A harness or belt to be worn by a person connected to some elevated anchor point, e.g., a rope grab on a safety line, to prevent the person from a fall. The device comprises at least one web or strap of a fabric which is subject to a shock load when the device has been used to arrest the fall of the person and plural shock load indicating strands or fibers located on the web or strap. The web or strap is a generally flat member having an exterior surface and is formed of plural interlaced strands of a first stretchable, yet strong material, e.g., nylon or polyester. The shock load indicating strands are of a contrasting color to the strands forming the strap or web and are visible from the exterior surface of the web. The shock load indicating strands are of a lesser stretchability than the strands of the web or strap. Accordingly, upon the shock loading of the harness or belt the shock load indicating strands rupture and fray out of the exterior surface of the web, whereupon the frayed ends are readily visible. This appearance indicates that the device has been used to arrest a fall and should be discarded or refurbished.