The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the American Society of Engineers (ASSE) have released ANSI/ASSE Z359.6-2009 for inclusion in the growing Z359 Fall Protection Code. The standard was effective Nov. 16, 2009.
Titled "Safety Requirements for Fall Arresters for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)," ANSI/ASSE Z359.6-2009 is intended for engineers with expertise designing fall protection systems. It provides clarity to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration's (OSHA) mandate that fall protection systems be “designed, installed and used under the supervision of a qualified person.” It has been argued that this phrase does not provide employers with enough information to ensure that fall protection systems are properly installed. The standard attempts to remedy this issue.
ANSI/ASSE Z359.6-2009 does not apply to manufactured products. Rather, it is intended for engineers with expertise in fall protection system design who are doing one-off designs. (Separate standards to address manufactured products are under development.)
The term “professional” was intentionally excluded from the standard because not all engineers who design fall protection systems are registered. The standard also calls for the application of the last alternative in the fall protection hierarchy which is the option for active fall protection systems.
The standard outlines requirements for the design and performance of complete, active fall protection systems. It also focuses on travel restraint and vertical and horizontal fall arrest systems. Major topics addressed in the standard include the failure of free-standing systems and multiple-worker falls. The standard calls for commonly used methods to account for multiple impacts on fall protection systems.
For more information about ANSI/ASSE Z359.6-2009 or the Z359 Fall Protection Code, call Gravitec at 1.800.755.8455.
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Gravitec is a reseller of the ANSI/ASSE Z359 Fall Protection Code, a family of voluntary national consensus standards developed by ANSI and the ASSE. The Code provides guidance for fall protection equipment manufacturers, workers at height and their employers.
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About ANSI
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, not-for-profit organization that serves as coordinating body for the facilitation and development of voluntary consensus standards. Although ANSI is not law, its designation is highly regarded among industry professionals. Other ANSI Z359 standards are in various stages of development.