FW: Fall Protection - Update and Status on the Z359 Committee

[Guest guest]

I sent something out on safety standards yesterday and got the update (below) today. I thought it was a good report and technical status update.

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Greetings All – Have had a bunch of folks asking for an update on what is taking place with the Z359 Fall Protection Code.

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. The URL to get the standard is:

https://www.asse.org/shoponline/products/Z359-0-2007.php

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@...). 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. We acknowledge some of us will not be winning any beauty contests, but hey – we are doing our best!!!

http://www.asse.org/practicespecialties/engineering/docs/ByDesign_Z359Special_Fall2007.pdf

http://www.asse.org/publications/standards/z359/info.php

http://www.asse.org/publications/standards/z359/committee.php

http://www.asse.org/z359committee/meetingphotos_oct08.html

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 Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

· ANSI/ASSE Z359.7-200X: Requirements for Third-Party & Self-Certification for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

· ANSI/ASSE Z359.8-200X: Requirements for Rope Access

· ANSI/ASSE Z359.11-200X: Safety Requirements for Full Body Harness for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

· ANSI/ASSE Z359.12-200X: Safety Requirements for Connecting Components for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS) Connectors

· ANSI/ASSE Z359.13-200X: Safety Requirements for Lanyards & Energy Absorbers for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

· ANSI/ASSE Z359.14-200X: Safety Requirements for Self-Retracting Devices for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

· ANSI/ASSE Z359.15-200X: Safety Requirements for Vertical Lifelines for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

· ANSI/ASSE Z359.16-200X: Safety Requirements for Fall Arresters for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

· ANSI/ASSE Z359.17-200X: Safety Requirements for Horizontal Lifelines for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

· ANSI/ASSE Z359.18-200X: Safety Requirements for Anchorage Connectors for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)