DEWALT DXFP532023 (01) PDF DOCUMENT

The instruction manual for the DEWALT DXFP532023 harness uses the following safety alert symbols and words to alert you to hazardous situations and your risk of personal injury or property damage:

DANGER: Indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.

WARNING: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.

CAUTION: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.

(Used without word): Indicates a safety related message.

NOTICE: Indicates a practice not related to personal injury which, if not avoided, may result in property damage.

Before using the DEWALT DXFP532023 harness, you must be aware of the following critical warnings:

Read Instructions: Read and follow the manufacturer’s instruction for each component of the system.

Product Labels: Do not remove product labels which include important warnings and information for all authorized users.

Rescue Plan: Always have a Rescue Plan ready and at hand when using this equipment.

No Alterations: DO NOT ALTER THE EQUIPMENT IN ANY WAY.

Inspection: It is important to inspect the equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions before each use. Inspection of equipment should be done at least annually by a Competent person and the results recorded in the inspection log.

Training: Every individual requires formal training in the use of fall protection equipment and system. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure all users are trained in proper use, inspection and maintenance of Fall Protection Equipment.

User Familiarity: In order to ensure that the user is familiar with the instructions provided in this manual, it becomes the responsibility of the user to undergo proper training on the proper inspection, use and maintenance of this equipment.

Personal Safety

It is crucial that the Authorized person/user of this fall protection equipment reads and understands these instructions. In addition, it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that all users are trained in the proper use, inspection, and maintenance of fall protection equipment.

Proper use of fall arrest systems can save lives and reduce the potential of serious injuries from a fall.

The user must be aware that forces experienced during the arrest of a fall and prolonged suspension may cause injury.

Consult a physician if there is any question about the user’s ability to use this product.

Pregnant women and minors must not use this product.

General Requirement

All warnings and instructions shall be provided to Authorized persons/users.

All Authorized persons/users must refer to the regulations governing occupational safety, as well as applicable ANSI standards.

Please refer to product labels for information on specific OSHA regulations, and ANSI standards met by the product.

Proper precautions should always be taken to remove any obstructions, debris, material, or other recognized hazards from the work area that could cause injuries or interfere with the operation of the system.

The DEWALT DXFP532023 harness should be inspected prior to each use as per the following guidelines:

STEP 1: Locate the impact indicators. This is a section of webbing folded back on itself and held with a specific stitch pattern. If an impact indicator is found to have been released (unfolded), the harness must be immediately removed from service.

STEP 2: Check the stitches on the harness. They should be intact, with no cuts, severe abrasion, or visual damage.

STEP 3: Check the webbing by holding it with your hands 6 to 8 inches apart and bending it into an inverted ‘U’. This makes damaged fibers or cuts easier to detect. Repeat this for the entire length of the webbing, checking both sides of each strap. Look for frayed edges, broken fibers, cuts, burns, pulled stitches, and chemical damage.

STEP 4: Check the D-rings for sharp edges, distortion, cracks, breaks, and rough edges. Ensure the D-ring pivots freely and check for any broken stitching on the D-ring attachments.

STEP 5: Inspect the pads for any cracks, excessive wear, and other signs of damage.

STEP 6: Check the buckle attachments for abrasion, rust, or cracks. Check all connections to the webbing for unusual wear, frayed or cut fibers, or broken stitching.

STEP 7: Check tongue buckles and grommets. The buckle tongues should not be distorted. They should overlap the buckle frames and move freely. The roller should turn freely. The grommets should not be loose, distorted, or broken. There should not be any additional punched holes in the webbing.

STEP 8: Inspect friction buckles for distortion. The center and outer bars should be straight. Inspect the corners and attachment points at the center bar.

STEP 9: If your harness has a quick connect buckle at the chest, inspect it for distortion, cracks, and breaks. The buckles should engage properly and function smoothly.

STEP 1: Lift up and hold the harness by the back D-Ring. Check to ensure that the straps are not twisted.

STEP 2: Open the quick connect buckle.

STEP 3: Grab the shoulder straps and put the harness on over one arm. Be sure that the dorsal D-ring is located on your back and that all straps hang freely and without tangles. Slide your head into the harness between the shoulder pads, like putting on a t-shirt. Ensure that both shoulder straps are sitting flat on top of your shoulders. Adjust the shoulder straps for a comfortable, firm fit.

STEP 4: Reach between your legs and grasp one of the leg straps. Pull it up between your legs and make the connection in front of your harness. Depending on your model, this will be a pass-through, tongue, or quick-connect buckle. Tuck the excess end of the strap under the strap keeper and make the connection snug, allowing enough space under each leg strap to slide at least three fingers through.

