Safety harness and method

Apparatus comprising a harness, the harness comprising:

• a first portion comprising:
• a waist strap having a first location and a second location;
• first and second leg straps extending from the waist strap;
• a seat strap extending between the first and second leg straps;
• a center portion;
• first and second shoulder straps extending between the center portion and the waist strap;
• a tether extending from the center portion and comprising a first loop portion;
• and
• a strap extending through the first loop portion and adapted to form a second loop portion, the second loop portion adapted to circumferentially extend about a structure;
• and
• a standing strap coupled to the first portion and having a first end and a second end, the standing strap comprising:
• a first configuration in which:
• the first end of the standing strap is coupled to the waist strap at the first location;
• the second end of the standing strap is removably coupled to the waist strap at the second location;
• and
• the standing strap is arranged so that the standing strap is adapted to be stood on;
• a second configuration in which:
• the first end of the standing strap is coupled to the waist strap at the first location;
• and
• the second end of the standing strap is removably coupled to the waist strap at the first location;
• and
• a third configuration in which:
• the first end of the standing strap is coupled to the waist strap at the first location;
• the second end of the standing strap is removably coupled to the waist strap at the second location;
• and
• the standing strap is arranged so that the standing strap is adapted to be used as a climbing belt.

A method of operating a harness comprising a standing strap and a seat strap, the method comprising:

• permitting a user to wear the harness;
• if the user is held in suspension from a structure by the harness, then permitting the user to stand on the standing strap so that at least a portion of the weight of the user is generally borne by the standing strap while the user is held in suspension from the structure by the harness;
• permitting at least another portion of the weight of the user to be generally borne by the seat strap while the user is held in suspension from the structure by the harness;
• permitting the standing strap to hang down at the side of the user;
• permitting the standing strap to be used as a climbing belt;
• and
• permitting the user to move along the structure while using the standing strap as a climbing belt;
• wherein the tension in at least another portion of the harness is reduced in response to permitting the user to stand on the standing strap so that at least a portion of the weight of the user is generally borne by the standing strap while the user is held in suspension from the structure by the harness.

A system for operating a harness comprising a standing strap and a seat strap, the system comprising:

• means for permitting a user to wear the harness;
• means for if the user is held in suspension from a structure by the harness, then permitting the user to stand on the standing strap so that at least a portion of the weight of the user is generally borne by the standing strap while the user is held in suspension from the structure by the harness;
• means for permitting at least another portion of the weight of the user to be generally borne by the seat strap while the user is held in suspension from the structure by the harness;
• means for permitting the standing strap to hang down at the side of the user;
• means for permitting the standing strap to be used as a climbing belt;
• and
• means for permitting the user to move along the structure while using the standing strap as a climbing belt;
• wherein the tension in at least another portion of the harness is reduced in response to permitting the user to stand on the standing strap so that at least a portion of the weight of the user is generally borne by the standing strap while the user is held in suspension from the structure by the harness.