THOMAS E. KRAMER, P.E., C.S.P. - PRINCIPAL TKramer@LJBinc.com Phone: (937) 259-5120

LJB WEBINAR SERIES

SYSTEM CERTIFICATION:WHAT’S NEEDED?

BOTTOM LINE

Certification requires extensive documentation– Relies upon qualified person, not just an engineer

The standards are changing

Call to action– Identify gaps in the documentation for your existing

systems

– Determine how to address certification in future systems

POLL QUESTION: TRUE OR FALSE

True or false: By law, all anchorages must be

designed by a qualified person.

POLL QUESTION: TRUE OR FALSE

True or false: Certified means that an anchorage is

guaranteed to be adequate.

POLL QUESTION: TRUE OR FALSE

True or false: If my components meet ANSI Z359

standards and my anchorage can support 5,000

pounds, my system can be considered certified.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Define a certified system (and what’s not!)

Explain key elements of fall protection system

certification

COMMON QUESTIONS (a.k.a. AGENDA)

What do regulations/standards say?

Who performs certification?

Details about certification– What do you look for?

– How often is this required?

– What documentation do I need?

– Do I need to load lest?

FROM AN INSPECTION REPORT…

“This fall protection system has been inspected and is

certified in accordance with all federal, state and local

laws.”

What should you do if you see this?

SUMMARY

OSHA– Not specified in very much detail

ANSI– Z359.2: defines certified and non-certified

– Z359.6: defines overall system and recertification

requirements

– New ANSI standards are being added every year

REGULATIONS

Anchorages shall be:

> Capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per

employee attached,

> Or designed, installed and used under the supervision of

qualified person as part of a complete personal fall protection

system which maintains a safety factor of at least two.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Recognized degree orprofessional certificate

Extensive knowledge and experience in the subject field

Capable of design, analysis, evaluation and specifications in the subject work, project or product

CERTIFIED VS. NON-CERTIFIED

Certified

> Documentation that the system meets the requirements of

this standard

ANSI Z359.0 – CERTIFIED ANCHORAGE

Certified anchorage

> Anchorage identified and system designed by a qualified

person

Non-certified– Anchorage that a competent person can judge to be

capable of supporting the predetermined anchorage forces• An exception to designed by a qualified person

requirement

– Unquestionably strong elements of a structure

ANSI Z359.0 – NON-CERTIFIED ANCHORAGE

ANSI Z359.6-2009

“Specifications and design requirements for active fall

protection systems”

Provides guidance to engineers designing systems

ANSI Z359.6 - RECERTIFICATION

“Active fall protection systems shall be thoroughly

reviewed by an engineer at a frequency to be

determined by the original design or other similarly

qualified engineer but not to exceed five years.”

Section 4.6.5 – Recertification of Active Fall Protection Systems

What do regulations/standards say?

Who performs certification?

Details about certification– What do you look for?

– How often is this required?

– What documentation do I need?

– Do I need to load lest?

COMMON QUESTIONS (a.k.a. AGENDA)

WHO PERFORMS CERTIFICATION?

OSHA– Qualified person?

ANSI– Z359.2: Qualified person

• Alternative is non-certified by competent person

– Z359.6: Qualified person that is an engineer

WHO PERFORMS CERTIFICATION?

Qualified person

Ideally P.E. + C.S.P.– Structural = physical strength and performance

– Safety = behavioral aspects

LIMITATIONS

Certified by qualified person

> Few qualified persons

> In-house staff lack experience

> OJT required for either engineering or safety

> Costs of hiring a qualified person

> Response time for urgent needs

LIMITATIONS

Non-certified by competent person

> Depends on competent person’s judgment

> Violation of building code (law) in some cases

> Some elements may not be adequate for the higher loads

> Subjective determination

> Decision only defended with a load test

> “Non-certified” has negative connotations

What do regulations/standards say?

Who performs certification?

Details about certification– What do you look for?

– How often is this required?

– What documentation do I need?

– Do I need to load lest?

COMMON QUESTIONS (a.k.a. AGENDA)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

More than just equipment defects– Appropriate for identified hazards?

– Adequate anchorages and structural support?

– Appropriate use and rescue procedures?

Appropriate training for users?

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

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3

4

5

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WHAT DOCUMENTATION DO I NEED?

Documentation– Design

– Construction

– Inspection logs

– Training

– Operations

HOW OFTEN?

Formal inspection (equipment)– According to manufacturer’s recommendations

– Typically semi-annual or annual

Recertification– Every 5 years, according to ANSI Z359.6

COMMON QUESTIONS

What if I have no documentation?

What if I’ve missed a year? Or 10?

Do I need to load lest?

DO I NEED TO LOAD TEST?

If required by manufacturer

Confirm proper installation

Confirm structural capacity

Determine feasibility of system reuse

NOT a substitute for proper design

CALL TO ACTION

Identify gaps in the documentation for your existing

systems.

Determine how to address certification in future

systems and raise the bar.

THOMAS E. KRAMER, P.E., C.S.P. - PRINCIPAL TKramer@LJBinc.com Phone: (937) 259-5120

LJB WEBINAR SERIES

SYSTEM CERTIFICATION:WHAT’S NEEDED?