STEP 5: Final adjustments should be checked to ensure proper fit as an incorrectly fit harness can cause serious injury in the event of a fall.

– The straps should be snug but still allow you to easily fit several fingers behind the strap.

– The sub-pelvic strap should sit directly under your buttocks without tangles in the straps.

Finally, double check all connections to make sure they are secure.

STEP 1: Lift up and hold the harness by the back D-Ring. Check to ensure that the straps are not twisted.

STEP 2: Grab the shoulder straps and put the harness on over one arm. Be sure that the dorsal D-ring is located on your back and that all straps hang freely and without tangles. Slide your other arm into the harness, like putting on a jacket. Ensure that both shoulder straps are sitting flat on top of your shoulders. The chest strap and buckle should be located in front of you.

STEP 3: Reach between your legs and grasp one of the leg straps. Pull it up and make the connection in front of your harness (pass-through, tongue, or quick-connect buckle). Tuck the excess end of the strap under the strap keeper and make the connection snug, allowing enough space under each leg strap to slide at least three fingers through.

STEP 4: If your harness has a waist belt, you can adjust and buckle the belt to a comfortable, firm fit.

STEP 5: Buckle and adjust the chest strap. It should sit approximately 6 inches (15 cm) below the top of your shoulders. Tuck any excess webbing into the strap keeper.

STEP 6: Adjust the shoulder straps by pulling on the torso adjustment buckles located on each side of the harness. Adjust the shoulder straps equally. This will also allow you to center the chest strap.

STEP 7: Check final adjustments to ensure proper fit. An incorrectly fit harness can cause serious injury in the event of a fall.

– The chest strap should be snug and positioned approximately 6″ below shoulder level.

– The leg straps should be snug but still allow you to easily fit several fingers behind the strap.

– The sub-pelvic strap should sit directly under your buttocks without tangles in the straps.

Finally, double check all connections to make sure they are secure.

It is extremely important that the harness fits snugly and is properly adjusted. After donning the harness, make the following checks:

Check the chest strap: It should be in the middle of your chest in front of the sternum, 6 inches below the shoulders. If positioned too high, it may cause strangulation in a fall. If too low or not connected, the wearer could risk slipping out.

Check the leg strap: They should be properly adjusted for complete safety. Leg straps should be snug but not over tight where they obstruct normal blood circulation in the legs.

Check the sub pelvic strap: This strap provides support to the body and gives support for positioning. It comfortably provides a ‘seat’ for the buttocks in a seated position. In a fall, the wearer should lift their legs to transfer weight to the sub pelvic strap.

The DEWALT DXFP532023 full body harness can be used for the following applications:

Personal Fall Arrest: Used with a connecting sub system (e.g., energy absorbing lanyard) to constitute a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS). The maximum arresting force should not be more than 1800 lbs. (8 kN). Only the dorsal D-ring or attachment element on the back should be connected to the fall arrest subsystem.

Working Positioning: Used to support the user at a work position. The full body harness with a work positioning lanyard constitutes a work positioning system. A personal fall arrest system is always used as a backup. Connect the positioning sub system to the belt-mounted lateral D-rings. These D-rings should never be used for fall arrest.

Restraint: The harness is a component of a restraint system, which prevents the user from reaching a fall hazard (e.g., edge of a roof).

Controlled Descent: The harness is connected to a descender or an evacuation system. These harnesses are equipped with a single sternal D-ring, one or two frontal D-rings, or a pair of connectors below the waist.

Rescue: The harness forms a part of a rescue system. Harnesses with D-rings on the shoulders may be used for entry and egress into confined spaces.

Ladder Climbing: The harness, equipped with a frontal D-ring on the sternal location, is used as a component of a climbing system to prevent a fall when climbing a ladder or other structure.

Dorsal Attachment: Always use the dorsal attachment element as the primary fall arrest attachment, unless the application allows an alternate. It can also be used for travel restraint or rescue.

Sternal Attachment: Can be used as an alternative fall arrest attachment where the dorsal attachment is inappropriate and there is no chance to fall other than feet first. It’s also used for ladder climbing, rope access, and work positioning.

Frontal Attachment: Where there is no chance to fall in a direction other than feet first, it may be used for ladder climbing, guided type fall arresters, and work positioning.

Shoulder Attachment: Always use the shoulder attachment elements as a pair. They are for rescue and entry/retrieval. Never use shoulder attachments for fall arrest. It is recommended to use them with a yoke/spreader element.

