IPAF announces winner of women's harness competition

IPAF has announced that Tractel was the winner of the design challenge that it posed at Intermat last year.

With an increasing number of women using access platforms it was suggested that the upper body straps on a traditional harness were both uncomfortable and could be potentially damaging to breast tissue in the event of a fall. Tractel's Ladytrac harness has strapping which transfers any pressure and impact across larger muscle groups.

The straps are not positioned across the chest; they are positioned down the side of the upper body. The harness comes with a detachable lightweight breathable vest fitted with adjustable Velcro fastening at multiple points. The buckles are quick release and fasten on the outer thigh as opposed to the inner thigh.

Rupert Douglas-Jones FS, IPAF's international training manager, said, "The winning entry addresses the problem of friction on the upper body caused by traditional positioning of load bearing straps across the chest. In the event of a catapulting incident, this harness, specially designed for women would take pressure away from the chest and move it down the sides of the body towards the more muscular outer thigh muscles."

Also, highly commended was an innovative harness submitted by ZT Safety Systems. This system is designed to reduce the trauma caused from a fall. It features a harness built into workman's trousers which transmits the pressure into the calf muscles. Read more about this development in Access International Magazine.