A Little History
The ANSI/ASSE Z359.1 standard was introduced in 1992 when standards for common fall protection equipment and methods in the workplace did not exist. That year 600 work-related falls resulted in fatalities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-1992 made strides by addressing personal fall protection equipment and methods for arresting falls. It mandated the type and quality of equipment like full body harnesses and required self-closing, self-locking snaphooks. It also said that fall protection systems must not exceed a maximum arrest force of 900 to 1,800 lbs (4 to 8 kN).
In spite of ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-1992, fatal falls in the workplace steadily increased nearly every year thereafter. In 2006, 808 work-related falls resulted in fatalities, according to the BLS. This represented a 5 percent increase from the previous year and equaled over two deaths per day on average. This trend revealed the need for revisions to Z359.1-1992.
THE FAMILY GROWS
Finally in November 2007, four much-anticipated Z359 standards were released. They went beyond equipment and fall arrest to address comprehensive managed fall protection programs, work positioning and work restraint systems and rescue systems.
Then in the summer of 2009, ANSI/ASSE released three new standards addressing fall protection systems design, connecting devices and personal energy absorbers and energy absorbing lanyards. These three new standards were effective Nov. 16, 2009.
Yet, this is only the beginning. The current Z359 family is a living document and will continue to grow as 10 more standards are drafted. What was once a 100-page document will swell in excess of 1,000 pages in the next few years.
Standards Overviews
Gravitec has provided overviews of those four standards effective in November of 2007 along with the three new standards released in the summer of 2009 and effective Nov. 16, 2009. To view those summaries, click on the links below.