Yes. OSHA requires employers to provide fall protection for each employee exposed to fall hazards. They do not, however, require each worker to have their own equipment. A harness with universal sizing has five areas of adjustment – chest strap, two torso adjusters and two leg buckles – to provide for different body shapes and sizes when different workers may share the same harness.
The most important factors to consider when wearing a safety harness are the same whether it is one issued to a single worker or one that will be shared by multiple workers.
The harness must always be a proper fit for the person wearing it. While every worker should check their harness for fit before each use, sharing a harness may mean it will need to be fully readjusted every time. Tongue buckle leg connections are often preferred for easier adjustment on a shared harness. Employees should be trained on how to properly fit the harness they will need to wear for the job.
The harness must always be a proper fit for the work environment. A harness may be shared between workers but not necessarily between functions. What works for one application may not work in another and could even create a greater hazard. For instance, a padded shoulder may add comfort in construction but be too hot in a factory. Even more critical, a construction harness would not be safe to use in a welding or arc flash environment.