Jennifer McGurrin

When working at heights, having access to comfortable equipment can make a world of difference, especially from the perspective of worker compliance and safety. That’s why global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety Incorporated has invested in designing and manufacturing innovative and comfortable fall protection harnesses that meet a wide variety of needs – and budgets. The company has now announced the addition of two new harnesses – called the V-FORM and the V-FIT – to its leading V Series line of fall protection equipment. The two new harnesses, which are available for immediate shipment, meet industry standards and are ergonomically designed to deliver exceptional comfort. Additionally, they include unique features, such as a patent-pending racing-style buckle, athletic cut, and pull-down adjustment that allow workers to quickly secure a fit that best suits them and will last throughout the work day, thereby enabling them to focus exclusively on their work. vented pads for cooling The full V-Series harness line is now comprised of three full-body, racing-style harnesses that have varying price points and comfort levels: The V-FORM is the base model that features a patent-pending racing-style buckle, athletic cut to allow upper torso mobility, and pull-down adjustment. The V-FIT is the mid-range model and, in addition to the standard features, adds non confining shoulder pads that conform with worker movement, along with patented leg straps that distribute webbing comfortably across the legs, thereby reducing pressure points. The V-FLEX harness, which was introduced in 2018, is MSA’s premium model and further expands comfort options with vented pads for cooling and a patent-pending hip juncture that rotates with the worker to provide exceptional mobility while reducing the drag a worker would typically feel on a harness. fall protection equipment “Harnesses are a critical piece of personal protective equipment for fall protection,” said Jennifer McGurrin, General Manager of Global Fall and Industrial Head Protection at MSA. “When wearing a harness all day, a worker wants to be as comfortable as possible. MSA is expanding our new line of harnesses to increase comfort – and therefore worker compliance. Our new range of harnesses allows workers to choose the features and price point that best meet their needs.” The V-Series brand of fall protection equipment is inspired by MSA’s iconic V-Gard hard hat, which is used by millions of workers around the world. Comprised of self-retracting lanyards and harnesses with varying price points and comfort levels, MSA’s V-Series products offer one of the highest levels of fall protection available today.

According to the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a cause of death for construction employees. So for industries that are inherently dangerous and require men and women to work at heights, the demand for comfortable and technology-driven fall protection equipment and services has never been greater. To provide workers at height with new options to help protect them at work, global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety announces the introduction of a broad new line of innovative fall protection harnesses called the V-Series. Permanent engineered systems The company plans to showcase elements of this new line at the upcoming National Safety Congress (NSC) Expo in Houston, Texas, October 22 to 24. The V-Series line of fall protection equipment is named after MSA’s iconic V-Gard® hard hat, which is used by millions of workers across the globe. Comprised of self-retracting lanyards and three harnesses with varying price points and comfort levels, the V-Series harness line, when used in conjunction with MSA’s suite of fall protection equipment, offers one of the highest levels of fall protection available. The VFLEX Harness features a full-body, racing-style design, making it ideal for long hours on the job It also means MSA can offer customers a full portfolio of work-at-height solutions, ranging from permanent engineered systems to personal protective equipment (PPE). Among the fall protection harnesses, MSA plans to showcase at the NSC is a premium offering called the V-FLEX™ Harness. Designed to provide exceptional wearer comfort, the VFLEX Harness features a full-body, racing-style design, making it ideal for long hours on the job or extended shifts. Increasing worker compliance A patent-pending RaceFLEX™ connection reduces the feeling of restriction and the need for repetitive harness adjustment to improve worker mobility. With additional features including contoured, breathable shoulder padding and horizontal leg straps, the V-FLEX harness is designed to keep workers comfortable all day, every day. “Harnesses are a critical piece of personal protective equipment for fall protection,” said Jennifer McGurrin, General Manager of Global Fall and Industrial Head Protection at MSA. “When wearing a harness all day, workers want to be as comfortable as possible. MSA is launching this new line of harnesses designed around comfort to increase worker compliance and improve satisfaction. The range of harnesses allows workers to choose the features and price point that best meet their needs.” Gas detection products Safety io delivers the ability to remotely monitor gas level readings in the workplace Also making its Expo debut will be Safety io – MSA’s first subsidiary focused entirely on leveraging MSA’s gas detection technology with an innovation in cloud-based software. Safety io uses wireless technology and cloud-based computing to enable a broad range of ‘connected’ safety activities. With MSA gas detection products serving as enablers, Safety io delivers the ability to remotely monitor gas level readings in the workplace, track the safety of associates, monitor instrument maintenance status and, in the event of an emergency, notify workers of the need to evacuate with the push of a button. “In many respects, Safety io challenges safety-minded organizations to expect more from their gas detection systems and programs,” said Gustavo Lopez, General Manager for Safety io. Latest technological advancement “The services we offer are designed to enable worksite managers to make informed decisions, reinforce best practices and pursue a safety-first, injury-free workplace.” Software platforms currently available from Safety io – which are available as subscription-based services – include Fleet Manager and Live Monitor. Fleet Manager allows organizations to proactively track and monitor the calibration of their gas detection equipment and make standard operating procedures more efficient. Live Monitor enables the remote tracking and monitoring of all workers performing difficult and hazardous job functions in a real-time fashion. Customers, safety experts, and the public can explore these and other new product solutions and latest technological advancements from MSA, and speak with the company’s team of safety specialists, at this year’s NSC Congress and Expo at booth number 2234 from October 22 to 24.