3M Nano-Lok self-retracting lifeline

Contractors should consider investing in self-retracting lifelines that have been manufactured according to ANSI/ASSP Z359.14-2021, the latest standard.

Standard business

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), Park Ridge, Ill., works with experts around the United States to create and revise standards, specifically safety standards in occupational settings, said Lauren Bauerschmidt, senior manager of standards and technical publications for ASSP. ASSP is the secretariat for the Z359 Fall Protection Standards.

The association is accredited by the American National Standards Institute, and every 10 years ASSP must either revise the Z359 Fall Protection Standards or reaffirm them if everything is still up to date, Bauerschmidt said.

“A lot has changed with self-retracting devices and a lot more people are using them,” she said. “However, those devices can’t just be used everywhere, and that’s one of the reasons why the standard was revised to provide additional guidance and recommendations.”

Committee members particularly wanted to reclassify devices according to the location of the anchorage point in relation to a harness’ dorsal D-ring, located between the worker’s shoulder blades in the center of the back.

“You need to think through your potential fall—where you could swing and what could happen—and you’re always going to be safer the higher that anchorage point is,” she said.

Workers wearing harnesses attached to self-retracting devices (SRDs) need to think about their work area. If something happens and they were to fall, how far would they be from that anchorage point?

“You can think of a fall like a pendulum,” Bauerschmidt said. “You don’t want to be too far from the anchorage point, because you could really swing and potentially collide with the structure while falling. In addition, if you’re wearing a hard hat, it will likely fall off and not protect your head, so you should consider wearing a helmet with a chin strap instead.”

The Z359 committee also published a user guide specifically for SRDs.

“I do think it’s helpful to have more plain language on self-retracting devices for the end-user to know if they’re using the right equipment so they can do their work safely,” she said.

Self-retracting devices

One key element driving the changes in the ANSI/ASSP Z359.14 standard revision for SRDs is concern that these products were misused or exposed to different elements and environments that required additional protection—specifically areas presenting leading-edge exposures and excessive free fall distances, said Raymond A. Mann, global senior specialist application engineer for 3M’s Fall Protection technical services, St. Paul, Minn. Mann also serves on the ANSI/ASSP Z359 Committee.

With that in mind, the ANSI/ASSP Z359 committee and subcommittee revised the standard to address some SRD exposure concerns, specifically in anchorage height locations and exposures to leading edge hazards, Mann said.

“One of the most notable changes was the identification of two new classifications of the SRD designation, with the goal to provide a visual identification resource that would quickly denote to the end-user the device classification identifying the area that the product could be used in,” he said.

A Class 1 SRD is appropriate for projects where the user can connect to an anchorage connection device or a suitable structure overhead or at least above the dorsal D-ring, Mann said. The maximum allowable free fall is not to exceed 2 feet. 

A Class 2 SRD is for use with anchorages at or below the dorsal D-ring, and the maximum allowable free fall is not to exceed 6 feet. Class 2 devices also must meet a leading-­edge test.

“An example of a place where this would be suitable is when working on a mobile elevated work platform, because there is typically not an approved anchorage connector above the dorsal D-ring available for connection,” he said. “Another example would be when someone is working on a roof surface where the only available anchorage is at foot level.”

The new classification of devices was also assigned new performance testing requirements. In the previous revision of the standard, devices were tested with a test mass of 282 pounds, and in the 2021 revision they are required to be tested with a test mass of 310 pounds. There are also different strength requirements for the lifeline’s connection point.

“The standard under the revision does not require that end-­users have to stop using older devices, as long as their devices certified to the previous ANSI/ASSP Z359.14 revisions continue to satisfy the inspection requirements identified by the manufacturer of their products,” Mann said. “The devices would have to be used as intended and instructed for that standard at the time of the manufacture of that product.”

However, users are encouraged as a best practice to transition into a product certified to the latest standard revision, simply because the units are tested to more rigorous requirements, he said. The new classifications also help simplify the product selection for the end-user.

Lifelines and personal fall limiters

“3M has taken a dedicated approach to testing our platform of SRDs and we now have a healthy platform of products available within both Class 1 and Class 2 designations,” Mann said. “3M takes great pride in manufacturing, testing and qualifying our products to meet the most up-to-date standards available.”

Buckingham Manufacturing Co. Inc., Binghamton, N.Y., also now offers self-retracting lifelines that meet the ANSI/ASSP Z359.14-2021 requirements, including a full line of arc-tested lightweight personal fall limiters (PFLs), “providing contractors with tailored safety solutions,” said Drew Batty, utility contractor account manager. “Buckingham Manufacturing’s self-retracting lifelines (SRLs) excel in providing unparalleled safety and efficiency,” he said. “Their compact, lightweight design ensures mobility without compromising performance.”

The primary benefit of SRLs/PFLs over traditional energy-­absorbing lanyards is the significantly shorter fall distance they allow, reducing the risk of serious injury, he said. For example, a 6-foot user equipped with a 6-foot energy-­absorbing lanyard could potentially travel up to 19 feet before the fall is arrested. In contrast, a PFL would only allow the user to travel approximately 14½ feet before the fall is completely arrested.

“Contractors should also consider the height at which their crews will be working, such as streetlights or transmission structures, and choose the appropriate lifeline system accordingly,” Batty said. “They should also consider using a PFL/SRL if they are working above a lower level that could be contacted in the event of a fall.”

Apart from technical specifications, contractors should invest in comprehensive training for crew members, he said.

“Buckingham Manufacturing emphasizes safety through ongoing education and open communication channels, fostering a culture of safety consciousness and continuous improvement on the job site,” Batty said. “This training ensures that workers understand how to correctly use and maintain their safety equipment, ultimately enhancing worker safety and productivity.”  

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