Degloving

[Dave58er]

During a recent safety seminar our safety coordinater mentioned "degloving" when talking about proper fit for personal fall arrest harnesses. Apparently it can happen if the straps around your thighs are not tight enough. The term didn't sound familiar to me. Have you guys heard of this.

With limited Google research i did not find an example of fall arrest degloving but there was an incident involving a race car and a six point harness that seems very similar to the harnesses we use. Here's the link.


What a disaster! The article says he was in "distress." Ya think?!?! OMG

I'll be double checking the fit on mine from now on.

Note to moderators: At the last minute it occurs to me that these pictures are not only disgusting but also feature an "area" that some may think inappropriate. There are currently no moderators on-line or I would PM to check. If you feel the need to remove the link I will understand, but please leave the thread so people can get the gist and look it up for themselves.

I've seen people unconcerned about the fit of these things, I bet this would change their mind!

Link removed by augie47. The description alone should be sufficient.
We all are urged to use decent conversation while discussing

 

[jeremysterling]

Thanks for the warning. I'm squeamish enough to not want to see the link.

I will also take your advice on properly fitting my harness. The initial stop may hurt, but hanging suspended in an ill-fitting harness inflicts injury as well.

Degloving is a term I've heard used around rotating machinery. If some loose fitting or even properly fitting apparel gets caught in quick-moving machinery, the skin underneath can get peeled off as the garments on top of it are pulled away.

 

[sameguy]

Hanging too long at all will kill you.

 

[dbuckley]

Standards I work under require that when you use a safety harness then you also have to have a rescue plan, so you dont just fall off something, glide to a controlled halt, courtesy of the fall arrester, suspend, and then die.

 

[WorkSafe]

I have also seen the pictures. Very nasty indeed! Having those thigh/crotch straps loose is NOT good!

OSHA law requires that if you have employees using fall arrest, you will also have a rescue plan. The worker should not be hanging around for more then 10 mins I believe.

 

[cowboyjwc]

All this talk about degloving and lubricant's. I can't believe that the moderators haven't jumped in and put a stop to all this nastiness.:grin: