Page 315 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 139

S Martin – 14 May 2009

Harness Injury

Please see below self explanatory Safety Alert that relates to an injury caused by an
incorrectly fitted safety harness.

Always remember to ensure your harness is correctly fitted.

If your harness cannot be adjusted to a correct fit, contact your supervisor.

What Happened

An employee was wearing his safety harness too loose. At the time of the fall, it took
some time to rescue him from his position. Due to the fact his harness was not tightly
fitted to the body, he was hanging in his leg supports which were squeezing his scrotum
resulting in his testicles being pushed out. It took a four hour surgery to close the
wound. Less visible on the pictures are two horizontal lacerations from the straps of the
harness. It was unknown at this time whether the damage is irreversible, but you can
image the pain he was going through while hanging in his “too loose” fitting harness.