Fall Protection Harness

[treillw]

Any recommendations on a fall protection harness and lanyard for crawling around on roofs?

Not hunting related, but you all always have good info!

Thanks!

 

[displacedtexan]

How much are you gonna use it?

Dbi Sala Exofit is what I have. Wasn't cheap, but I'm glad I spent the money.

 

[Wrench]

I too have the sala....but always liked the green and black stretchy miller.

 

[CCooper]

DBI Sala EXO with both a retractable harness and a set of pelican climbing hooks if you’re going to be in it a lot.

 

[Pony Soldier]

For the cheap folks as I seasonally have roof maintenance and inspections before winter, I have a mine belt and 50 -75 ft of 5/8" hemp rope. The wife either ties me off to a post or does a dally to a tree. It up the marital sharing.

 

[Rich M]

I presdure wash metal roof now and again.

100 ft 1/2 inch rope/anchor line to solid 4x4 post and tied around my waist. Keep it snug and things go pretty good. Did slip once on wet roof and it kept me up there.

 

[Dust Rider]

Miller has a full kit. Harness, rope, break, and anchor.
From your last post what ladder did you end up buying?

 

[doc holiday13]

rock climbing harness, a few locking carabiners, grigri, and a 9mm dynamic rope

 

[Johnny Tyndall]

Make sure you get something suited for the job, meaning it has a dynamic component. Even a 3 foot fall on static gear generates enough force to break carabiners and/or you.

 

[Crowmangler]

Make sure you get something suited for the job, meaning it has a dynamic component. Even a 3 foot fall on static gear generates enough force to break carabiners and/or you.

This ...Remember, it's not the fall that gets you, it's the sudden stop at the end. Ask yourself if the extra $$ will be worth it vs a potential injury

 

[backcountry_hunter]

DBI's Sala Exo are super nice. They are the cats meow if funds permit.

If you want to go economical route the MSA V-Forms are very good for what they cost. Paired with a VTEC PFL (retractable) it's good combination at reasonable $$. Most of the bucket work guys I know have gone to retractables.

 

[TaperPin]

If it’s for a full time construction job, getting an OSHA harness that will hold carpenter bags makes it much more streamlined vs having a harness that’s fighting a full tool belt. For at home use a rock climbing belt is ideal.

rock climbing harness, a few locking carabiners, grigri, and a 9mm dynamic rope

For years that was my go-to setup for roof work on remote job sites where OSHA never set foot - much less in the way and easier to use than an osha harness.

 

[TaperPin]

In addition to a harness and rope it’s handy to keep a few other things to make it easier to find an anchor. I keep a couple 3/16”x1-1/2”x1-1/2”x10” steel angles with six 1/4” holes in the bottom for Simpson screws and a larger hole for a steel locking carabiner - these are easy to screw into the framing of new houses. A winch tree protector is nice to have to make an anchor out of a beam, tree, car axle, telephone pole or whatever. A second rope that can be thrown over an existing roof and anchored on each end is nice if you are working multiple sides and don’t want to be constantly moving your tie off, or if you have to triangulate a tie off. A third working rope is essential if you’re constantly lifting or lowering things. A few of the bolting eyes used in fixed climbing routes, and load rated concrete screws (and sds concrete drill) installed in something solid may be your only anchor for oddball jobs. Slings made of load rated tubular webbing can greatly simplify attaching to things, much like a smaller more refined tree protector.

If you’re working by yourself and fall off a roof, then what? It sounds silly, but hanging in a harness for half a day is not something anyone wants.

 

[displacedtexan]

If you’re working by yourself and fall off a roof, then what? It sounds silly, but hanging in a harness for half a day is not something anyone wants.

Hang for half a day and you'll be cold when they find you.

 

[ODB]

In addition to a harness and rope it’s handy to keep a few other things to make it easier to find an anchor. I keep a couple 3/16”x1-1/2”x1-1/2”x10” steel angles with six 1/4” holes in the bottom for Simpson screws and a larger hole for a steel locking carabiner - these are easy to screw into the framing of new houses. A winch tree protector is nice to have to make an anchor out of a beam, tree, car axle, telephone pole or whatever. A second rope that can be thrown over an existing roof and anchored on each end is nice if you are working multiple sides and don’t want to be constantly moving your tie off, or if you have to triangulate a tie off. A third working rope is essential if you’re constantly lifting or lowering things. A few of the bolting eyes used in fixed climbing routes, and load rated concrete screws (and sds concrete drill) installed in something solid may be your only anchor for oddball jobs. Slings made of load rated tubular webbing can greatly simplify attaching to things, much like a smaller more refined tree protector.

If you’re working by yourself and fall off a roof, then what? It sounds silly, but hanging in a harness for half a day is not something anyone wants.

correct - suspension trauma from lack of circulation to the legs can be an issue. Adding trauma relief straps can help with this