VAI Briefs: VAI Leads Collaboration on HEC Policy After nearly two years of collaborating with VAI and rotorcraft operators, the FAA revised its policy on fall protection equipment used by utility line workers during human external cargo (HEC) operations. Announcing its decision in December 2024, the FAA said harnesses compliant with ANSI/ASSP Z359.11-2021 meet or exceed performance requirements and can be safely employed. VAI urged the FAA to broaden the scope of the nationally recognized standard for HEC harnesses to address discrepancies between FAA and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. The discrepancies posed significant compliance challenges for operators and utilities alike, including the possibility of requiring two separately approved harnesses during HEC operations. “Without this policy change, it would have really slowed, if not stopped, HEC being performed across the US in support of the electric grid system,” says Pete Anderson, senior manager, helicopter operations, at Pacific Gas and Electric Co., and chair of VAI’s Utility Patrol and Construction Industry Advisory Council (UPAC). “VAI’s ability to combine the efforts and voices of helicopter contractors and utility companies nationwide allowed us to work directly with the right people at the FAA.” The FAA’s revised policy aligns with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard, which is accepted by OSHA, utilities, unions, and harness manufacturers. The FAA emphasized in its policy statement that the harnesses are subject to rigorous maintenance, inspection, and retirement protocols, ensuring their continued reliability and durability. “This policy change is a testament to the importance of collaboration between industry and regulators,” says James Viola, president and CEO of VAI. “By adopting the ANSI standard, the FAA has not only enhanced safety but also simplified the regulatory landscape for operators and utilities working to maintain our national power grid.”
