Where should lanyards be attached on harnesses?

• A. Middle back near shoulder blades
• B. Front chest near sternum
• C. Side of hips
• D. Waist belt

Answer: (A)

Attach the lanyard to the dorsal point on the harness—the back, roughly between the shoulder blades. This back, midline attachment is designed to take the arrest force and keep you upright, distributing the load through the spine and hips rather than pulling you forward or sideways.

Front chest and hip or waist attachments aren’t meant for fall arrest. They can cause you to tilt or rotate during a fall, increasing the risk of head or spinal injury and placing loads on areas the harness isn’t designed to protect. Front anchors are sometimes used for positioning or restraint, but for arresting a fall the back attachment is the correct choice.