ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-1992(R1999) – BACKGROUND MATERIALS

ASSE, as secretariat of the Z359 ANSI Accredited Standards Committee (ASC), coordinates the development of standards addressing “Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest/Protection Systems, Subsystems and Components.”

ASSE has received a number of inquiries related to the standards developed by this committee. Due to these inquiries, we have put together a “guide” for those with interest.

Standard Title: ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-1992 (R1999), Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components

Scope: This standard establishes requirements for the performance, design, marking, qualification, instruction, training, inspection, use, maintenance and removal from service of connectors, full-body harnesses, lanyards, energy absorbers, anchorage connectors, fall arresters, vertical lifelines, and self-retracting lanyards comprising personal fall arrest systems for users within the capacity range of 130 to 310 pounds (59 to 140 kg).

Table of Contents
  Page
1. Scope, Purpose, Application, Exceptions and Interpretations 9
  1.1 Scope
 9
  1.2 Purpose and Application
9
  1.3 Exceptions 10
  1.4 Application 10
2. Definitions 10
3. Identification and Evaluation 22
  3.1 System Requirements 22
  3.2 Component and Element Requirements 23
  3.3 Subsystem Requirements 33
4. Qualification Testing 36
  4.1 Test Equipment and Test Specimens 36
  4.2 System and Subsystem Qualification Testing
 38
  4.3 Component, Constituent and Element Testing 42
  4.4 Fall Arrester Connecting Subsystem Qualification Testing 53
5. Marking and Instructions 55
  5.1 General Marking Requirements 55
  5.2 Specific Marking Requirements
 55
  5.3 General Instructions Requirements 58
  5.4 Specific Instruction Requirements 59
6. User Inspection, Maintenance and Storage of Equipment 63
  6.1 Inspection 63
  6.2 Maintenance and Storage 64
7. Equipment, Selection, Rigging, Use and Training 65
  7.1 Equipment Selection
 65
  7.2 Equipment Rigging and Use
 67
  7.3 Training 68
8. References 70
Appendices  
  Appendix A: List of Acronyms for Definitions of Terms 73
  Appendix B: Illustrations 75

 

 

OSHA Recognition:

  1. 1994 - 08/09/1994 - Safety Standards for Fall Protection in the Construction Industry - 59:40672-40753
    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Occupational Safety and Health Administration 29 CFR Parts 1910 and 1926 RIN 1218-AA66 [Docket No. S-206] Safety Standards for Fall Protection in the Construction Industry AGENCY:...
    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=13403
  2. Section 3 - III. Summary and Explanation of the Final Rule
    III. Summary and Explanation of the Final Rule The following discussion explains how the final rule corresponds to or differs from the proposed and the existing standards, and how the comments and te...
    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=PREAMBLES&p_id=894
  3. 1996 - 08/30/1996 - Safety Standards for Scaffolds Used in the Construction Industry;Final Rule - 61:46025-46075
    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Occupational Safety and Health Administration 29 CFR Part 1926 [Docket No. S-205] RIN 1218-AA40 Safety Standards for Scaffolds Used in the Construction Industry AGENCY: Occupation...
    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=13573
  4. Section 3 - III. Summary and Explanation of the Final Rule
    III. Summary and Explanation of the Final Rule The following discussion explains how the final rule corresponds to or differs from the proposed scaffold standard and the existing standard, and how th...
    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=PREAMBLES&p_id=1059
  5. Subpart M - Interpretations and Clarifications - Fall Protection
    Subpart M -- Fall Protection...
    http://www.osha.gov/Publications/Const_Res_Man/1926m_interps.html
  6. 2003 - 05/02/2003 - Walking and Working Surfaces; Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems) - 68:23527-23568
    Part II Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration 29 CFR Part 1910 Walking and Working Surfaces; Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems); Proposed Rule Docket ...
    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=17819
  7. 1994 - 06/02/1994 - Longshoring and Marine Terminals - 59:28594-28677
    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Occupational Safety and Health Administration 29 CFR Parts 1910, 1917, and 1918 [Docket No. S-025] Longshoring and Marine Terminals AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administ...
    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=13383
  8. 1994 - 08/09/1994 - Safety Standards for Fall Protection in the Construction Industry - 59:40672-40753
    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Occupational Safety and Health Administration 29 CFR Parts 1910 and 1926 RIN 1218-AA66 [Docket No. S-206] Safety Standards for Fall Protection in the Construction Industry AGENCY:...
    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=13403
  9. 1995 - 03/14/1995 - OSHA standards addressing training for employees using personal fall arrest equipment.
    March 14, 1995 J. Nigel Ellis, Ph.D., CSP, P.E., CPE President Dynamic Scientific Controls P.O. Box 445 Wilmington, DE 19899-0445 Dear Dr. Ellis: This is in response to your December 14, 1994, letter...
    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=21719
  10. 1995 - 08/28/1995 - The frequency of the load measuring system when testing fall arrest equipment should be set at 500 Hz.
    August 28, 1995 Mr. J. Nigel Ellis President Dynamic Scientific Controls P.O. Box 445 Wilmington, Delaware 19899-0445 Dear Mr. Ellis: This is in response to your letter of April 4 to the Occupational...
    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=21903
  11. Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing eTool: Safety and Health Program
    Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing eTool...
    http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/oilandgas/general_safety/safety_and_health.html
  12. Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing eTool: Tripping Out/In
    Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing eTool...
    http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/oilandgas/drilling/trippingout_in.html
  13. Safety and Health Topics: Construction: Fall Protection (continued)
    Construction: Fall Protection Public Safety and Health Topics page...
    http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/constructionfallprotection/compliance.html
  14. Safety and Health Topics: Fall Protection - Compliance
    Fall Protection Public Safety and Health Topics page...
    http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/compliance.html
  15. Section 3 - III. Summary and Explanation of the Final Rule
    III. Summary and Explanation of the Final Rule The following discussion explains how the final rule corresponds to or differs from the proposed and the existing standards, and how the comments and te...
    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=PREAMBLES&p_id=894

Recognition by Other Federal Agencies & Departments:

State Recognition: