Bainbridge Island, Wash. - October 12, 2007 - In response to new American National Standards Institute (ANSI) voluntary consensus standards for fall protection, industry leader Gravitec Systems, Inc., is offering an adapted Managed Fall Protection Program Administrator course to address ANSI Z359.2. Gravitec will also continue to offer ANSI-compliant equipment which meets new requirements for snap hook and carabiner gate strength, outlined in ANSI Z359.1. The new standards will become effective Nov. 24.
ANSI Z359.2, (Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program) calls for employers to develop a managed fall protection program when one or more employees are exposed to a fall risk. An effective fall protection program will identify, evaluate and eliminate fall hazards through planning, ensure proper training and installation of fall protection and rescue systems, and implement fall protection and rescue procedures.
In response to ANSI Z359.2, Gravitec's Managed Fall Protection Program Administrator course has been designed to provide tools, guidelines, and materials necessary to managers and program developers who wish to develop a state-of-the art managed fall protection program. Workshop topics include development of corporate policies, identification and ranking of corporate-wide fall hazards, recognition of abatement methods, fall protection training, engineering guidelines, equipment purchasing, inspection program criteria, and writing procedures. The course is for managers or corporate safety professionals who must be familiar with every aspect of the fall protection program, but may not be required to work at height or specialize in any one area.
ANSI Z359.1 (Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components) requires that snap hook and carabiner gate faces withstand a load of 3,600 lbs. Additionally, the minor axis of the snap hook and carabiner must also withstand 3,600 lbs., excluding those with captive eyes. These new standards will help prevent forced rollout.
"The Z359 Fall Protection Code is one of the most important safety-related voluntary national consensus standards in the last 20 years," said Randall Wingfield, Z359 ANSI Standards Committee (ASC) chair and president of Gravitec Systems, Inc. "In particular, the Z359.2 Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program standard will have significant impact on safety, health and environmental professionals. The Z359 ASC is eager to work with the safety profession to implement the new standards to better protect and train workers at height."
Since 1986, Gravitec has remained committed to consistently setting the standard for excellence and professionalism in the fall protection industry. The core elements of Gravitec's services include training, engineering, consulting and technical equipment sales. No matter what fall protection challenges an organization faces, our clients can be confident that Gravitec possesses the right combination of industry experience, technical expertise, and resources to assist in the implementation of a managed fall protection program that best suits the individual needs of our clients. For more information, contact Gravitec at 1.800.755.8455.
