Test Summary
Dynamic Testing - Harnesses

Test Setup

In this test, each harness was placed on a 220 pound dummy. A new tether was attached to the harness, and the dummy was raised up to a quick release shackle such that when the shackle was released, the dummy would free fall 6.6 feet. Failure criteria include "flaws, defects, or deterioration after testing that would jeopardize the safety of the wearer".

Dynamic Load Test in Progress

Test Results

Of the standard harnesses only the Jim Buoy failed outright, while there were three that had some visible damage but didn't allow the dummy to come free. On the Jim Buoy, the rib strap parted completely, possibly due to sharp edges on the metal adjustment fitting. There was also some damage to the Jim Buoy D-ring where it gets welded together. It is probable that the poor weld of the D-ring would have failed if the webbing hadn't failed first. Harnesses which showed some damage but not outright failure were the West Marine Securite' and Basic harnesses, and a prototype of the Stormy Seas harness/jacket combination. Both West Marine harnesses had single D-rings that deformed under load. There was no visible evidence of cracking in the D-rings. Note that in our tether testing we used a West Marine Ultimate harness, which has double D-rings. This harness was dropped nine times without failure of the D-rings. The webbing on a prototype version of the Stormy Seas jacket/harness shredded due to sharp edges on the adjustment hardware, although a production version did pass the test without failure. All the other sailing harnesses tested passed the dynamic load test without failure.

We did not test the climbing harnesses. It was felt that the dummy could have damaged the test fixture, because the harness positioned the dummy in a more reclined position. The industrial harnesses passed with no failures. They also appeared to arrest the fall more smoothly than the sailing harnesses.

See Appendix III for details.

Continue to Dynamic Tether Testing
 Back to the Index