Hip Attachment: Hip attachment elements are used solely for work positioning and must always be used as a pair. They are NOT meant for fall arrest. Do not store the unused end of a fall arrest lanyard on the hip attachment elements.

To avoid unintentional disengagement (roll-out), follow these rules for making connections:

NEVER Use Inappropriate Connections

Do not connect two or more connectors to a single D-ring.

Do not attach a connector in a way that could result in a load on its gate.

Do not connect in a false engagement; visually confirm the connector is fully engaged to the anchor point.

Do not connect connectors to each other.

Do not connect connectors directly to webbing or a rope lanyard unless specifically allowed by the manufacturer.

Do not connect to any object that prevents the connector gate from closing and locking.

Large throat opening snap hooks (scaffold/rebar hooks) should not be connected to standard size D-rings.

Important Restrictions While Making Connections

A snap hook should not be connected into a loop or thimble of a wire rope.

Do not make connections where the connector locking mechanism can contact a structural member.

To connect to soft loops on a harness, only a carabiner that can fully close and lock should be used. Snap hooks are not allowed for such connections unless specified by the manufacturer.

The application type determines the anchorage strength requirement:

Fall Arrest: As per OSHA 1926.500 and 1910.66, anchorages for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS) shall be independent of any anchorage used to support platforms. They must withstand a minimum load of 5000 lbs. (23 kN) per user attached, or be designed as part of a complete PFAS with a safety factor of at least two, under the supervision of a qualified person.

Work Positioning: The structure must sustain a static load of min. 3000 lbs. (13.3 kN) or two times the potential impact load, whichever is greater. If more than one system is attached, the strength must be multiplied by the number of systems.

Restraint: The anchorage must have a minimum strength of 1000 lbs. (4.5 kN) static load. If more than one system is attached, multiply 1000 lbs. by the number of systems.

Rescue: The anchorage must sustain a static load of min. 3000 lbs. (13.3 kN). If more than one system is attached, multiply 3000 lbs. by the number of systems.

Capacity: The capacity of the DEWALT full body harness is up to 310 lbs. (140 kg). The combined weight of the person (including clothes, tools, etc.) should not exceed 310 lbs. The capacity range recognized by ANSI Z359 is 130-310 lbs.

Free Fall:

– Personal fall arrest systems must be rigged so that the free fall does not exceed 6 ft. (1.8 m).

– Restraint systems must be rigged so that no vertical free fall is possible.

– Work positioning systems must be rigged so that the free fall does not exceed 2 ft. (0.6 m).

– Personal riding systems must be rigged so there is no vertical free fall possible.

– Climbing systems must be rigged so that free fall is less than 18 inches (46 cm).

– Rescue systems must be rigged so there is no vertical free fall.

There must be sufficient clearance below the user to allow the system to arrest a fall. Total Fall Clearance is calculated from the Anchorage Connection.

The formula is: (A) Free Fall Distance (lanyard length) + (B) Energy Absorber Deceleration Distance + (C) Worker height (includes height to D-ring and harness stretch) + (D) Safety Factor.

Example calculations are provided:

6 FEET FREE FALL: (A) Free Fall Distance + (B) Energy Absorber Deceleration Distance + (C) Worker height + (D) Safety Factor = 18.5 ft. (5.6 m)

12 FEET FREE FALL: (A) Free Fall Distance + (B) Energy Absorber Deceleration Distance + (C) Worker height + (D) Safety Factor = 19.5 ft. (5.9 m)

Care must be taken to ensure that the total fall distance is clear of obstructions.

Maintenance: A full body harness can be cleaned with water and a mild soap solution. Never use bleach or bleach solutions. If a harness is excessively dirty or has a build-up of material like paint, it may be degraded and should be removed from service. Always air dry the harness; do not force dry with heat. The hardware should be wiped off with a clean dry cloth.

Service: Do not attempt to disassemble the unit or make repairs. Additional maintenance and servicing procedures must be completed by an authorized service center only.

Storage: Store full body harnesses in a cool, dry, and clean environment away from direct sunlight. Avoid areas where chemical vapors may be present. Thoroughly inspect the harness after extended storage.

The lifespan of any component of a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) is dependent upon its level of use, the environment in which it is used and how it is maintained. Any part of the PFAS that passes daily inspection by an Authorized person or periodic (annual or semiannual) inspection by a Competent person, can stay in use. Once it fails visual inspection it must be removed from service.

It is important to maintain an equipment record and log all periodic examinations. You should record the product identification information found on the ID label in an equipment record table. The following tables can be used as a template for your records.

EQUIPMENT RECORD

PERIODIC EXAMINATION AND REPAIR HISTORY