I've made it (from the beginning all the way to the end).
If you are a "bucketeer" than you are in deep [censored] wearing a fall protection harness and slipping over the edge.
I don't know what the 'rules' are in the States, but in Holland we're allowed to use the work positioning harness in the bucket (using only a short line). If that's also the case in the rest of the world, than go for the WPH and not the FPH.
All the info in the PDF document implicate there's a serious life threatening danger involved in hanging motionless in a fall protection harness.
The next quotes are from the document:
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1.7 SUSPENSION TRAUMA IN A NORMAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT
It is clear from the evidence provided by the research covered in this review that any person who is suspended in an upright and motionless position is at risk of excessive venous pooling and, therefore, suspension trauma. However, evidence is not apparent of suspension trauma in a normal working environment, where workers are suspended in harnesses while working, e.g. in rope access, (as opposed to workers who are suspended motionless or relatively motionless after a fall and/or have been injured). To investigate this further, a questionnaire was prepared and placed on the website of the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) and members advised of it by email. IRATA has approximately 50 members and approximately 7,000 trained technicians, all of whom had access to the questionnaire. The website is not restricted to IRATA members and technicians; it is also open to the general public. Approximately 15,000 pages a week are read on the site.
If suspension trauma is a problem in a normal working environment, IRATA technicians are likely to know, as millions of hours have been spent by them suspended in harnesses. By the end of 1999, over a period of 11 years, over 5.8 million recorded hours were spent by IRATA qualified rope access technicians actually “on rope”.
The questionnaire was placed on the IRATA website on or around 09 August 2001 and reminders of its existence, further requests for information and details of the symptoms of presyncope were emailed to members on 18 October 2001 and again on 03 December 2001. The request for information remained on the website until 31 January 2002. Not one incident of symptoms of pre-syncope or syncope had been reported at that date. Details of the questionnaire and the reminders are given in appendix B.
Direct requests for up to date information on incidents of suspension trauma resulted in one response (December 2001).59 This was from Western Australia and occurred during rescue training, the very subject that initiated this report. Two mild cases had been seen of what was believed to be hypovolaemic shock. These cases had arisen under controlled circumstances during tower rescue training. The “casualties” were suspended by their harnesses awaiting a rescue. In each case, full body harnesses were worn, one suspended from the rear dorsal ring, the other by a lower frontal attachment. Symptoms were found as shock — cold and clammy skin and shortness of breath. This occurred after approximately ten to 15 minutes. In one case, when the casualty was brought to the ground, nausea was also experienced.
There appears to be little or no evidence of occurrences of suspension trauma in a normal working environment, where workers are suspended in harnesses while working, e.g. in rope access. The questionnaire referred to in 1.7 and given in detail in appendix B resulted in not one report of experience of the symptoms, despite two reminders of the request for information. It would seem to be fair to assume from this that suspension trauma is not a problem in a normal working environment for workers in suspension. There could be two main reasons for this:
a) that workers who have to work suspended in a harness try to ensure that the harness and/or system of suspension that they use is comfortable;
b) that these workers are usually carrying out physical work, which encourages muscle pumping in the limbs and, therefore, normal return of venous blood to the heart.
Bariod and Théry (1997) [17] say: “The pathology caused by safety harnesses only occurs in the special context of a person hanging suspended and motionless.”
Harnesses used for suspension are used as a tool and can be thought of as active, while harnesses used as part of a normal fall arrest system are not usually used for suspension and can be thought of as passive. Because passive harnesses are normally only used for suspension in an emergency, e.g. after a fall, the need for them to be comfortable is less obvious and quite often overlooked or even ignored. Mattern and Reibold (1991) [27] make another valid point: “Quite often, the most comfortable position for suspension conforms little to the position following deceleration in such a harness.” The pain that results from being suspended in some harnesses could be enough to encourage the onset of pre-syncopal symptoms. A suspension test before first use as advocated in BS 7985 [35 8.3.6.2] and similar to the one specified in International Standard ISO 10333-1 [38] might create a few surprises but could resolve this problem.
The use of a workseat is advocated by European legislation [37] and by the British Standard for the use of rope access methods for industrial purposes [35], where the worker is suspended for extended periods. There are different types of workseat, ranging from a simple webbing strap, a flat board with side straps to suspend it (like a child's swing) through to the more luxurious boatswain's chair type seats. Different types of seat will suit different types of work situation.
While the use of a workseat is likely to increase the comfort of the user, which, indeed, is its main intention, its effect compared with being suspended in a harness in delaying the onset of suspension trauma in someone who is motionless is unclear.
It is essential that a plan and resources are in place to enable the immediate rescue of any person who becomes vulnerable to the onset of suspension trauma. If a suspended worker is injured and movement of the lower limbs is limited or if the casualty is unconscious, the evidence shows that suspension trauma is highly likely to ensue, unless immediate steps are taken to remedy the situation.
Page 69/70 (80/81 of the PDF document)
If a more general acceptance of front attachments were agreed, albeit with restrictions on length of fall and force, it could lead to a more comfortable suspended position, which could delay the onset of suspension trauma.
It could be of benefit if standards developers revisited the subject of the maximum angle of suspension required by the harness standards. It is important that standards developers assess very carefully the advantages and disadvantages before setting the requirements for this angle.
There are more than the fall and arrest phases to consider when setting the angle. For example, in the suspension phase, it could be more appropriate to be substantially horizontal, to delay venous pooling and the onset of suspension trauma. A more horizontal position could also be
more comfortable than an upright one. The prevention of blocking the airways due to extension or flexion of the head should also be included in this proposed study.
In many cases, standards developers seem not to have addressed properly the suspension phase of a fall and its implications. There is enough evidence in this document to show that the problems exist. The requirement for a suspension test, such as that in ISO 10333-1, the requirement for manufacturers firstly to advise potential users to test the harness in suspension before first use, such as that in EN 813, and secondly to provide information on suspension trauma should be included in new standards and revisions. Standards developers should be actively encouraged to address these issues.
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Again, I think we shouldn't overreact on the suspension trauma issue when wearing the "arbo saddles" as we do.
Our motionless position is very uncomfortable but nearly horizontal. We still have a good blood flow because our veins are not jammed shut by webbing. Venous pooling in the legs is less of an issue because of the more or less horizontal position we're in thus less blood to the brain is not probable.
What to do in a rescue scenario?
Think of the worst case.
Is the person still alert? MAKE HIM MOVE HIS LEGS (this will bring the fluids back to the blood stream).
Make sure that the legs move up (use a webbing sling around the feet and legs attached to the central attachment point).
Get the upper torso in a more upright position.
When on the ground..... DON'T LET THE PERSON LIE DOWN.
This may result in an immediate heart failure. This can even occur hours after the incident. This is also why you have to hospitalize the person at all times.
Get the person in an upright sitting position with his legs flexed towards the body. Keep the airway, breathing and circulation in order in this position.
Putting a Suspension Trauma victim flat on it's back is KILLING that person.
