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2. Anchorage Requirements
All anchorages to which the Personal Energy Absorbers and Energy Absorbing Lanyards attach must meet the requirements
of ANSI Z359.1-2007:
Anchorages to which personal fall arrest equipment is attached shall be capable of supporting at least 5,000 lb. (22.2 kN)
per employee attached, or shall be designed, installed, and used as part of a complete personal fall arrest system which
maintains a safety factor of at least two, under the supervision of a qualified person.
ANSI Z359.1-2007 states that anchorages in a personal fall arrest system must have strength capable of sustaining static
loads applied in all directions permitted by the system of at least:
(a) Two times the maximum arrest force permitted on the system with certification, or
(b) 5,000 lb. (22.2 kN) in the absence of certification
When more than one personal fall arrest system is attached to the anchorage, the strength in (a) and (b) must be
multiplied by the number of personal fall arrest systems attached to the anchorage.
Anchorages used in controlled descent and rescue systems must be capable of supporting loads of 3,100 ft-lb. (13.8 kN) for
non-certified anchorages or a 5:1 safety factor for certified anchorages per ANSI Z359.4-2007.
Anchorages used in restraint systems must be capable of supporting loads of 1,000 ft-lb. (4.5 kN) for non-certified
anchorages or two times the foreseeable force for certified anchorages per ANSI Z359.2-2007.
Anchorages used in work positioning systems must be capable of supporting loads of 3,000 ft-lb. (13.3 kN) for non-certified
anchorages or two times the foreseeable force for certified anchorages per ANSI Z359.2-2007.
Anchorages should be located as vertically as possible above the user’s head and be positioned as not to exceed the
maximum allowable free fall for the system.
3.Connection Compatibility Limitations
All equipment must be coupled to compatible connectors. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502 prohibits snap hooks from being
engaged to certain objects unless two requirements are met:
1. It must be a locking type snap hook.
2. It must be “designed for” making such a connection.
a. “Designed for” means that the manufacturer of the snap hook specifically created the snap hook to be used to connect
to the equipment in question.
The following conditions can result in rollout* when a non-locking snap hook is used. Avoid the following connections:
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Direct connection of a snap hook to horizontal lifeline.
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Two (or more) snap hooks connected to one D-ring.
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Two snap hooks connected to each other.
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A snap hook connected back on its integral lanyard.
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A snap hook connected to a webbing loop or webbing lanyard.
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Improper dimensions of the D-ring, rebar, or other connection point in relation to the snap hook dimensions that would
allow the snap hook keeper to be depressed by a turning motion of the snap hook.