Body belts, safety straps, and lanyards for linemen

August 10, 1983

Mr. Ernest E. Punches
Application Engineer
DB Industries, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Punches:

This is in response to your latest letter of July 12, 1983, concerning a clarification of the applicable standards for a body belt and lanyard used by a lineman working from the bucket or aerial boom trucks.

The requirements of 29 CFR 1926.959(b) apply to lineman's body belts, safety straps, and lanyards as described below. It should be noted that some of the requirements applying to all three items address hardware primarily found on one unit of equipment. For example, 29 CFR 1926.959(b)(4) applies to body belts, safety straps, and lanyards, but it addresses D rings, which are used on body belts.

Body belts, safety straps, and lanyards

29 CFR 1926.959
(b)(1)(ii) - fabric and leather electrical tests
(b)(1)(iii) - D.C. tests
(b)(4) - D rings
(b)(5) - stitching
(b)(6) - snaphooks
(b)(7) - testing

Safety Straps only
29 CFR 1926.959(b)(1)(i) - electrical tests

Body belts only

29 CFR 1926.959(b)(2) - cushion portion of belt (b)(3) - tool loops

I hope this information is helpful to you. If I may be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
John K. Barto
Chief, Division of Occupational
Safety Programming