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The new ANSI Z359-2007 fall protection code, which affects many U.S. employers, workers, safety professionals and manufacturers, took effect on November 24, 2007. This brief overview will help get you up to speed on the changes Z359.0 through Z359.4.
Z359.0 - Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest
This part functions as a dictionary of specialized terms compiled from the other four sections and defines each of approximately 150 terms used throughout the new standard.
Z359.1 - Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components
This part contains product design criteria and test procedures for fall arrest components, subsystems and systems, just as in the previous version of the standard. However, it has been revised with several important new requirements, including:
1. Gate strength requirements have increased for snap hooks and carabiners to 3,600 pounds in all directions of potential loading to the gate.
2. A front attachment element for fall arrest is now included in the standard - The revised standard allows attachment of the fall arrest system to a front-mounted D-ring. Front D-ring connection is limited, however, to systems restricting free-fall distance to two feet or less and limiting front D-ring maximum fall arrest loads to 900 pounds force, or less.
3. Additional testing and warnings for twinleg shock-absorbing lanyards - The new standard includes a 5,000-pound static test of...