What is the primary role of safety harnesses in rigging?

The primary role of safety harnesses in rigging is to provide fall protection for workers at heights. When individuals are working in environments where they are exposed to the risk of falling, safety harnesses are designed to connect them to a secure anchorage point, effectively mitigating the potential for injury caused by a fall. This is critical in rigging, where workers often operate on elevated platforms, ladders, or scaffolding.

While lifting heavy loads is a vital aspect of rigging, harnesses are not designed to aid in the lifting process itself; they focus on the safety of the worker. Similarly, securing items being lifted is typically the responsibility of other rigging equipment, such as slings or hoists, rather than the harness. As for improving grip on rigging equipment, this does not relate to the function of a harness at all, as they are not intended to enhance physical interaction with equipment but rather to enhance personal safety. Therefore, the effectiveness and design of safety harnesses are centered around ensuring the safety and wellbeing of workers who may be working at dangerous heights.