Whats New in the ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code – Part 3

There are many new standards as of July 2011 in the Z359 Fall Protection Code. Let’s review the next regulations in the current series of standards:

Z359.3 “Safety Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems” – This is an equipment standard that covers the design and performance requirements of personal positioning and fall restraint systems. Fall restraint systems differ from fall arrest systems in that fall restraint systems simply restrain a worker’s movements to prevent potential injury. Fall restraint systems normally employ a fixed length lanyard (professionals in the industry commonly refer to the lanyard as a “dog leash”). This lanyard prevents the worker from reaching the fall hazard, whereas a fall arrest system will allow the worker to reach the fall hazard and fall, but then arrests the free fall and decelerates the falling body to a stop.

This equipment standard also covers the design and performance requirements of positioning systems. Positioning systems allow a worker to work in a single position with both hands free to manipulate tools and equipment.

Z359.4 “Safety Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components” – This is an equipment standard that covers the design and performance requirements of Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue systems. Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue systems allow a fallen worker to reach the safety of a platform or the ground after a fall. Timely rescue will prevent “suspension trauma” or “harness trauma”. Suspension trauma will occur if a fallen worker is suspended in a harness for too long a period of time. The trauma occurs when the harness leg straps restrict blood flow back into the worker’s torso from the legs. The blood vessels in the legs will expand to absorb the blood flow that is pumped into the legs by the heart. Unfortunately, this results in less blood available in the torso to supply oxygen to the brain. This lack of oxygen eventually results in the worker losing consciousness. If left unconscious, the worker will suffer brain damage and eventually die due to lack of oxygen to critical organs.

In Part 4 we will review and simplify some of the most technically complex standards in the Z359 Fall Protection Code.

Stay tuned!

As always- Stay safe, and I am here if you need me…..

Arnold Timothy Galpin, P.E.