Are you compliant? New ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code Standards

The Industrial Safety & Hygiene News recently posted a quick Question and Answer in their January 2010 edition regarding the new ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code Standards. We found it to be helpful and to the point. The following takes into account some of the Q&As and some general information on the new standard.

The original ANSI Z359 was first introduced in 1992 and revised in 1999. It was intended to be a first in a series of standards to address fall protection for improved worker safety. These updates offer significant improvements and will help lead to a safer work environment (dbisala.com).

Q: What do these new standards mean to me and what do I need to to to be ready for them?
A:The ANSI Z359.6 was developed for engineers designing active fall protection systems such as travel restraint systems and vertical and horizontal lifeline systems. The standard covers manufacturing requirements for design, performance, testing and markings of snap hooks. The standard might be the most significant and might directly affect most employers and users of personal fall protection. The standards has established new requirements for the design and performance of energy-absorbing (EA) lanyards.

Q: How can ANSI deviate from the OSHA standard stating that a shock absorber must be 42 inches and not exceed 900 lbs. of force on the worker, and will I be in violation with OSHA?
A: No, you will not be in violation with OSHA by following the new ANSI Z359.13 standard. OSHA has a policy of issuing "de minimis" notices to employers who comply with more current versions of consensus standards, to the extent that the more current version are at least as protective as the older versions. The OSHA "de minimis" notices allow consensus standards, such as ANSI, to develop standards with new technologies that advance safety in the workplace. (http://www.dol.gov/federalregister/Search/GetHtml.aspx?DocID=10157)

Q: Why did ANSI increase the deceleration distance from 42 to 48 inches?
A: Through extensive testing, advances in engineering and improvements in testing equipment of the ANSI Fall Protection Code committee has discovered that the past energy absorber requirements are not as effective as one thought. Through re-engineering the EA materials and subjecting these material to a battery of dynamic tests, a new standard was developed. This new standard will decrease the deceleration forces, to approximately 900 lbs in a six foot free fall and fall arrest, particularly in the upper reaches of the weight range where the previous standard fell short.

Q: Do I have to throw out my old EA lanyards and replace them with new EA lanyards after November 16, 2009?
A: The new standard is a voluntary standard, so you are not required by law or OSHA regulation to replace your existing equipment. However, many companies might want to take a pro-active approach and update their fall protection immediately to the standard of greatest consequence. At the very least you will to replace your equipment, as it is removed from service, with the EA lanyards meeting the new ANSI standard.

Sources:
To read the entire Q&A: Conover, Mark. "ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code Standards." Industrial Safety & Hygiene News Jan. 2010: 46-47. Print.
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