How to Use Suspension Trauma Straps

For people who have had a fall arrested while working at height, suspension trauma can be avoided in one of two ways: prompt rescue (i.e. within 15 minutes) or properly using trauma relief straps. Suspension trauma is caused by a worker’s blood getting caught in their legs and becoming toxic because it cannot flow through the body in a natural way. If a worker is suspended in a full body harness post fall arrest for longer than 15 minutes, it is very possible that the worker will begin to experience the symptoms of suspension trauma. The best way to prevent that situation is to relieve the pressure being placed on the worker’s body by using suspension trauma relief straps.

By relieving the pressure placed on a worker’s body from a full body harness, a worker is able to tolerate longer periods of suspension time. Being able to tolerate longer periods of time in suspension is important for someone who is working at height in a remote or a difficult to access location since the process of rescuing them could take more than 15 minutes. Thanks to their simple design, it is easy to attach the straps to a harness and quickly deploy them after a fall has been arrested. In order to ensure that this device is as effective as possible in assisting a worker, it’s important that anyone who needs to use trauma relief straps understands how they are attached and how they work.

USING THE TRAUMA RELIEF STRAPS

Trauma relief straps should be attached to a full body harness before a person begins working at height. In order to attach trauma relief straps to your full body harness, follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Before using any personal fall arrest system, workers should receive comprehensive training on the components and functions of the equipment. If the system includes trauma suspension straps, workers should read and understand the manufacturer’s instructions prior to using any part of the fall arrest system.

Using trauma relief straps usually requires deploying them while suspended. The strap or straps should be located, unpacked, and fully deployed. Once the strap or straps are in position, the worker can stand on the straps to relieve the pressure on the thigh straps of the harness.

Prompt rescue is one of the best ways to ensure that suspension trauma is minimized for a worker. However, due to the variety of work locations that can be found at height, it is important to have a way to reduce the potential damage of suspension trauma outside of having a prompt rescue plan. Since there are a number of different situations that can cause the symptoms of suspension trauma to occur, the use of trauma relief straps could significantly reduce the risks associated with suspension trauma.

Until the next time, stay safe up there!

Do you have questions about trauma relief straps? Ask us your question in the comments section below!