What is suspension trauma?

It is often thought that a fall arrest harness solves the entire problem of stopping a worker’s fall. Whilst it is true that it stops the fall and saves lives, what is often overlooked is that there is a distinct, and potentially fatal, risk that begins precisely at that moment.

What happens in the minutes following a fall

As soon as the worker is suspended in their harness, the straps exert significant mechanical pressure. This pressure is concentrated on the legs, pelvis and torso.

The compression from the straps disrupts blood circulation. Blood pools in the lower limbs and no longer flows properly back to the heart. The heart receives less blood to pump. The brain and lungs are deprived of oxygen. Gradually, vital organs are put at risk.

The consequences can be serious: stroke, pulmonary embolism, cardiac arrest, etc.

This is by no means an extreme or rare scenario. It is what happens when the body is suspended and motionless in a harness.

Within minutes, not hours!

This is the point that many people underestimate. It is easy to assume that one has to remain suspended for a long time before it becomes dangerous. Studies contradict this intuition: a serious, even life-threatening, risk can arise within just a few minutes of the fall.

There is no precise duration beyond which the situation becomes dangerous, as several factors can affect this timeframe. What is certain is that the longer the suspension lasts, the more severe the circulatory complications become. And the suspended worker, often in a state of shock and sometimes unconscious, is unable to defend themselves against this process on their own.

This is why we refer to suspension trauma, also known as orthostatic suspension shock or harness suspension syndrome. It is a medical emergency in its own right.

Why this is an HSE issue that must not be overlooked

For an HSE manager or equipment supplier, this topic raises a practical question: have we done everything possible to protect workers at height, not only against falls, but also against what happens afterwards?

Training teams to recognise the signs, putting in place a rapid rescue procedure, and equipping workers correctly are the three pillars of a serious response. A rescue plan that allows for a 30-minute response time is not adequate for this risk.

The anti-trauma strap

KRATOS SAFETY has developed a direct solution to this problem: the anti-trauma strap. The principle is simple: following a fall, the worker can use it to create a support under their feet or knees. By adopting a less passive position, it allows blood to continue circulating in the legs and flow back up to the rest of the body.

It is compact, lightweight and attaches directly to the harness. It does not interfere with the work being carried out, and it is there when needed. It is not a miracle solution that replaces a rescue operation, but it can save precious time.

And in this context, a few extra minutes really do make all the difference.

Key takeaways

A fall arrest harness is essential, but it is not sufficient on its own. Training workers about this risk, putting rapid rescue procedures in place, and equipping them with a fall arrest lanyard is the only way to take a comprehensive approach to safety at height.