Beware: Fall Protection Standards are Changing

by Matt Burkart, Chair,
Construction Site Safety Committee

The general industry and construction industry will soon see major changes in the fall protection equipment that they use, as well as the way this equipment is being used.
There are two major Accredited Standards Committees which promulgate standards for fall protection equipment and its use:

• The ANSI Z359 Committee, Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components, which produces standards for general industry, and,
• ANSI A10 Accredited Safety in Construction and Demolition Operations, through its A10.32, Fall Protection Systems for Construction Industry Users, which covers the equipment and use in construction operations.
  

The Z359 Committee is in the process of revising its standards. The previous standard is being divided into many subparts. The first four, Z359.1, Z359.2, Z359.3 and Z359.4, are proceeding through the balloting process. It is anticipated that approval by ANSI, American National Standards Institute, will occur in late April or early ay.  These standards will mandate major changes in the equipment available for fall arrest use and, consequently, in the way it is utilized.

The first significant change that will result from Z359.1 is the requirement that the gate or latch of snaphooks must be able to withstand a load of 3600 pounds, be both self-closing and self-locking, and must have two consecutive and deliberate actions to open. This is an increase from 220-pound direct load and 350-pound side load on the gate. This will require replacement of most hardware presently in use.
The proposed standard, through a new section, Z359.2, Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection System, requires employers to establish a Managed Fall Protection System. This standard imposes rather extensive requirements on an employer. It requires the employer to:

• “Develop and maintain written fall protection and rescue procedures for every location where an active fall protection system is used to control a fall hazard,” and
• “Appoint a program administrator who has the requisite knowledge, experience, training and authority to direct the employer’s fall protection program.”

In addition, this standard has stringent requirements for “competent” persons, “qualified” persons, and an “authorized rescuer,” as well as requirements for competent person training, qualified person training and authorized rescuer training.

Another proposed standard will require lanyards with specific weight capacity. At least two weight classifications will be mandated. A person’s weight with tools will have to be determined, and an appropriate lanyard chosen. The purpose is to limit the force imposed on the user to less than 10 Gs.

The new operating range of the lanyard is: Moderate (where the person and tools weigh a combined 130 to 275 pounds), and Heavy (where the person and tools weigh a combined 275 to 375 pounds).

It will no longer be “one size fits all.” Each employee must have a competent person analyze and fit the proper harness and lanyard. Many manufacturers now produce extra-heavy lanyards for persons above 350 pounds with tools.

While these standards are for general industry, many contractors will be forced by their customers to comply with these Z359 standards while in their plant. This is particularly true with respect to Z359’s Program Management standard. If an owner adopts the standard, he may require contractors to comply while in his plant – and compliance may be made a part of the contract. Watch those General Conditions for a reference to Z359!

As contractors, we will be forced to accept these standards for the equipment. This is what the equipment manufacturers will make. It will probably be unreasonable to expect separate rated equipment from the manufacturer and probably inherently expensive.

The A10 Accredited Standards Committee, which includes CI as a voting member, will address the equipment standards as well as the use requirements. A10 will most likely take a less aggressive approach to the training requirements, but will accept the equipment standard.

In conclusion,

1. The long and the short of the issue is that new, more stringent fall protection standards are coming – be prepared!
2. The use of Personal Fall Arrest Systems to provide fall protection is going to become more complex and expensive. It will require engineered anchorages and training for competent persons to assemble the components. Alternative fall protection solutions, such as aerial lifts and scaffolds, are going to become more desirable, and may probably be less expensive.
3. Personal Fall Arrest Systems are going to require significantly more engineering designs in both general industry and construction to provide certified anchorage points, and assembly of harness, lanyards and shock absorbers suitable for each person.