FITTING & USE
V2-0616
INSPECTION, CARE & MAINTENANCE
INSPECTION, CARE & MAINTENANCE
Your harness should be thoroughly inspected before each use. Any harness
that does not pass inspection should be immediately retired from service and
discarded/destroyed.
Inspections should include:
• Examination of all load-bearing components for signs of damage.
• Inspection of all stitching for signs of wear, fraying, breaks, loosened/pulled
threads, or cuts.
• Inspection of webbing for signs of cuts, burns, discoloration, broken fibers,
hard/soft sections, or excessive wear.
• Examination of buckles and attachment points for proper function.
• Examination of all metal components for corrosion, damage or sharp edges.
• Inspection of webbing rigging and safety buckles to ensure that harness has
been properly assembled.
• Inspection for any signs of damage from heat, chemical exposure, or various
hazardous environments.
• Inspection of date of manufacture and date placed in service to determine if
retirement of harness is needed (See “Retirement Criteria” section).
• Inspections should be recorded and maintained in an Equipment Inspection
Log. A sample is provided in these instructions.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Maintaining your harness properly will provide a longer service life and ensure
the highest level of safety during use.
The following maintenance guidelines should be followed:
• Store harness loosely packed in a clean, dry environment.
• Thoroughly air dry a wet harness before storing it, never dry in a heated
dryer.
• Keep your harness away from exposure to direct flame or extreme
temperatures.
• Temperature of storage or use must not exceed 176°F (80°C). The melting
point of nylon is 446°F (230°C).
• Prevent exposure of your harness to chemicals or other damaging
substances.
• No repairs or modification to this harness should be performed by anyone, or
warranty shall be voided and safety features could be compromised.
HOW TO PUT THE HARNESS ON CORRECTLY:
• To ensure a good fit, the user must try on and adjust harness appropriately
prior to use.
• Double Back Buckles: Loosen leg loops and waistbelt by sliding the slack
tail end of the webbing towards the buckle so that you create a bight of
webbing that is positioned in the middle of the buckle. Pull the slack bight
of webbing out of the buckle opposite of the tail end of the webbing to
adjust the harness to its largest size. Do not pull the webbing completely
through the buckle.
• Step through the waistbelt, inserting a leg into each leg loop.
• Secure the waistbelt comfortably so that it wraps over the top of the hip
bones and so that the front attachment points are about belly button level.
Do this by pushing the waistbelt webbing to create a bight of webbing in
the center of the buckle. Pull the side of the bight of webbing farthest from
the tail end of the webbing out so that the slack is taken out of the leg loop
and is snug around the waist.
• Pinch the buckle and webbing to hold in place, then with the other hand
pull the tail end of the webbing until the bight and all slack gets taken out
of the webbing and the waistbelt stays firmly in place.
• When each buckle is tightened to the desired snug fit, take the tail end of
the webbing, tilt the buckle slightly and slide the webbing though the far
side of the slot in the buckle and pull tight to double back the buckle. Once
the webbing is doubled back through the buckle, there should be no less
than 3 inches of the tail end of webbing left. If there is less, then readjust
until you get 3 inches of webbing.
• Repeat this process with each of the leg loops until all applicable buckles
are doubled back.
• Use only with approved chest harness.
The design of this harness results in a variable “rise” (distance between leg
loops and waist belt) that can be easily adjusted at the leg loop safety buckles
to ensure that the harness sits comfortably and suspends the wearer properly.
If the rise is too short, there can be uncomfortable compression applied to
the crotch. This could also cause uneven top-heavy weight distribution which
could result in the wearer being flipped upside down. If the rise is too long,
the harness can put excessive compression above the hipbone. When adjusted
correctly, this harness positions the user comfortably in an upright, seated and
slightly reclined position.
PMI LIMITED WARRANTY
PMI products are warranted to the original retail purchaser to be free
from defect in material and workmanship for a period of one year. PMI
will repair or replace the item without charge provided inspection at our
factory discloses no misuse or alteration, which, in our judgment, has
affected the condition or functioning of the product. All implied warranties
imposed by law in connection with the sale of PMI products are also limited
in duration to a period of one year. PMI expressly excludes and shall not
be liable for any consequential damages arising out of any breach of the
express or implied warranties on sales of PMI products. Because of the
high risks involved in high angle rope work such as, but not limited to,
rescue, rope access, caving, rappelling, rock climbing and mountaineering,
no further warranties exist or are implied by PMI. Regulations issued under
the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act require us to include the following
statement: some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied
warranty lasts nor the excluding or limitation of incidental or consequential
damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.
