Gordon Leicester
Founded facelift in 1985 with one vehicle and built the company into a £15m
turnover business with over 830 assets nationally. He has been the driving
force behind the growth of facelift since its inception. He initiated a number of
patents including the ZT Harness, the I Foot and Sky Hook.
The History of
Safety Harnesses
1407
The earliest evidence
dates
back to the renaissance
period.
1595
Fausto Veranzio
designed parachute
harness named ‘Flying
man’ or ‘The man with
the angels blessing’
1911
Gleb Kotelnikov
invented first
parachute harness
made of webbing.
1918
Floyd Smith first
patented parachute
harness with groin
straps
1930-1950’s
There is no evidence
of the use of any
safety harness in the
construction industry
1950s
Fall prevention was a
waist strap going
around the individuals
back.
1960-1980’s
The first waist belts
appeared, probably
originating from pole
climbing in America.
1980’s - 2008
The first full body
harness are introduced
probably originating
from the parachute
harness.
THE FUTURE
What is a conventional harness?
It is a structure made from webbing,
designed to hold the human body in the
event of a fall.
It is NOT designed to prevent injury from
it’s use.
In 2007 initial testing
was carried out by
the HSE and in 2008
further tests were
conducted by Sussex
University and
Millbrook proving
ground.
Testing was carried
out using identical
Crash test dummies
and techniques used
in establishing car
safety standards.
Video of crash test dummy
wearing a conventional front
mounted safety harness
taken at Millbrook
laboratories.
Points of impact and force distribution in a
conventional harness
A conventional front mounted safety
harness over a 4 metre drop produces
enough whiplash to break the neck.
* Data from Millbrook laboratories
A poorly fitted
conventional
harness
can cause
strangulation
in a fall.
Wearing a correctly
fitted traditional
harness severely
reduces air
circulation around
the groin. Therefore,
creating the risk of
testicular heat
stress.
Possible injuries sustained in the event
of a fall wearing a conventional harness
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tr a u m a t o t e s t i c l e s , w o m b , a n u s
Spinal trauma
Groin tissue damage/testicular heat stress
Te a r i n g t o f e m o r a l a r t e r y
Damage to kidneys and internal organs
Hip dislocation
Breast tissue damage
Whiplash
Collar bone fractures
Suspension Trauma?
Everybody w ho i s suspended i n a safety harness runs
the ri sk of shock and unconsci ousness due to bl ood
fl ow i nsuffi ci ency.
U nconsci ousness can become l i fe threateni ng after
onl y a few mi nutes .
* M Lieblich and W Rensing (1997)
Some form of pump is required in order to move fluid against gravity, and it is no different in
the legs. The heart is an efficient organ, but with up to 20% of the blood volume being in the
legs at any one time, it would have to work extremely hard at all times to maintain adequate
venous return. Additional methods are required. These are provided by one-way valves in
the veins and by the contraction of the calf muscles, which squeeze blood upwards towards
the heart.
If someone stood still for a number of minutes, up to 20% of the blood volume would be in
the legs. This would place the body in to class 2 shock which could easily lead to loss of
consciousness.
He gives the analogy of the soldier fainting while on guard duty, described earlier in 1.2, and
his rapid return to consciousness as the blood flow to the brain is restored. Having made
the point that an unconscious person suspended in a harness would not automatically
assume a horizontal position, he continues: “There are a number of factors that make
suspension trauma in a climber/casualty different from that in our soldier.”
* Dr R Dawes (2000)
To f u r t h e r c o m p l i c a t e m a t t e r s , a f t e r 2 0 o r 3 0 m i n u t e s o f
the harness directly compressing tissue, the condition
known as 'crush injury' will result. This causes the release
of large proteins (myoglobin) from damaged tissues and
when the harness (or bodyweight) is removed can be very
damaging to the kidneys .
* Dr R Dawes (2000)
Failure of the
muscle pump
the legs
Circulatory
insufficiency
Reduction of
venous return
Organ damage
Decrease in
volume of
circulatory
blood
Acute Oxygen
deficiency
Fall in cardiac
output
Fall in blood
pressure
Paul Seddon HSE 2002
G O L I A D , Te x a s - A n o i l f i e l d w o r k e r i n
S o u t h Te x a s h a s d i e d a f t e r f a l l i n g w h i l e
near the top of a 50-foot rig.
The Goliad County Sheriff's Office on
Wednesday identified the accident victim as
40-year-old Scotty O'Neal Stanley of
Livingston.
Deputies were summoned Monday night to a rural area after other
workers heard a hardhat fall and looked up to see Stanley dangling
from his safety harness. Authorities believe Stanley slipped and fell,
striking his head and being left unconscious .
