Professional Documents
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ByDesign
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SAFETY ENGINEERS www.asse.org
A
Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems working at height, includes the following
voluntary consensus fall protec- and Components new standards:
tion equipment standard for gen- •Z359.2: Minimum Requirements for •ANSI/ASSE Z359.0-2007: Defini-
eral industry, is considered a benchmark a Comprehensive Managed Fall tions and Nomenclature Used for Fall
standard, one that has been incorporated Protection Program Protection and Fall Arrest
into many industrial fall protection pro- •Z359.3: Safety Requirements for •ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-2007: Safety
grams. It was last updated in 1999, and Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest
then only with minor editorial revisions. •Z359.4: Safety Requirements for Systems, Subsystems and Components
The five new standards—which will be Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue •ANSI/ASSE Z359.2-2007: Minimum
available soon as the ANSI/ASSE Z359 Systems, Subsystems and Components Requirements for a Comprehensive
Managed Fall Protection Program
fall protection code—contain many Z359.0: Definitions & Nomenclature
•ANSI/ASSE Z359.3-2007: Safety
important new requirements. This article This standard functions as a dictionary of Requirements for Positioning and Travel
highlights those changes and additions, specialized terms compiled from the other Restraint Systems
which will affect many U.S. employers, four standards. It defines each of nearly 150 •ANSI/ASSE Z359.4-2007: Safety
workers, SH&E professionals, manufac- terms used throughout the code, from “acti- Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and
turers and other stakeholders. vation distance” to “working line.” Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and
Components
ANSI/ASSE Z359: Z359.1: Safety Requirements The package also includes a copy of
for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-1992 (R1999).
A Family of Standards Subsystems & Components We would like to thank ASSE for its
The scope of ANSI/ASSE Z359 has work as secretariat of the Z359 ASC, and
This standard contains product design cri-
expanded beyond fall arrest into other we commend the entire Z359 ASC for
teria and test procedures for fall arrest
work applications. The five standards its efforts in bringing the Z359 Fall Protec-
components, subsystems and systems.
encompassed by the new code continue tion Code to fruition.We wish you success
to adhere to the “systems approach” of Key Changes in using this code as part of your compre-
the original 1992 edition: Several key changes have been made hensive managed fall protection program.
•Z359.0: Definitions and to Z359.1.
Randall Wingfield, Chair, Z359 ASC
Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection 1) Gate strength requirements have
increased for snaphooks and carabin- Basil Tominna, Vice Chair, Z359 ASC
and Fall Arrest
•Z359.1: Safety Requirements for continued on page 2
ANSI/ASSE Z359 The scope of this new comprehensive
continued from page 1 fall protection program standard identifies
the standard as a guideline for employers
Engineering
ers. The 1999 standard requires a test for
220 lb force against the gate face and 350
with new or existing fall protection pro-
grams. The purpose of a comprehensive
Practice Specialty
lb force against the side of the gate. The program is to:
gate mechanism may not disengage from
the nose of the snaphook or carabiner.
The new standard increases the strength
•identify, evaluate and eliminate (or
control) fall hazards through planning; ByDesign
•ensure proper training of personnel;
requirement to 3,600 lb in all directions •ensure proper installation and use of
of potential loading to the gate. Test pro- OFFICERS
fall protection and rescue equipment;
cedures will change to exert static loads ADMINISTRATOR
•implement safe fall protection and Bruce L. Rottner
on the gate face, gate side and from rescue procedures.
