An escape/ladder belt and harness assembly having an improved attachment arrangement and adjustment capabilities. The assembly features a waist belt having a coupling and fastener each featuring at least two slots separated by at least one bar. The fastener being connectable to the coupling to enable the waist belt to fasten around a user. The waist belt being removeably attached to an article worn by the user through a plurality of tabs. At least some of the tabs fastening the coupling and fastener to the article. The waist belt extending around the user and though a tension adjustment buckle so as to allow for waist tension to be set by pulling the free end of the waist belt in an intuitive forward motion that provides for improved tightening around the user.