CSA Z259.17:16 (R2020)

Overview

Falls from heights are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. Falls can not only occur from rooftops or scaling tall buildings, but can also occur from overhead platforms, elevated workstations, or even into holes in walls, floors or the ground. A fall protection system becomes a critical component of occupational health and safety (OHS) practices and procedures and it is mandatory for workers who are at risk of falling to have and make use of proper fall protection equipment.

CSA Group's Z259 series of standards help with the selection and proper use of current fall protection equipment - updated regularly in response to technological change and evolving safety concerns. It also tests and certifies fall protection equipment components to the applicable Z259 standards in Canada and the corresponding ANSI/ASME standards in the US.

CSA Z259.17 is the first standard of its kind and provides criteria for the safe selection and use of fall- protection equipment and systems. It serves as a guide for managers and supervisors to help ensure that the right fall protection equipment is selected, taking into consideration critical factors such as type of work, frequency of access, and knowledge of workers. A solution that is effective in one situation may be wrong for another.

CSA Group gratefully acknowledges the financial and in-kind support from the Canadian government departments responsible for occupational health and safety for the development of this edition.

Highlights of Z259.17

• Provides information, methods, and criteria to assess how equipment and assembled systems behave, and how solutions should be selected and implemented
• Includes selection and use elements intended to minimize risks such as hazard assessment, work methods, purchasing, practices, training, maintenance, and inspection
• Includes clauses that are intended to reduce risks, which are inherent in all active fall-protection systems
• References personal fall-protection system (PFPS) components that conform to the requirements of the CSA Z259 Series of Standards or an equivalent

Preface

This is the first edition of CSA Z259.17, Selection and use of active fall-protection equipment and systems. The purpose of this Standard is to provide criteria for the safe selection and use of fall- protection equipment and systems.

This Standard does not supersede the authority having jurisdiction. The manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations are part of the safe use and operation of the fall-protection equipment and systems.

CSA Group gratefully acknowledges the financial and in-kind support from the Canadian government departments responsible for occupational health and safety for the development of this edition.

Introduction

Effective abatement of fall hazards is complex, requiring skilled selection and assembly of equipment and systems. The chosen solutions need to be understood and properly used by workers, balancing protection from danger against the practical need to accomplish work. The optimal solution needs to consider the type of work, the frequency of access, the knowledge and skill of the workers, and many other factors. A solution that is effective for one situation can be cumbersome or even dangerous in another.

Other standards in the CSA Z259 series provide criteria for the design and functioning of individual components and systems, providing quality products to the marketplace. Available equipment and systems have various features, some of which may or may not be considered, tested, or certified to these standards. They may be combined in a wide variety of ways to address a wide variety of scenarios, with consequent variance in effectiveness.

The purpose of this Standard is to provide guidance for the selection and use of active fall-protection systems and equipment. It provides information, methods, and criteria to assess how equipment and assembled systems behave, and how solutions should be selected and implemented.

Scope

1.1

This Standard specifies requirements for the selection, use, and application of active fall-protection equipment and systems.

1.2

The purpose of this Standard is to provide criteria and considerations for the safe selection and use of active fall-protection equipment and systems.

1.3

The selection and use of fall-protection systems as part of a fall-protection program that may include such elements as hazard assessment, work methods, purchasing, practices, training, maintenance, and inspection, intended to minimize the risks involved.

1.4

The clauses of this Standard are intended to reduce risks, which are inherent in all active fall-protection systems.

1.5

This Standard references personal fall-protection system (PFPS) components that conform to the requirements of the CSA Z259 Series of Standards or an equivalent.

1.6

This Standard does not cover requirements for

a) design and performance of fall-protection systems or components;

Note: For design and performance requirements refer to the applicable fall protection Standard (see CSA Z259 series).

b) selection and use of post-fall rescue equipment, plans, and procedures; and

c) selection and use of passive fall-protection systems such as temporary guardrails or safety net systems.

This Standard is not intended to replicate or replace other Standards covered by CSA Group.

1.7

When the term anchor is used throughout this Standard document it means the combination of the anchorage connector and the anchorage (structure).

1.8

The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in parentheses are for information and comparison only.

1.9

In this Standard, shall is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; should is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and may is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (nonmandatory) to define their application.