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ASSE Mini
Tech-Brief: Fall Protection
Update and Status from the Z359 Committee
Greetings – We continue to get
numerous requests for updates on what is taking place
with the
ANSI/ASSE Z359 Fall Protection Code. SH&E
Professionals are well aware that slips, trips, and
falls represent significant hazards and exposures.
During 2008, several high profile incidents involving
workplace fatalities resulted from employees working at
heights. In 2006, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
reported that fatal work injuries involving falls
increased 5 percent in 2006 after a significant decrease
in 2005. The Society is reviewing some of the available
BLS data from 2007, and falls from heights still make-up
significant numbers of workplace fatalities and
injuries.
In addition, OSHA launched an
Enhanced Enforcement Program addressing falls from
heights in 2008. OSHA has had some success with this
enhanced program, and it is expected to continue and
increase in 2009. While SH&E Professionals recognize
that compliance OSHA is the start of a high-caliber SH&E
Program, more focus on enforcement of fall-related
standards and rules has placed additional emphasis on
the Code as the primary source for professional and
technical guidance addressing fall arrest/protection
management programs.
First
– The Z359.0 Standard (part of the Z359
Code) is given out as a comp to interested SH&E
Professionals. This is the definitions and nomenclature
standard. Click here for
the free download.
Second
– Interest in the Code continues to grow. In fact – we
are amazed at the use of the Code at the
international level. We also have had a
number of questions asking if the Code has been cited by
government agencies. At this point we have had 47
federal, state, local, and some international
governmental agencies contact us on the Code. We have
not seen any actual citations yet, but there are a ton
of references on websites and guide materials. If you
have seen such an example – please shoot it over to the
attention of Tim Fisher at (TFisher@ASSE.Org).
We are compiling a matrix of such examples.
Third
– We continue to have a lot of folks ask what the Code
is about and what are the standards/projects
currently/projected to be in the Code. Some info on that
below. And, some information on the Z359 Committee and
URL where you can see the Committee and its meetings.
The October 2008 meeting was packed and we have some
photos of that meeting as well. It gives a good feel for
the depth of the talent on this committee.
Fall Protection Q & A - with Joseph Feldstein,
recently retired Manager of Technical Services for Mine
Safety Appliances (MSA)
The current Z359
Fall Protection Code Includes:
ANSI/ASSE Z359.0-2007: “Definitions and
Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest”.
Scope: Establishes the definitions and nomenclature used
for the Z359 Fall Protection Code.
ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-2007: “Safety
Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems,
Subsystems and Components”. Scope: Establishes
requirements for the performance, design, marking,
qualification, instruction, training, inspection, use,
maintenance and removal from service of connectors,
full-body harnesses, lanyards, energy absorbers,
anchorage connectors, fall arresters, vertical lifelines
and self-retracting lanyards comprising personal fall
arrest systems for users within the capacity range of
130 to 310 lbs (59 to 140 kg).
ANSI/ASSE Z359.2-2007: “Minimum
Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection
Program”. Scope: Establishes guidelines and requirements
for an employer’s managed fall protection program,
including policies, duties and training, fall protection
procedures, eliminating and controlling fall hazards,
rescue procedures, incident investigations and
evaluating program effectiveness.
ANSI/ASSE Z359.3-2007: “Safety
Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint
Systems”. Scope: Establishes requirements for the
performance, design, marking, qualification, test
methods and instructions of lanyards and harnesses
comprising personal positioning and travel restraint
systems for authorized persons within the capacity range
of 130 to 310 lbs (59 to 140 kg).
ANSI/ASSE Z359.4-2007: “Safety
Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue
Systems, Subsystems and Components”. Scope: Establishes
requirements for the performance, design, marking,
qualification, instruction, training, use, maintenance
and removal from service of connectors, harnesses,
lanyards, anchorage connectors, winches/hoists, descent
control devices, rope tackle blocks and self-retracting
lanyards with integral rescue capability comprising
rescue systems used in preplanned self-rescue and
assisted-rescue applications for 1-2 persons.
ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-1992 (R1999),
Historical Document: This standard establishes
requirements for the performance, design, marking,
qualifications, instruction, training, inspection, use,
maintenance and removal from service of connectors,
full-body harnesses, lanyards, energy absorbers,
anchorage connectors, fall arresters, vertical
lifelines, etc. comprising personal fall arrest systems
within the capacity range of 130-310 lbs (59-140 kg).
Body belts, window cleaner belts and chest waist
harnesses are not addressed by the provisions of this
standard
Current Z359 Standards Projects
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.5-200X: Safety Requirements for
Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.6-200X: Safety Requirements &
Specifications for (PFAS)
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.7-200X: Requirements for Third-Party &
Self-Certification for (PFAS)
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.8-200X: Requirements for Rope Access
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.11-200X: Safety Requirements for Full
Body Harness for (PFAS)
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.12-200X: Safety Requirements for
Connecting Components for (PFAS) Connectors
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.13-200X: Safety Requirements for
Lanyards & Energy Absorbers for (PFAS)
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.14-200X: Safety Requirements for
Self-Retracting Devices for(PFAS)
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.15-200X: Safety Requirements for
Vertical Lifelines for (PFAS)
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.16-200X: Safety Requirements for Fall
Arresters for (PFAS)
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.17-200X: Safety Requirements for
Horizontal Lifelines for (PFAS)
• ANSI/ASSE Z359.18-200X: Safety Requirements for
Anchorage Connectors for (PFAS)
Thanks and Regards,
Timothy R. Fisher, CSP, CHMM, ARM, CPEA
Director, Practices and Standards
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)
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