ANSI/ASSE Z359, the national voluntary consensus fall protection equipment standard for general industry, is considered a benchmark standard, one that has been incorporated into many industrial fall protection programs. It was last updated in 1999, and then only with minor editorial revisions. The five new standards---which will be available soon as the ANSI/ASSE Z359 fall protection code---contain many important new requirements. This article highlights those changes and additions, which will affect many U.S. employers, workers, SH&E professionals, manufacturers and other stakeholders.
ANSI/ASSE Z359: A Family of Standards The scope of ANSI/ASSE Z359 has expanded beyond fall arrest into other work applications. The five standards encompassed by the new code continue to adhere to the "systems approach" of the original 1992 edition:Z359.0: Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest
Z359.1: Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components
Z359.2: Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program
Z359.3: Safety Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems
Z359.4: Safety Requirements for Assisted Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components
Z359.0: Definitions & Nomenclature This standard functions as a dictionary of specialized terms compiled from the other four standards. It defines each of nearly 150 terms used throughout the code, from "activation distance" to "working line." Z359.1: Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems & Components This standard contains product design criteria and test procedures for fall arrest components, subsystems and systems.
Key Changes Several key changes have been made to Z359.1.Gate strength requirements have increased for snap hooks and carabiners. The 1999 standard requires a test for 220 lb force against the gate face and 350 lb force against the side of the gate. The gate mechanism may not disengage from the nose of the snap hook or carabiner. The new standard increases the strength requirement to 3,600 lb in all directions of potential loading to the gate. Test procedures will change to exert static loads on the gate face, gate side and from inside the gate outward, forcing the gate away from the nose of the device.
The standard now includes a front attachmentelement for fall arrest. The current standard states that only the dorsal (back) D-ring may be used for attachment of a personal fall arrest system. The revised standard now includes attachment of the fall arrest system to a front-mounted D-ring, located approximately in the area of the sternum. However, connection at the front D-ring is limited to systems that restrict free fall distance to 2 ft or less and limit the maximum fall arrest loads on the front D-ring to 900 lb of force or less. This arrangement will be particularly useful in products selected by climbers and rope access workers.
The standard includes additional testing and warnings for twin-leg shock-absorbing lanyards. Concerns over potential misuse of twin-leg shock absorbing lanyards prompted additional test requirements and warnings for these products, which were not mentioned in the 1999 version. The new standard includes a 5,000 lb static test of the joint between the two lanyard legs.