Safety strap for ladder work

[LarryFine]

Is there a harness or strap made to allow me to lean back to free both hands while working on a ladder?

 

[zbang]

I'd be surprised if there is; AFAICT ladders are not intended for attachments on the user-side of the rungs. Not that you couldn't work up something that'll do the job.

 

[Hv&Lv]

Agreed. And OSHA doesnt require harnesses on temporary ladders

 

[Hv&Lv]

I guess you could use a climbing belt and strap off to the rungs.
As long as the ladder is strapped off , it could be safer…

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Firefighters have used "pompier" belts for that purpose.

Gemtor Pompier Belts are designed and classified as ladder/escape belts. They are intended for use both as a positioning device for a person on a ladder as well as for use by the wearer as an emergency self-rescue device. Gemtor Pompier Belts are specified by departments around the world and have become synonymous with quality and dependability.

 

[infinity]

I like the apparatus that Don posted but it doesn't seem to have too much flexibility if you need to move around or change positions. I use a tree climbing harness with an adjustable lanyard connected to the D rings.

 

[petersonra]

Is there a harness or strap made to allow me to lean back to free both hands while working on a ladder?

1/8 in. x 50 ft. Paracord

Amazing deals on this 1/8In X 50Ft Paracord at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Good for 160 lbs. If you weigh more than that, just double it up.

 

[grich]

Firefighters have used "pompier" belts for that purpose.

View attachment 2563896

That sure looks like what Johnny and Roy had on Squad 51.

I climbed towers (just a big ol' vertical ladder, right?) up to 40 feet for years with nothing but a Klein telephone lineman's belt.

I have a proper harness now, providing 100-percent tie-off, but it gets heavier with each passing year.

 

[LarryFine]

I bought a fall-suppression strap today, which has about two feet of strap bundled in a length of clear heat-shrink (I'm guessing) tubing as a shock absorber. It's six feet long with two very sturdy clips.

My lean should be more than gentle enough to avoid pulling any of the strap out of the tube. I don't really need to lean back; I just want enough security to not have to lean forward, one arm around a rung.

Werner 6 ft. Shock Absorbing Fall Protection Lanyard C380000W - The Home Depot

The C380000W WERNER 6 ft. Shock Absorbing Lanyard is constructed of high strength, polyester web and contain an energy absorber to reduce forces of a fall to a safe level. An ideal solution for maintenance

www.homedepot.com

 

[Amps]

I bought a fall-suppression strap today, which has about two feet of strap bundled in a length of clear heat-shrink (I'm guessing) tubing as a shock absorber. It's six feet long with two very sturdy clips.

My lean should be more than gentle enough to avoid pulling any of the strap out of the tube. I don't really need to lean back; I just want enough security to not have to lean forward, one arm around a rung.

View attachment 2563909

Werner 6 ft. Shock Absorbing Fall Protection Lanyard C380000W - The Home Depot

The C380000W WERNER 6 ft. Shock Absorbing Lanyard is constructed of high strength, polyester web and contain an energy absorber to reduce forces of a fall to a safe level. An ideal solution for maintenance

www.homedepot.com

How do you plan to connect it?

 

[infinity]

It's nice to have some adjustment on the lanyard. I use an arborist flipline similar to this with an ART postioner.

 

[LarryFine]

How do you plan to connect it?

Clip it to itself in a single loop around me and the ladder.

If it's too long, I'll loop it around one or both ladder rails.

I'm looking to be able to raise both hands over my head.

 

[LarryFine]

It's nice to have some adjustment on the lanyard. I use an arborist flipline similar to this with an ART postioner.

Where might one find such a beast?

 

[tom baker]

I noted on the British TV show Escape to the Country, a segment where some one was installing an Owl House on a tree using a ladder leaned against the tree. I noted a fall restraint device at the top of the ladder with a lanyard that the climber used. The part on the ladder was very fast and not about the ladder, but there was something there for fall protection

 

[infinity]

Where might one find such a beast?

Any arborist supply will have a number of flip lines. The ART Positoner 2 ($$$$) that I posted in post #11 isn't really necessary for what you want to do, I only use it because I have one for tree work. Something like this with a prusik cord for adjustment will work just fine. The idea is the get it adjusted so that you can be hands free and still be balanced on the ladder rung. This one will require an additional carabiner.

1/2" - EVO™ Arborist Positioning Lanyard w/ The Bulldog™ Technora® Prusik

Enhance safety with the 1/2" EVO™ Arborist Positioning Lanyard featuring The Bulldog™ Technora® Prusik. Trust U.S. Rigging Supply for reliable gear.

usrigging.com

 

[busman]

I use my pole climbing belt and an adjustable lanyard. It is not a very cheap option, but when you need the gear to climb poles, it is very comfortable as it is made for that leaned back position. I'll try to post a photo of my actual gear later today.

 

[busman]

I use my pole climbing belt and an adjustable lanyard. It is not a very cheap option, but when you need the gear to climb poles, it is very comfortable as it is made for that leaned back position. I'll try to post a photo of my actual gear later today.


View attachment 2563922

View attachment 2563919

My gear in the photo. Belt is a Bashlin with (L to R) Orange Utility Hook, Bolt Bag, Handline Carrier and Tool Pouch added on. Be aware that the belt with tools is about 25-30 lbs. The Yellow Item is the adjustable lanyard. The Brown/Blue is a Fall Restricting Wood Pole lanyard (no more brown straps allowed), just for completeness. Both Lanyards are DBI/SALA. I left my hooks in the truck (very old Klien's) with Buckingham Velcro Pads.

 

[infinity]

I left my hooks in the truck (very old Klien's) with Buckingham Velcro Pads.

By hooks are you referring to climbing spurs, picks, gaffs, etc.?

 

[busman]

By hooks are you referring to climbing spurs, picks, gaffs, etc.?

Yes, technically gaffs, but around here they just call it "belt and hooks".

 

[infinity]

Yes, technically gaffs, but around here they just call it "belt and hooks".

Interesting I've never heard that one.