CPST Harness Systems and Harness Fit 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Where should the harness chest clip (retainer clip) be positioned on a child in a car seat?
- At belly button level
- At armpit level (Correct answer)
- At the chin
- At the collarbone
Correct answer: At armpit level
The chest clip must be positioned at armpit level to keep harness straps correctly aligned over the child's shoulders.
Question 2: What is the 'pinch test' used to verify in a properly installed car seat?
- The seat is tight in the vehicle
- No harness webbing can be pinched at the child's shoulder (Correct answer)
- The chest clip is at the correct height
- The LATCH connectors are secure
Correct answer: No harness webbing can be pinched at the child's shoulder
If you cannot pinch any slack webbing horizontally at the child's shoulder, the harness is correctly tightened.
Question 3: For a rear-facing car seat, the harness shoulder straps should be routed through slots positioned:
- At or above the child's shoulders
- At or below the child's shoulders (Correct answer)
- Exactly at shoulder level only
- Two inches above the child's shoulders
Correct answer: At or below the child's shoulders
Rear-facing harness straps must exit at or below the child's shoulders to properly restrain the body in a crash.
Question 4: For a forward-facing car seat, harness shoulder straps should be routed through slots positioned:
- At or below the child's shoulders
- At or above the child's shoulders (Correct answer)
- Exactly at the child's shoulder height
- At the child's ear level
Correct answer: At or above the child's shoulders
Forward-facing harness straps must be at or above the child's shoulders so they restrain the body during a frontal crash.
Question 5: What is the primary function of the harness chest clip on a child restraint?
- To tighten the harness in a crash
- To keep harness straps properly positioned on the child's shoulders (Correct answer)
- To connect the seat to the vehicle anchor
- To prevent the buckle from unlatching
Correct answer: To keep harness straps properly positioned on the child's shoulders
The chest clip is a strap positioner only; it keeps shoulder straps from spreading too far apart but is not a crash-load bearing component.
Question 6: Why is it unsafe to leave a child in a heavy winter coat while secured in a harness?
- The coat may be flammable in a fire
- The coat compresses in a crash, creating dangerous harness slack (Correct answer)
- The coat blocks the LATCH connectors
- The coat causes the child to overheat and become restless
Correct answer: The coat compresses in a crash, creating dangerous harness slack
Bulky coats compress dramatically under crash forces, leaving the harness with slack that allows excessive child movement and reduces protection.
Question 7: After placing a child in a car seat, what is the correct sequence for finalizing the harness?
- Position chest clip first, then tighten harness
- Tighten harness using adjuster, then position chest clip at armpit level (Correct answer)
- Check slot height, then position chest clip, then tighten harness
- Tighten harness, check slot height, then position chest clip
Correct answer: Tighten harness using adjuster, then position chest clip at armpit level
Buckle and tighten the harness with the adjuster first, then position the chest clip at armpit level for accurate placement.
CPST Harness Systems and Harness Fit 1
Where should the harness chest clip (retainer clip) be positioned on a child in a car seat?