ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code

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Who is ANSI?

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) coordinates the development and use of standards in the United States. An ANSI Standard implies a consensus of those substantially concerned with its scope and provisions, and is intended as a guide to aid the manufacturer, the consumer, and the general public. The existence of an ANSI Standard does not in any respect preclude any party from manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, or using products, processes, or procedures not conforming to the Standard. It is important to remember that the ANSI Standards do not constitute governing law. ANSI Standards are subject to periodic review and users are cautioned to always reference the latest editions.

What is ANSI Z359.1?

ANSI Z359.1 “American National Standard Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components” was originally published in 1992 and later revised in 1999 (editorial changes only). The purpose of this Standard was to address the variety of equipment being developed in the rapidly growing field of Fall Protection. The original Standard included the following equipment: harnesses, lanyards (including self-retracting lanyards), lifelines, energy absorbers, anchorage connectors, fall arresters, and components of such equipment including connectors, rope, straps, thread and thimbles. This Standard applied to fall arrest equipment used in General Industry and non-construction occupations. The Construction Industry has its own set of Standards (ANSI A10.32-2004).

Why the changes to the ANSI Standards?

The original Standards (ANSI Z359.1) published in 1992 and later revised in 1999 were always intended to be the first in a series of Standards to address a full comprehensive fall protection program. While the original Standards only addressed Fall Arrest Systems, equipment used for positioning, travel restraint and rescue, which is quite different, was to be addressed later in the series. The ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code introduced in 2007 was approved by the American National Standards Institute to address fall protection requirements for General Industry. The ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code is an umbrella for a series of seventeen (17) fall protection-related Standards.

Five (5) Standards were approved and effective November 24, 2007:

ANSI Z359.0 – 2007

Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest

ANSI Z359.1 – 2007

Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components

ANSI Z359.2 – 2007

Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program

ANSI Z359.3 – 2007

Safety Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems

ANSI Z359.4 – 2007

Safety Requirements for Assisted Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components

An additional three (3) Standards are approved and effectiveb November 16, 2009:

ANSI Z359.6 – 2009

Specifications and Design Requirements for Active Fall Protection Systems

ANSI Z359.12 – 2009

Connecting Components for Personal Fall Arrest Systems

ANSI Z359.13 – 2009

Personal Energy Absorbers and Energy Absorbing Lanyards

ANSI intends to create 9 additional Standards which are listed below. Work continues on these Standards by various ANSI committees. No effective completion dates have been announced.

ANSI Z359.5 Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems	ANSI Z359.11 Requirements for Full-Body Harness for Personal Fall Arrest System	ANSI Z359.15 Safety Requirements for Vertical Lifelines for Personal Fall Arrest Systems
ANSI Z359.16 Safety Requirements for Fall Arresters for Personal Fall Arrest Systems	ANSI Z359.7 Requirements for Third-Party and Self- Certification for Personal Fall Arrest Systems	ANSI Z359.17 Safety Requirements for Horizontal Lifelines for Personal Fall Arrest Systems
ANSI Z359.8 Managed Fall Protection Program	ANSI Z359.14 Safety Requirements for Self-Retracting Devices for Personal Fall Arrest Systems	ANSI Z359.18 Safety Requirements for Anchorage Connectors for Personal Fall Arrest Systems

References

ANSI Z359.0 – 2007 Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest (Draft), American National Standard, American Society of Safety Engineers, Des Plaines, Illinois, 2007
ANSI Z359.1 – 2007 Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components (Draft), American National Standard, American Society of Safety Engineers, Des Plaines, Illinois, 2007
ANSI Z359.2 – 2007 Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program (Draft), American National Standard, American Society of Safety Engineers, Des Plaines, Illinois, 2007
ANSI Z359.3 – 2007 Safety Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems (Draft), American National Standard, American Society of Safety Engineers, Des Plaines, Illinois, 2007
ANSI Z359.4 – 2007 Safety Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components (Draft), American National Standard, American Society of Safety Engineers, Des Plaines, Illinois, 2007
ANSI Z359.6 – 2009 Specifications and Design Requirements for Active Fall Protection Systems (Draft), American National Standard, American Society of Safety Engineers, Des Plaines, Illinois, 2009
ANSI Z359.12 – 2009 Connecting Components for Personal Fall Arrest Systems (Draft), American National Standard, American Society of Safety Engineers, Des Plaines, Illinois, 2009
ANSI Z359.13 – 2009 Personal Energy Absorbers and Energy Absorbing Lanyards (Draft), American National Standard, American Society of Safety Engineers, Des Plaines, Illinois, 2009

Wire Rope • Fittings • Swagers • Cable Assemblies • Carabiners • Snap Hooks • Oval Sleeves • Shackles • Flip Lines Arborist - Safety - Marine - Recreational - Defense - Industrial

ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code

Who is ANSI?

What is ANSI Z359.1?

Why the changes to the ANSI Standards?

Wire Rope • Fittings • Swagers • Cable Assemblies • Carabiners • Snap Hooks • Oval Sleeves • Shackles • Flip Lines
Arborist - Safety - Marine - Recreational - Defense - Industrial