A bosun’s harness, also known as a chief’s chair, is a rigging harness used in various industries, including boat maintenance and exterior building maintenance. It is designed to keep workers safe and comfortable while working at heights and is maintained to prevent equipment failure.
A bosun’s harness is a type of compatible rigging harness, originally designed for use on boats, but also used in other industries. The bosun chair is both a convenience and a safety tool: convenient because it keeps your hands free for work and safe because it prevents potentially dangerous falls from heights. On ships, a bosun’s saddle is used to work on the rig, often for long periods of time. In other industries, such as exterior building maintenance, bosun chairs are frequently used because they are affordable, safe, and easy to install.
The name “chief’s chair” originates from the chief or boatswain, the petty officer on a ship who is in charge of the rigging crew. While the bosun rarely goes up, the bosun’s chair would be part of the equipment and supplies that the bosun is in charge of and expected to maintain. Access to the rigging of the boat’s sails is crucial during a voyage, and a chief’s chair allows sailors to quickly reach the area of the rigging that needs attention.
A very basic men’s chair has a hard plank seat attached to a harness. The sailor hooks into the harness, using the seat of the board for support, and is pulled onto the rig using a pulley system. The more advanced bosun chairs actually resemble chairs in design, with a supportive sling-like back and sides that is more comfortable for sitting in for long periods of time. These chairs are also often adjustable so that the installer can find the right balance point for comfort and safety while working. Bosun modern harnesses also include extra clips for a second lifeline, should the primary rigging harness fail for any reason.
In many ways, a man’s saddle is similar to a climbing harness and uses the same principles. In both cases, individual straps go in, often with thigh and waist straps to prevent slippage. However, a man’s harness usually has a rigid seat, which distinguishes it from a climbing harness. A man’s chair also doesn’t allow the range of motion that a climbing harness does: sailors usually have to be lifted, for example, because they can’t climb while sitting in the man’s chair.
Like other equipment designed for working at height, a bosun’s chair must be carefully maintained to prevent equipment failure. It should always be stored in a cool, dry place and checked frequently for mildew, sun damage, and other signs of wear. If the straps have started to fray, they should be replaced. The ropes used to raise the chief’s chair onto the rig should also be regularly inspected and cared for.
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