Kratos Suspension Trauma Relief Strap - Adjustable Polyester Strap and Steel Buckle

Suspension Trauma Relief Strap

A fall arrest system stops the fall. What it cannot do is prevent what happens next. A worker left suspended in a harness after an arrest event is at immediate risk of suspension trauma: a potentially fatal condition caused by blood pooling in the legs when the body hangs vertically with no load through the feet. Symptoms can begin within minutes and unconsciousness can follow rapidly, even when the fall itself caused no injury. The Suspension Trauma Relief Strap gives the suspended worker a foothold in their own harness, allowing them to stand up, take their weight through their feet, and restore circulation while the rescue is underway. It weighs 86g, attaches to any full body harness in seconds, and costs less than almost any other item in a height safety kit. It is the most overlooked companion purchase in the range.

Why Choose the Suspension Trauma Relief Strap

• Addresses the most overlooked risk in fall arrest: Most sites plan for the fall. Very few plan adequately for what happens to a conscious, uninjured worker who is left hanging in a harness for more than a few minutes. This strap directly addresses that gap.

• Stand-up relief in the harness: By providing a loop the operative can step into, the strap transfers load from the harness leg straps to the operative's legs and feet, restoring normal circulation and preventing the onset of orthostatic shock.

• 86g, universal fit: At 86g and universal size, this strap adds nothing meaningful to the weight of a kit and fits any standard full body harness without modification.

• Attaches in seconds: The textile loop and velcro attachment means the strap can be pre-attached to the harness before work begins, so it is available immediately if needed without requiring the operative to locate and fit a separate piece of equipment while suspended and under stress.

• Fool-proof deployment: The operation is designed to be completed by a suspended worker under physical and psychological stress. There are no complex mechanisms, no tools required, and no sequence that can be done incorrectly.

• Compact storage: The strap rolls into a compact profile that clips to the harness without snagging, trailing, or interfering with the lanyard or other connection hardware.

What's Included

• Suspension Trauma Relief Strap

• Textile loop and velcro harness attachment

 Specifications

Compatibility

Who Is This For?

This strap is for any operative using a full body harness for fall arrest work at height. It is relevant on every site where fall arrest equipment is in use and a rescue plan is required. Site managers, safety officers, and procurement teams should specify this strap as a standard companion item alongside every harness purchase. It is not a specialist product for a specialist user: it is a low-cost, universal safety item that belongs in every fall arrest kit.

Typical Applications

• Pre-attached to a harness before any work at height session as standard practice

• Deployed by a conscious suspended worker immediately after a fall arrest event while awaiting rescue

• Included in the rescue plan equipment list for any site where fall arrest systems are in use

• Specified alongside harness kits for scaffolders, roofers, steel erectors, and maintenance operatives

• Carried as a permanent part of any operative's height safety kit throughout a project

How to Use

1. Before work begins, attach the strap to the harness using the textile loop and velcro at the appropriate point on the harness leg strap. The strap should be pre-attached so it is immediately available if needed.

2. In the event of a fall arrest, once the operative is suspended and the immediate danger has passed, locate the strap. It should already be attached and within reach.

3. Step one foot into the strap loop and take weight through that foot, standing up in the harness. This transfers load from the harness leg straps to the leg and foot, relieving femoral compression and restoring circulation.

4. Maintain this position while awaiting rescue. If fatigue sets in, alternate feet to distribute the load.

5. Call for rescue immediately. The strap buys time but does not replace the need for prompt rescue. Emergency services must be contacted as part of the rescue plan.

6. Once rescued and safely on the ground, the operative must be assessed by a first aider or medical professional. Suspension trauma symptoms can be delayed and self-assessment is not reliable after a fall arrest event.

Safety

• This strap reduces the risk of suspension trauma but does not eliminate it. It is not a substitute for prompt rescue.

• A rescue plan must be in place before any work at height begins, as required under EN365 and the Working at Height Regulations 2005.

• Do not use this strap as a fall arrest, restraint, or rescue device.

• After any fall arrest event, the operative must be assessed by a medical professional regardless of apparent condition.

• Suspension trauma symptoms including dizziness, nausea, and loss of consciousness can occur or recur after the operative has been recovered from suspension.

Maintenance

• Inspect the strap and buckle before each use.

• Check the polyester webbing for cuts, abrasion, or contamination.

• Check the steel buckle for deformation or corrosion.

• Check the velcro attachment for secure grip before each session.

• Clean with a damp cloth and dry naturally away from direct heat.

• Store attached to the harness or in the harness carry bag.

• Retire from service if any component is damaged or if the velcro grip has weakened.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is suspension trauma and why does it matter after a fall arrest?

 A: Suspension trauma, also known as orthostatic intolerance or harness hang syndrome, occurs when a person hangs vertically in a harness with no load through their legs. Blood pools in the lower limbs, reducing return to the heart and brain. Symptoms including dizziness, nausea, and loss of consciousness can begin within minutes of suspension, even in a healthy operative who was uninjured by the fall itself. In severe cases, suspension trauma can be fatal. It is a recognised medical emergency and a mandatory consideration in any working at height rescue plan under EN365.

Q: How does this strap prevent suspension trauma?

 A: The strap gives the suspended worker a loop to step into, allowing them to take their own body weight through their feet rather than through the harness leg straps. This restores the normal load-bearing position of the legs, allows blood to circulate correctly, and delays or prevents the onset of orthostatic shock. It does not eliminate the risk entirely and does not replace the need for prompt rescue, but it gives the operative critical extra time.

Q: Does this strap replace the need for a rescue plan?

 A: No. The strap buys time for a suspended worker but does not rescue them. A full rescue plan, including trained rescue personnel and appropriate rescue equipment such as the EVA'LAD 2 rescue ladder, must be in place before any work at height begins. The strap is a first-response tool that reduces medical risk during the time between the fall event and the arrival of rescue.

Q: Can this strap be pre-attached to the harness before work begins?

 A: Yes, and this is strongly recommended. The strap attaches to the harness leg strap via a textile loop and velcro before the operative puts the harness on. Having it pre-attached means it is immediately available if needed, without requiring the operative to locate, identify, and fit the strap while suspended and under stress. Pre-attachment adds negligible weight and does not affect the harness function or the operative's movement during normal work.

Q: Is this product compatible with all full body harnesses?

A: Yes. The universal size and adjustable length, combined with the velcro and textile loop attachment, make this strap compatible with any standard full body harness. It does not require specific attachment points and does not interfere with the harness D-rings or buckles.

Q: What should happen after a fall arrest event, even if the operative used the strap and feels fine?

 A: The operative must be assessed by a first aider or medical professional after every fall arrest event, without exception. Suspension trauma symptoms can be delayed and the operative's own assessment of their condition is not reliable in the immediate aftermath of a fall. The harness and lanyard must also be withdrawn from service immediately and inspected before any decision on return to use.

Q: How much does this strap weigh and will it affect the operative's movement?

A: The strap weighs 86g. Pre-attached to the harness, it adds no meaningful weight to the kit and does not hamper the operative's movement, reach, or connection to anchor points during normal work. It is designed to be forgotten until it is needed.

Q: Where can I order this and how quickly can I get it to site?

 A: CMT Group supplies the Suspension Trauma Relief Strap from stock with next working day delivery on orders placed by 7pm online or 5pm by phone. Same-day delivery is available. At 86g and low unit cost, this is one of the most straightforward additions to any site's height safety inventory. For contractors ordering harness kits across multiple projects, the EDGE portal allows you to add this strap as a standard companion item to every harness order with agreed contract pricing and full delivery visibility.