H&S, Caution Multipoint Harnesses, WARNING EXPLICIT & GRUSEOME PICS

[BigW]

I'm Sorry, The pics below are gruesome and horrible but I got sent them today as a health and safety breifing at work, they were as part of a poster describing the dangers of wearing rigging harnesses incorrectly, or loosley, after a bit of further reading on it this turns out that it was an incorrectly fitted multi point harness in a rally car, the principle is the same though.

At the moment I wear a harness at work on a regular basis whilst surveying at height/above water/confined spaces, and after seeing this I will never put it on 'in a hurry' again.

Before scrolling down be aware that there are male genitals in the pic and graphic pic of gore etc. But since its of a serious nature and may make others aware I'm sure we can all handle it.

If you can look, please try not to cross your legs.

Scroll down if you still want to continue.

Proper fitment of a harness

The harness should be tight, almost to the point of being uncomfortable,to prevent excessive movement.

Maybe stating the obvious but as I said before its certainly going to make me think more every time I put mine on.

Edited 26 November, 2008 by Bigw2069

[Glider]

I was on a WAH unit 4 course last week and the female presenter went over this one at length.

It's termed being de-gloved.

[gadgetman]

:eek:

[SILVERSAUSAGE]

he made a right balls up of that

[Fezboy]

Now that's got to hurt :Yikes:

[anewman]

Do we know if the family jewels were saved and left functioning?

[loskie]

:(:(:(:(:(

Edited 28 November, 2008 by loskie
wrong again!! Doh!

[expostmanpat]

My nuts just shrivelled up and went into hiding :eek:

[Johnny50]

Dear dear.

Does make you think twice though.

I wonder how many cars out there are running with incorrect harnesses etc...

[BigW]

Are you sure that this is not just a picture of someone being castrated mid op? It is a similar procedure carried out on calves, slit the scrotum, pull out the testes and twist them till they come away. Usually very little blood during a procedure like this. There is little evidence of any bruising on the inner thighs to suggest pressure from a harness. you know like you'd get from a seatbelt across your chest.

Not that it wouldn't persuade me to wear a harness correctly- just the thought made my eyes water.

Pretty sure its the real deal

Introduction

Rally driving is an inherently hazardous motor sport yet the risk of serious injury is minimised through rigorous safety regulations required by its governing body. We describe the management of a deceleration injury resulting in scrotal trauma' date=' sustained despite the use of a competition six point seat harness.

Case report

A 20-year-old male navigator and driver were subjected to a 60 mph frontal impact during a regional motor rally event. They both wore approved standard safety equipment including three layer protective suits and a six point seat harness that complied with ‘Federation Internationale de L’Automobile’ (FIA) standards 8853/98 and 8854/98 and was installed according to the manufacturer's specifications and FIA regulations. The occupants were able to extricate themselves from the vehicle following the collision.

On arrival in the accident and emergency department, the navigator's vital signs were unremarkable but he was in obvious distress. Radiographs were normal, but a secondary survey revealed horizontal lacerations on each side of the scrotum with protrusion of the testes suggestive of a degloving mechanism of injury (see Fig. 1). Other injuries were skin abrasions related to the shoulder straps and abdominal tenderness in the right hypochondrial region (abdominal ultrasonography was normal).

Initial treatment was analgesia, sterile dressings and intravenous antibiotics, followed by operative management within 4 h of injury.

Examination under anaesthetic revealed that both testes had penetrated the scrotal wall (Fig. 2), they were swollen but well perfused and intact. The tunica vaginalis had ecchymosis at the site of laceration that was debrided, but the overlying skin showed no contamination.

Each hemiscrotum and testis was irrigated with povidone iodine and sterile saline, and three point orchidopexy was performed with 3/0 polydiaxone suture (PDS II, Ethicon Inc.) in a subdartos pouch. The scrotum was closed with single layered interrupted 3/0 Vicryl Rapide (Ethicon Inc.) and covered with a petroleum jelly dressing and a scrotal support.

The patient received further antibiotics and daily wound inspections until discharge on day 3. No short term complications have been reported.

