Both in Hang Gliding & Paragliding, the pilot doesn't need to "hang on" to keep from falling. Not only does each craft fly quite well by itself, there is actually a harness to hold the pilot effortlessly to the craft. In the case of hang gliding it usually is a sling type system that has the pilot on her (his) belly kind of like superman. With paragliding, the pilot is in a seated position, somewhat reclined in a very comfortable easychair attitude. In both hang gliding and paragliding , the pilot's arms are free to lightly control the aircraft.
It is extremely rare, but in event of a major malfunction pilots of both hang gliders & paragliders carry reserve parachutes in their harnesses.
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The pilot does not eject from the craft like a military jet pilot but rather tosses out the reserve either by hand or by mechanical assist and a deployment sequence effects the opening of the reserve bringing both the pilot and the craft down together.
There are at most a handful of deployments each year in the US. Causes of malfunctions generally include attempting aerobatics or flying in severe turbulence both of which the pilot usually has foreknowledge of the situation illustrating the importance of the pilot's attitude toward safety as a major factor in his actual safety.
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