April 14, 2004—Fall arrest systems save the lives of workers falling from heights, but workers who remain suspended for lengthy periods of time in safety harnesses following a fall can develop a condition known as “orthostatic intolerance”—the pooling of blood in the veins due to a force of gravity and lack of movement.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed a Safety and Health Bulletin, “Suspension Trauma/Orthostatic Intolerance,” that describes the signs and symptoms of the condition, outlines recommendations for preventing such occurrences, and discusses worker training and rescue.
