ASSE's Fall Protection Standard Obtains ANSI Approval
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced on its Web site (www.asse.org) the approval of the new American National Standard Institute (ANSI)/ASSE A10.4-2007 standard, Safety Requirements for Personal Hoists and Employee Elevators in Construction and Demolition Operations.
The standard sets minimum requirements to provide for the safety of workers engaged in occupations that require the use of personal hoists or employee elevators and is one of a series of standards that focus on construction and demolition operations.
Approved by ANSI on May 3, 2007, the standard applies to the design, construction, installation, operation, inspection, testing, maintenance, alterations, and repair of hoists and elevators that are not a vital part of buildings; are installed inside or outside buildings or structures during construction, alteration, demolition, or operations; and are used to raise and lower workers and other personnel connected with or related to the structure.
"With this new standard, we are addressing new issues within the industry in order to keep pace with changing technologies and to establish a checklist for inspectors as well as establish criteria for hoist personnel," said John Quackenbush, A10.4 subgroup chair. "The ANSI/ASSE A10.4 standard is a valuable tool that encourages and supplies employers and workers with practical guidelines for providing a safer workplace."
The standard is available in both print and electronic format. For more information, contact ASSE Customer Service at 847-699-2929 or visit www.asse.org.