ANSI/ASSE Z359 Fall Arrest Code
Receives Final Approval

Many ASSE members have inquired about the status of the ANSI/ASSE Z359 Fall

Arrest/Protection standards. 

The United States has not seen a revised or new general industry national

consensus standard on fall arrest/protection since the publication of

ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-1992 (R1999), but on April 23, 2007, the Z359.2 standard

for managed fall protection received final ANSI approval.

ASSE is now also pleased to announce that the Z359.0, Z359.1, Z359.3 and

Z359.4 standards received final ANSI approval on May 31, 2007. These

standards will be available soon and will have an effective date of October

15, 2007.

Impact on Public & Private Sectors

Many members have asked how the standards will impact the public and private

sectors. Use of national consensus standards in the United States will be of

increased importance as the nation's economy becomes more global. National

consensus standards reflect the insights of the final end users and the

opinions of professionals who work at all levels of public and private

sectors in technology development, safety and health, manufacturing,

training, financial analysis, personnel and academia. This balanced

perspective enables standards to be crafted in a manner that benefits and

protects standard users. 

ASSE historically supports the increased use of national consensus standards

in the formulation of occupational safety and health legislation. Government

agencies such as OSHA, MSHA, CPSC and NHTSA should be encouraged to use

these standards in accordance with Public Law 104-113, "The National

Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995," and the Office of

Management and Budget in its Circular A-119, "Federal Participation in the

Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity

Assessment Activities," as they provide an efficient and effective

alternative to traditional public sector rulemaking. 

Background

Before ANSI approves an American National Standard, it must verify that the

standards developer has met the requirements for due process and consensus.

In the judgment of the ANSI Board of Standards Review, consensus is

established when directly and materially affected interests reach

substantial agreement, which means more than a simple majority but not

necessarily unanimity. Consensus also requires that all views and objections

be considered and that a concerted effort be made toward their resolution. 

Use of American National Standards is completely voluntary. Their existence

does not in any respect preclude anyone, whether s/he has approved the

standards or not, from manufacturing, marketing, purchasing or using

products, processes or procedures not in conformance to the standards. 

It should also be noted that ANSI does not develop standards and will under

no circumstances give an interpretation of any American National Standard. 

The ANSI/ASSE Z359 Fall Arrest/Protection standards evolved from the

continuing development of a fall protection standard series. These standards

tie the elements of the series together and provide tools that employers may

use to develop programs that incorporate such elements. They also address

administrative requirements and apply to all occupational and

non-occupational activities except those in SIC Division C (construction).

They do not apply to sports activities.

Neither the Z359 Committee nor the Secretariat states that these standards

are perfect or in their ultimate form. New developments are to be expected,

and revision of the standards will be necessary as state-of-the-art

technology progresses and further experience is gained. However, it is felt

that uniform guidelines for fall protection programs are needed and that the

standards in their present form provide the minimum criteria necessary to

develop and implement a comprehensive managed fall protection program.

The Z359 Committee acknowledges the critical role of design in influencing

the use of proper fall protection equipment. Design deficiencies often

increase the risk for employees who may be exposed to fall hazards. Examples

include:

1. Lack of rail systems to prevent falls from machines, equipment and

structures. 

2. Failure to provide engineered anchorages where use of personal fall

arrest systems is anticipated.

3. No provision for safe access to elevated work areas. 

4. Installation of machines or equipment at heights rather than at

floor/ground level to preclude access to elevated areas.

5. Failure to plan for the use of travel restriction or work positioning

devices. 

The standards also offer guidance on design considerations for new buildings

and facilities.

The standards incorporate basic fall safety principles, including hazard

survey, hazard elimination and control and education and training. They

primarily intend to ensure a proactive approach to fall protection. However,

they also address the reactive process of accident investigation to ensure

that fall causation receives adequate attention.

Descriptions of Newly Approved Standards

Standards approved as of May 31, 2007 are as follows:

ANSI/ASSE Z359.0-2007: Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection

and Fall Arrest Establishes the definitions and nomenclature used for the

Z359 Fall Arrest Code.

ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-2007: Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems,

Subsystems and Components 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 pounds (59 to 140

kg).

ANSI/ASSE Z359.2-2007: Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall

Protection Program 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 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 pounds to 310 pounds

(59kg to 140kg).

ANSI/ASSE Z359.4-2007: Safety Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and

Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components 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. 

Thanks and Regards,

Timothy R. Fisher, CSP, ARM, CPEA

Director, Practices and Standards

American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)

1800 East Oakton Street

Des Plaines, IL 60018