Discussion

Blunt trauma to the scrotum can cause injury ranging from scrotal haematoma to testicular rupture (found in approximately 50% of blunt traumas to the scrotum).2 Deceleration injury to the external genitalia may result in traumatic dislocation of the testes to an inguinal, pubic or abdominal location. Internal dislocation is usually associated with blunt abdominal trauma and can be overlooked, one study reporting a mean of 19 days delay in diagnosis.3 Scrotal laceration as seen here usually occurs as a result of traumatic avulsion from entanglement of the skin in machinery or clothing.

Primary closure of the scrotal wound was possible due to the lack of contamination and scrotal elasticity. Indeed primary closure is possible even when up to 60% of scrotal tissue is lost.4 More complex wounds are best managed with initial debridement and delayed reconstruction using primary re-approximation or skin grafting (split skin or full thickness).

We suggest that the mechanism of injury in this case of the testicular herniation involved a deceleration force which caused traumatic compression of the testis against the pubis bone, combined with a degloving injury to the scrotal skin due to the arrangement of the crotch straps of the harness.

Whilst the harness used here spared the occupant more severe injuries, it is of concern that this type of injury occurred despite the harness and the three layer suit. The minimum safety standard for harnesses in cross country racing is two shoulder straps and one lap belt,1 although most drivers prefer a minimum of a four point harness involving straps coming over either shoulder and up from the waist to join in a central quick-release coupling. In this case a six point harness was used: a greater number of points of harness contact should equate with greater restraint. The added crotch strap, fixed at points under the seat, connects to the coupling at a single point (see Figure 3 and Figure 4). The crotch strap has the advantage of preventing the occupant sliding under the belt (‘submarining’) and spreads the force of impact more evenly over the body in the event of a crash.

[/quote']

[ap0gee1978]

I got a scrotal hernia (nothing like as bad as that, but a lot more bloody) when I was knocked off my bike by the Tesco's in Parr's Wood, Manchester. Testament to the power of shock / stress reaction, I actually thought I'd broken my shoulder - was a bit of concrete stuck in my flesh as it turned out - but having no mobile / payphone to call an ambulance, I cycled one-handed to my digs, got my bike lock and a yashmak to use as a sling, and rode to A&E. Got my shoulder checked out - sorted easily enough - and was asked if it hurt anywhere else. Dropped bib-shorts to discover chamois literally soaked in blood! :eek: The two stitches I received were an interesting experience... Still, two weeks' light duties and a decent anecdote were a fair reward for my troubles!

[loskie]

I see.

Even the term "scrotal trauma" makes one wince with fear:eek:

[oilburninnut]

i quite often have to wear a harness at work,never again will i rush to put it on:(

[richie]

He looked knackered............ :eek:

[Captain Sisko]

Holy **** I almost puked!!!

[spinndrift]

Whilst it's quite a dusturbing tale, especially as a co-driver, I have to admit I'd rather have my knackers pop out to say hello than be paralysed no matter how painful the experience.

I will however be cinching those belts up a little more on my next event.

[TrevorB33]

hmmm nice

[Armegatron]

Owch!:eek:

Seems like this link is now being forwarded via email quite a bit. I can imagine that there will be a lot of hits for this thread.

[VRSDanny]

oh dear :(, someones dropped a ******* (or 2 to be exact) there.

[BigW]

Deary me, thats a few linkbacks at the bottom of the page, Can I get comission Colin ;P

[badger5]

hmmm my harness aint like the one shown in the how it should be done up picture. the buckle is the crotch harness, which is divided into 2.

will deffo recheck it when I run the car next...

poor bugger that happened to..

60mph into tree.. thats horrific decleration!

[octav.ed]

holy good beep.... :eek:

any 1 for a game of conkers?

[Cupra_power]

Oh SHEEET ! that is harsh. I bet he sounds like Micheal Jackson now.

[daveclayton]

anyone else realised that when they finished reading this, they were holding their nads? lol. that really has to hurt. *insert funny ball gag here*

[UncleRic]

Patient - "Doctor, I daren't look.. whats the damage?"

Doctor - "Well, I think you'll be due a term in a mental health ward."

Patient - "How so..?"

Doctor - "Well, I can clearly see your nuts."