Multipurpose safety and positioning belt

Safety apparatus to be worn by a person located at an elevated position for releasable securement to a fixed means located adjacent said position to protect the person from falling and/or suspend said person thereat, while enabling said person to move about relatively unencumbered by said apparatus and also enabling said person to connect said apparatus to a lowering device mounted on an adjacent safety line to repel down said line, said apparatus comprising first belt means, second belt means, and lowering device connection means, said first belt means being arranged to be releasably secured about the waist of the person and including first connection means for releasable securement to said lowering device, said second belt means comprising an elongated web-like member having a pair of ends, each of said ends being fixedly secured to said first belt means at respective spaced positions, said second belt means being disposed in a stowed position interposed between said first belt means and the lower portion of the back of said person, said second belt means being arranged to be pulled down and out from said first belt means to an extended position to form a seat for the buttocks of said person, said lowering device connecting means comprising a pair of extendable, elongated strap-like members being fixedly secured to one of said belt means at a respective positions thereon adjacent the person's hips, each of said strap-like members having a free end arranged to be readily connected to said lowering device for enabling said person to repel down on a safety line once said person has disconnected said first belt means from said holding device.