionally male-dominated industry sectors and have been designed
to fit men and are not suited to the female anatomy.
A new range of harnesses specifically designed for
women who work at heights, is now available.
A local manufacturer of women’s PPE has unveiled
five different harnesses in its Core and Core+ ranges, adding to the line of
Sisi protective clothing and footwear designed for women.
The Core range offers three standard harnesses with
permanently attached, single- or double-leg shock absorbing lanyards, with snap
or scaffolding hooks.
The Core+ range includes two belted harnesses with
permanently attached, double-leg, shock absorbing lanyards with snap or
scaffolding hooks and adjustable shoulder straps.
The company explains that the design of the Sisi
Fall Arrest range takes into consideration the female form through the
development of its adjustable and elasticated chest strap.
For women, the risk of injury does not stop when
the fall does. If placed below the bust area, polyester webbing, which is
typically found in men’s harnesses, can rise aggressively up and over the bust
at the end of a fall resulting in secondary injuries to the wearer. Replacing
the polyester webbing in the chest strap with an elasticated webbing that
stretches during a fall, helps to reduce the pressure on the bust area.
Another specific adaptation is the adjustable chest
strap. By allowing women to move and adjust the chest strap, they are able to
position it in the area that is most comfortable.
With an increasing number of women working in
industrial environments once dominated by men, the company has recognised a
growing need for gender-specific safety wear and states its commitment to
developing industrial work wear and PPE specifically designed for women.
More
information at www.sisi.co.za
