Apparatus and associated methods relate to a flexible lumbar wear-pad having an external low-friction high-wear-resistance surface, the lumbar wear-pad configured to be replaceably coupled to the lower back region of a belted fall-protection safety harness. In various embodiments, the lumbar wear-pad may cover a length of the webbing over the hip and lumbar vertebrae regions of a wearer’s lower back. In some embodiments a lumbar wear-pad may be field replaceable on a fall-protection safety harness. An exemplary embodiment may have three prominences, a smaller center prominence located near a wearer’s lumbar vertebrae and two side prominences located near a wearer’s hip bones. In some embodiments, the lumbar wear-pad may be flexible so as to anatomically conform to a wearer’s body. Exemplary lumbar wear-pads may provide protection for both a wearer and the wearer’s harness during sliding or leaning engagements with vertical surfaces.