Thank you for purchasing PMI products!
Cleaning your harness:
Washing
- If your harness is dirty, you can wash it by hand or in a front-
loading commercial washing machine. Use a PMI Laundry bag for keeping
the harness from getting tangled when washing in a machine. Wash harness
by using cool to warm water <30°C (<86°F) with a mild soap. PMI
recommends using PMI Rope Soap; otherwise non-detergent soaps are best.
Soap used should not contain any bleaching agents.
DO NOT:
• DO NOT use top loading washing machines with agitators because they
tangle/damage the harness severely and can cause damage to the machine.
• DO NOT use a commercial dryer to dry the harness.
• DO NOT leave a wet harness on a surface where contaminants may leach
(such as concrete).
• DO NOT expose the harness to exhaust fumes.
Disinfecting
- Disinfection of a harness may occasionally become necessary,
such as when exposed to bloodborne pathogens. To disinfect a harness
from suspected bloodborne pathogens, PMI recommends following the NFPA
standard for cleaning rescue gear of bloodborne pathogens. Keeping in mind
that undiluted household bleach is known to damage nylon, NFPA calls for
using a diluted solution of household bleach to clean rescue gear exposed
to bloodborne pathogens. Add 60 ml of household bleach per 4 liters of tap
water. That’s about one quarter (1/4) cup of bleach per gallon of water.
Be
aware that some commercial bleach solutions are stronger than the 1.5%
that is typical for household bleach. Soak the gear in the diluted solution for
ten minutes, then rinse thoroughly with tap water.
The rinsing cycle is critical
to prevent any damage to the nylon from the bleach. It is good to soak the
gear in tap water for the same amount of time it soaked in the bleach solution.
Never store gear while it is wet.
WARNING!
The use of bleach over a long period of time, in repeated uses, can cause
damage to fibers such as nylon. Disinfection of the harness using bleach
should be used sparingly and only when needed.
Drying
- Dry your harness in a clean, dry area out of direct sunlight.
For best results, it should be hanged to dry in a low-humidity environment.
Write It Down
- Remember to record the cleaning on the Equipment Log.
Keep It Clean
- Store your harness in a clean, dark, dry environment, away from
exposure to acids, chemicals, noxious fumes, or other harmful agents.
PRODUCT LIFETIME
Regardless of history and use, a PMI® Pit Viper Caving Harness should be
retired if it is greater than 10 years from the date of manufacture. The actual
service life of of this harness may be much less than 10 years and should be
based largely on the results of frequent inspection and use history. Material
integrity and product performance characteristics will degrade over time. PMI
recommends that you thoroughly inspect your equipment before each use and at
a minimum at least once every 6 months. Specialized training may be required
to become competent with inspecting equipment and knowing when to retire
your equipment. Good judgment, as well as proper care and inspection, are key
to making personal decisions regarding the retirement of your harness.
A significant event with the potential to change the product should prompt you
to consider retiring it immediately even if before or after only one use. Factors
that may affect the safety of a harness depends on the type and frequency
of usage (light to heavy), the environment including harsh environments with
extreme temperatures, marine (salty or highly corrosive) environments, chemical
contact, contact with sharp edges, etc. Textiles can become dry and brittle,
plastics can weaken in areas, small cracks can form, etc. The best way to
know when a change has occurred with your harness is to implement frequent
detailed inspections before each use.
RETIREMENT CRITIERIA
• RETIRE IMMEDIATELY any harness where the stitching is cut, torn,
excessively worn or visibly damaged.
• RETIRE IMMEDIATELY any harness that is greater than 10 years old
calculated from the date of manufacture, regardless of history or use.
• RETIRE IMMEDIATELY any harness whose strength may have been
compromised during use.
• RETIRE IMMEDIATELY any harness which is subjected to a major fall or
uncontrolled or excessive loading.
• RETIRE IMMEDIATELY any harness whose history and past usage you are
uncertain about.
• RETIRE IMMEDIATELY any harness that has been exposed to heat, direct
flame or excessive abrasion.
• RETIRE IMMEDIATELY any harness that has been exposed to liquids,
solids, gases, mists, or vapors of any chemical or other substance that can
deteriorate the harness materials.
• RETIRE IMMEDIATELY any harness that does not pass inspection.
• RETIRE IMMEDIATELY any harness that raises any doubt about its safety or
serviceability.
WARNING!
CUT RETIRED harnesses to discourage future use and discard it entirely.
A retired harness should not be stored, kept or maintained in such a way that
it could inadvertently be used again.
