ISO 10333-1:2000

Personal fall-arrest systems — Part 1: Full-body harnesses

Scope

This part of ISO 10333 specifies the requirements, test methods, instructions for general use, marking, packaging and
maintenance for full-body harnesses (FBH).
The main purpose of a FBH is to allow the user to connect into a personal fall-arrest system (PFAS), which will be
specified in a future International Standard (see ISO 10333-6 in the Bibliography), such that if an arrest takes place,
the arresting force will not exceed 6 kN.
For the purposes of this part of ISO 10333, FBH may have attachment elements that allow the user to connect into
other types of safety or access system, for example a work-positioning system, a controlled descent/ascent system or
a confined-space access system. This part of ISO 10333 includes requirements for such attachment elements.
This part of ISO 10333 is applicable only to FBH limited to single-person use of a total mass not exceeding 100 kg.
NOTE Users of fall-protection equipment whose total mass (including tools and equipment) exceeds 100 kg are advised to
seek advice from the equipment manufacturer regarding the suitability of the equipment, which may need additional testing.
The scope of this part of ISO 10333 does not extend to:
a) waist belts or chest harnesses: such equipment is not considered as safe to use in personal fall-arrest systems
(PFAS);
b) all other types of harnesses that are not designed primarily for use in PFAS;
c) other special requirements for FBH, peculiar to use in a controlled descent/ascent system or a confined-space
access system;
d) any assessment of compatibility or suitability in respect of the performance of FBH in a controlled
descent/ascent system or a confined-space access system.
This part of ISO 10333 does not specify those additional requirements that would apply when harnesses are subjected
to special conditions of use (where, for example, there exist unusual limitations concerning access to the place of work
and/or particular environmental factors). Thus treatments to ensure the durability of the materials of construction (such
as heat treatment, anti-corrosion treatment, protection against physical and chemical hazards) are not specified in this
part of ISO 10333, but should comply with appropriate International Standards or, failing that, with national standards
and other specifications dealing with relevant physical characteristics and/or the safety of users. In particular, when it is
considered necessary to test the corrosion resistance of metallic parts of the equipment, reference should be made to
ISO 9227.