9.0 Definitions
The following are general definitions of fall protection terms as defined by ANSI Z359.0-2012.
Anchorage -
A secure connecting point or a terminating component of a fall protection system or rescue system capable of safely supporting the
impact forces applied by a fall protection system or anchorage subsystem.
Anchorage Connector -
A component or subsystem that functions as an interface between the anchorage and a fall protection, work positioning,
rope access or rescue system for the purpose of coupling the system to the anchorage.
Arrest Distance -
The total vertical distance required to arrest a fall. The arrest distance includes the deceleration distance and activation distance.
Authorized Person –
A person assigned by the employer to perform duties at a location where the person will be exposed to a fall hazard.
Available Clearance -
The distance from a reference point, such as the working platform, to the nearest obstruction that an authorized person might
contact during a fall which, if struck, could cause injury.
Capacity -
The maximum weight that a component, system or subsystem is designed to hold.
Certification -
The act of attesting in writing that the criteria established by these standards or some other designated standard have been met.
Clearance -
The distance from a specified reference point, such as the working platform or anchorage of a fall arrest system, to the lower level that a
worker might encounter during a fall.
Clearance Requirement -
The distance below an authorized person that must remain clear of obstructions in order to ensure that the authorized
person does not make contact with any objects that would cause injury in the event of a fall.
Competent Person -
An individual designated by the employer to be responsible for the immediate supervision, implementation and monitoring of
the employer’s managed fall protection program who, through training and knowledge, is capable of identifying, evaluating and addressing existing
and potential fall hazards, and who has the employer’s authority to take prompt corrective action with regard to such hazards.
Component -
An element or integral assembly of interconnected elements intended to perform one function in the system.
Connecting Subsystem -
An assembly, including the necessary connectors, comprised of all components, subsystems, or both, between the anchor
-
age or anchorage connector and the harness attachment point.
Connector -
A component or element that is used to couple parts of the system together.
Deceleration Distance -
The vertical distance between the user’s fall arrest attachment at the onset of fall arrest forces during a fall, and after the
fall arrest attachment comes to a complete stop.
Fall Hazard -
Any location where a person is exposed to a potential free fall.
Free Fall -
The act of falling before a fall protection system begins to apply forces to arrest the fall.
Free Fall Distance -
The vertical distance traveled during a fall, measured from the onset of a fall from a walking working surface to the point at
which the fall protection system begins to arrest the fall.
Lanyard -
A component consisting of a flexible rope, wire rope or strap, which typically has a connector at each end for connecting to the body
support and to a fall arrester, energy absorber, anchorage connector or anchorage.
Positioning -
The act of supporting the body with a positioning system for the purpose of working with hands free.
Positioning Lanyard -
A lanyard used to transfer forces from a body support to an anchorage or anchorage connector in a positioning system.
Qualified Person -
A person with a recognized degree or professional certificate and with extensive knowledge, training and experience in the fall
protection and rescue field who is capable of designing, analyzing, evaluating and specifying fall protection and rescue systems.
Snaphook -
A connector comprised of a hook-shaped body with a normally closed gate or similar arrangement that may be opened to permit the
hook to receive an object and, when released, automatically closes to retain the object.
Swing Fall -
A pendulum-like motion that occurs during and/or after a vertical fall. A swing fall results when an authorized person begins a fall from a
position that is located horizontally away from a fixed anchorage.
MFRD01 Rev A
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