Protective Technology Branch, Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Rd., Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.
Hum Factors. 2012 Jun;54(3):346-57. doi: 10.1177/0018720811434962.
This study investigated the effect of body size and shape and harness fit on suspension tolerance time.
Fall victims may develop suspension trauma, a potentially fatal reduction of return blood flow from legs to the heart and brain, after a successfully arrested fall if they are not rescued quickly or the harness does not fit them well.
For this study, 20 men and 17 women with construction experience were suspended from the dorsal D-ring of a full-body fall-arrest harness. Their suspension tolerance time, physical characteristics, and harness fit levels were assessed.
Body characteristics (i.e., weight, stature, upper- and lower-torso depths) were associated with decreased suspension tolerance time (r = -.36 - -.45, p < or = .03). In addition, harness fit affected suspension tolerance time; workers with a torso angle of suspension greater than 35 degrees, a thigh strap angle greater than 50 degrees, or a poorly fitting harness size had shorter suspension tolerance time (mean differences = 14, 11, and 9.8 min, respectively, p < or = .05).
Body size and harness fit were predictors of suspension tolerance time. Selecting well-fit harnesses and establishing a 9-min rescue plan are suggested to ensure that no more than 5% of workers would experience suspension trauma.
The study provides a basis for harness designers, standards writers, and manufacturers to improve harness configurations and testing requirements for better worker protection against suspension trauma.
本研究旨在探讨体型和形状以及安全带适配度对悬吊耐受时间的影响。
如果坠落受害者未能被迅速救援或安全带不适合他们，即使成功阻止了坠落，他们仍可能在悬吊状态下发生悬吊创伤，即腿部到心脏和大脑的回流血液减少，这是一种潜在致命的情况。
在这项研究中，20 名有建筑经验的男性和 17 名女性被悬吊在全身防坠落安全带的背部 D 环上。评估了他们的悬吊耐受时间、身体特征和安全带适配度水平。
身体特征（即体重、身高、上躯干和下躯干深度）与悬吊耐受时间缩短相关（r = -.36 至 -.45，p < 或 =.03）。此外，安全带适配度也影响悬吊耐受时间；悬吊时躯干角度大于 35 度、大腿带角度大于 50 度或安全带尺寸不匹配的工人，悬吊耐受时间更短（平均差异分别为 14、11 和 9.8 分钟，p < 或 =.05）。
体型和安全带适配度是悬吊耐受时间的预测因素。建议选择适配度良好的安全带，并制定 9 分钟救援计划，以确保不超过 5%的工人会经历悬吊创伤。
本研究为安全带设计师、标准制定者和制造商提供了依据，以改进安全带配置和测试要求，更好地保护工人免受悬吊创伤。
