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OSHA Inspections and Energy-Absorbing Lanyard Standard |
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BY MICHAEL WEIDEMAN
EAST REGIONAL REGULATORY COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR
The pace of OSHA inspections and citations is the highest it has ever been, according to OSHA.
 OSHA reports it has had more than 21,000 inspections so far in FY2010 and is on pace to exceed the record-setting 39,004 inspection done in FY2009. It is also on track to exceed the record total number of violations cited as well, reporting more than 52,000 violations halfway through the fiscal year. The previous high total was set in FY2009 with 87,663 citations. According to OSHA Administrator David Michaels, agency compliance officers are taking a more thorough looks at companies’ records during inspections.
New Standard for Energy-Absorbing Lanyards
Until now, no ANSI standard has addressed energy-absorbing lanyards. ANSI/ASSE Z359.13-2009, Energy Absorbers and Energy-Absorbing Lanyards was approved by ANSI and ASSE on June 23, 2009, and became effective November 16, 2009. This standard details specific guidelines for the performance, design, marking, qualification, instructions, inspection, maintenance and removal from service of energy-absorbing lanyards and personal energy absorbers.
One notable distinction of the new standard is the designation of two classes of personnel energy absorbers: those designed for applications with free fall (FF) up to 6 feet and those designed for applications where 6-foot FF distance has been proven infeasible, allowing up to a 12-foot FF.
The new standard increases the allowable maximum deployment distance of the energy absorber from 42 inches to 48 inches for 6-foot lanyards. Additional labeling specifications offer additional safeguards to users. Contrasting labels are specified for the 6-foot FF and 12-foot FF energy absorbers and must include the capacity, maximum free fall distance and average deployment force.
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