Not just for the safety factor, I also put mine on because I'm scared of heights. If my stand is any higher than 14 or 15 feet, I can't stand up without getting the "wobblies", so that harness makes me feel better. I've been hunting out of trees for 17 years, and I don't think I've EVER been in a stand for longer then 60 seconds without putting on a strap or harness.