Another worker lowered the victim to the base of the rig. Stanley had
died by the time emergency personnel arrived. Sgt John Pape says the
w o r k e r h a d a v i s i b l e h e a d i n j u r y.
No cause of death was released. Investigators didn't say how far
Stanley fell. Additional details weren't immediately released .
* News Report February 2015
To d a t e , t h e r e i s n o i d e a l s a f e t y h a r n e s s , b u t i t i s l i k e l y
that — whatever the appearance of the safety harness —
a relatively long period of time spent suspended
motionless can lead to death .
It is recommended as a matter of urgency that when a
safety harness is purchased, it should be tested while
suspended so that one can find the model which best fits
t h e s h a p e o f t h e b o d y. N o s a f e t y h a r n e s s e s s h o u l d b e
used that does not adjust to the body….
* Bariod and Théry (1997)
The Dynamic Safety Harness
A Dynamic Harness should NOT be considered as a first line of fall
prevention for persons working at height.
The Dynamic Harness, as with any other type of safety harness, should
only be considered for the primary means of fall prevention while
working at height as a last resort or as an additional safety measure.
Working at height risks must be properly assessed by a competent
person and alternate means of fall prevention considered first, such as
safe working platforms, fixed guard rails/toe boards, Mobile elevated
working platforms (Cherry Pickers, Scissor lifts etc).
The Concept
• Comfortable to wear
• Create a stylish safety harness which becomes the users uniform
• Eliminate or reduce injuries sustained in the event of a fall
• Remains comfortable and pain free when in suspension
Timeline
 2007
The idea is conceived
 2007
Initial testing is carried out by the UK HSE laboratories
 2008
Testing carried out by Sussex University and Millbrook Crash Test laboratories
 2011
SATRA grants CE EN361-2002
 2015
SAI Global grants AUS/NZ AS/NZS 1891.1:2007
Vi d e o o f c r a s h t e s t d u m m y
wearing a front mounted
Dynamic safety harness taken
at Millbrook laboratories.
2011 - Awarded APAF & IAPA
‘Contribution to Safe Working at Height’
22 of the 26 acceleration/
moment / load values are
lower for the Dynamic
Harness suggesting it can
reduce the potential risk
for certain adverse effects
on the body during a fall.
Point of impact and force distribution in a
Dynamic harness
The Dynamic harness
distributes forces away from
the groin to a more appropriate
load bearing structure of the
lower limbs and pelvis
Conventional
Dynamic
The Dynamic Safety
Harness reduces
whiplash and fall forces
by up to 60%
Conventional
Dynamic
Strangulation
When deployed, the
orange webbing A slides
through the black upper
structure B preventing
the chest strap C from
being pulled upwards
towards the neck
C
The Dynamic Safety
Harness allows
complete air
circulation around the
groin area as there
are no restrictive
straps.
Front attachment
suspension position
The user comes to rest in
a semi-seated position.
Rear attachment
suspension position
The user comes to rest in
a kneeling position.
Component Strengths
Orange webbing:
3,000kg
Black webbing:
3,000kg
Leg Gaiter:
1,000kg (each leg)
L e g G a i t e r R o p e : 500kg
Chest buckle:
x 6 loops = 6,000kg (each leg)
18kN (rear & work position harness only)
Rated for persons up to
150kg, 23st, 330lbs
Standard conventional harnesses are only rated to 100kg
A Dynamic harness does not need to
be adjusted tightly, contrary to
guidance for a conventional harness.
It will automatically tighten and adjust
to the body in the event of a fall.
Inspect in the same manner as a
conventional harness, daily before
use and every 6 months*
An individual trained on inspecting a
conventional harness should not
require additional training to inspect
a Dynamic harness.
* This will vary on local legislation
Fully machine washable.
The harness is washed 70 times at
60°C, prior to final strength / drop
testing to achieve CE approval.
Interchangeable Trouser option
Harness can be removed from trouser
Trouser section can be replaced
Optional flame retardancy, tested and
approved when used in conjunction
with flame retardant coveralls
BS EN361:2002
The ZT Dynamic Harness is manufactured in the UK
using the finest quality materials and components*
* Garments vary upon customer requirements
Manufactured utilizing the same technology
as used in the production of car air bags
Harness Types
Standard Harness
Front Attachment
Dual Harness
Front & Rear
Universal Harness
Front, Rear & Work
Positioning
Garment options
Work wear
Heavy duty
Undergarment
Fire
Service
Flame
Retardant
High
visibility
Anti-Static
High
visibility
Extreme
weather
Companies who have adopted the ZT Dynamic
Harness
www.ztsafety.com