Working at Height is a high risk job. When a fall is arrested by a harness and the worker is suspended, a physiological process called Suspension Syndrom or Harness Hang Syndrome (HHS) begins.
In short, the worker’s inability to move, and the pressure exerted by the harness against the worker’s body, generate a serious circulatory problem that can lead to death in a few minutes.
This urgency demands that the employer establish an emergency response plan in case of falls, whenever Works at Height are performed.
In the case of a worker weighing more than 100 kg, besides the difficulty in rescuing a victim with such weight, there is the issue that his weight will aggravate the progression of HHS.
Conclusion
Hércules fall protection equipment can be used by people over 100 kg, and we recommend that the 136 kg limit be respected, taking into account the weight of the worker and his equipment.
In addition, it is necessary to take into consideration the following issues related to working at height:
It is mandatory to get clearance, from occupational medicine, for the individual to work at height.
Do not anchor the connection system – Lanyard or Fall Arrest device – in a fall factor of 2 (below waist line).
Anchor it at a fall factor of less than 1 (above the shoulder line) in order to ensure the worker’s safety.
The purpose of this Post was to draw your attention to the subject. If you need more in-depth content on the subject, check out Tuesday’s Tip: Suspension Syndrome.
And remember: Whenever you need reliable information, come visit us, because this is the Work at Height Experts Blog.