Elk River Fall Protection

Our iconic animal

The “Hey Ranger” column written by employees of the Redwood National and State Parks appears on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Today’s column is by Park Ranger Michael Glore.

If the coast redwood is the signature plant of the North Coast, then Roosevelt elk may very well be the iconic animal.

Residents of Del Norte County are no stranger to elk — we see them along roadways, in fields, and even in our yards. But while we may grow accustomed to their ubiquity, long lines of vehicles and crowds of camera-clutching tourists at the sides of roads remind us just how captivating these creatures are.

What’s so special about Roosevelt elk? Well, for one thing, they’re big. Cervus elaphus roosevelti is the largest subspecies of North American elk. In the entire deer family, only the moose is larger. Bulls generally weigh 700–1,100 pounds, whereas cows weigh 575–625 pounds. And, unlike most elk species that follow retreating snows into higher elevations in spring and the opposite direction in fall, Roosevelt elk don’t migrate. Food resources in our region are abundant and generally available year-round.

Despite “living the good life,” however, historic evidence suggests that Roosevelt elk were once more numerous and their range more widespread. Prior to settlement by Euro-Americans and others, Roosevelt elk ranged from southern British Columbia south to Mendocino County and parts of Sonoma County.

American Indian tribes living in and around what is now Redwood National and State Parks burned grassland in part to promote the growth of new grass attractive to elk. The animals were driven overwhelmingly by using a variety of ingenious methods and techniques, including traps and

Hidden traps, but probably with a lasting impact on the population.

In the spring of 1828, Jedediah Smith and his party were the first non-natives to explore the area. In the expedition’s journal, Smith and his clerk Harrison Rogers remarked on the number and size of elk they encountered, shootinging several with apparent ease.

New ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code standards

Q: What do these new standards mean to me and what do I need to do to be ready for them?

A: In brief, the ANSI Z359.6 was developed for engineers designing active fall protection systems such as travel restraint systems and vertical and horizontal lifeline systems. The ANSI Z359.12-2009 standard covers manufacturing requirements for design, performance, testing and markings of snaphooks, carabiners and other fall protection connectors. The ANSI Z359.13-2009 standard might be the most significant and might directly affect most employers and users of personal fall protection. The ANSI Z359.13 has established new requirements for the design and performance of energy-absorbing (EA) lanyards.

Q: What is the significance of the new ANSI Z359.13-2009 energy absorber standard?

A: The ANSI Z359.13-2009 standard has developed new design criteria for the performance and testing methods of EA lanyards. Specifically, the new ANSI energy absorbers will increase the user’s deceleration distance from 42 inches (3.5 ft) to 48 inches (4.0 ft), which will increase your overall potential fall distance. Also, Y-Lanyards, sometimes referred to as twin-leg or 100 percent tie-off lanyards, may be required to have a warning label directing users how to safely store the unused leg on many manufactures’ EA lanyards.

Q: How can ANSI deviate from the OSHA standard stating that a shock absorber must be 42 inches and not exceed 900 lbs. of force on the worker, and will I be in violation with OSHA?

A: No, you will not be in violation with OSHA by following the new ANSI Z359.13 standard. OSHA has a policy of issuing “de minimis” notices to employers who comply with more current versions of consensus standards, to the extent that the more current versions are at least as protective as the older versions .