inside the gate outward, forcing the gate 201.287.1766
Z359.2 does not apply to the construc- brucel1@verizon.net
away from the nose of the device. tion industry (SIC Division C), which is
2) The standard includes a front ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR
served by ANSI/ASSE A10.32-2004. J. Nigel Ellis
attachment element for fall arrest. The The standard emphasizes endorsement
old standard states that only the dorsal 302.571.8470
of the employer’s fall protection program dsc@fallsafety.com
(back) D-ring may be used for attachment by company management. Its sets out
of a personal fall arrest system. The revised NEWSLETTER EDITOR
clear, unambiguous duties and responsibili- J. Nigel Ellis
standard includes attachment of the fall ties for each program participant, including
arrest system to a front-mounted D-ring, dsc@fallsafety.com
employers, program administrator, quali-
located approximately in the area of the fied person, competent person, authorized COMMITTEES
sternum. However, connection at the front person, competent rescuer, authorized res-
D-ring is limited to systems that restrict free AWARDS & HONORS
cuer and trainers. Training also is defined Open
fall distance to 2 ft or less and limit the for each role in the organization, as are the
maximum fall arrest loads on the front D- BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
requirements for the trainers themselves.
ring to 900 lb of force or less. This will be Dennis Neitzel
particularly useful in products selected by dennis.neitzel@avotraining.com
Training & Evaluations
climbers and rope access workers. CONFERENCES & SEMINARS
Training—from administrators, safety
3) The standard includes additional Open
engineers and supervisors to at-risk work-
testing and warnings for twin-leg ers and rescue personnel—is addressed MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
shock-absorbing lanyards. Concerns extensively in this standard. This focus is Gina Mayer-Costa
over potential misuse of twin-leg shock- gmayerco@ramapo.edu
based on years of experience among the
absorbing lanyards prompted additional Z359 Committee members and their firm- NOMINATIONS
test requirements and warnings for these ly held belief that without proper training John W. Mroszczyk
products, which were not mentioned in fall protection equipment and procedures nceno1@tiac.net
the 1999 version. The new standard are inadequate to the task of reducing WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
includes a 5,000 lb static test of the joint worker injury and death. Magdy Akladios
between the two lanyard legs. To that end, Z359.2 sets goals for achiev- akladios@uhcl.edu
The standard also requires that the prod- ing improved training practices throughout
uct label include a warning to attach only STAFF LIAISON
the industry. It incorporates by reference
the center snaphook to the back D-ring of Rennie Heath
ANSI/ASSE Z490.1, Criteria for Accepted 847.768.3436
the harness. More warnings will be includ- Practices in Safety, Health and Environ- rheath@asse.org
ed in user instructions, such as a warning mental Training. Z359.2 and Z490.1 provide
not to attach the unused leg of the lanyard employers with a comprehensive roadmap to NEWSLETTER DESIGN &
to any point on the harness except attach- enhanced fall protection training. PRODUCTION
ment points specifically approved by the Susan Carlson
harness manufacturer for that purpose. ASSE headquarters staff
Fall Protection Procedures scarlson@asse.org
This section details general and specific
Z359.2: Minimum Requirements ByDesign is a publication of ASSE’s Engineering
requirements for fall protection proce-
for a Comprehensive Managed dures. The procedural scheme is based
Practice Specialty, 1800 E. Oakton St., Des Plaines,
IL 60018, and is distributed free of charge to mem-
Fall Protection Program around the fall hazard survey report, bers of the Engineering Practice Specialty. The opin-
ions expressed in articles herein are those of the
This entirely new standard is directed at which is to be written by a trained safety author(s) and are not necessarily those of ASSE.
employers and SH&E professionals professional at the qualified person or Technical accuracy is the responsibility of the
rather than product manufacturers. The competent person level. The report will author(s). Please send address changes to the
address above; fax to (847) 768-3434; or send via
new program standard contains detailed identify each fall hazard at the work loca- e-mail to customerservice@asse.org.
requirements for a comprehensive fall tion, then recommend appropriate con-
protection program. trols for each identified fall hazard.
By Design 3
Fall Protection: Systematic Approach Is Key
alls continue to be a leading cause of ing the worker from reaching the edge so hazards to understand, for example, whether
By Design 5
ANSI/ASSE Z359 Fall Protection Code Approved
n April 23, 2007, the Z359.2 stan- or using products, processes or procedures they also address the reactive process of