ASSE Releases Updated Standard for Handling Explosives in Construction, Demolition Operations
The A10.7 standard is applicable to the storage, handling, and use of commercial explosives and blasting agents in the construction industry.
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the release of a revised A10.7 standard for construction and demolition operations, titled, “Safety Requirements for Transportation, Storage, Handling and Use of Commercial Explosives and Blasting Agents.” The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASSE A10 Accredited Standards Committee serves the construction and demolition industry and the A10 standards serve as guides for contractors, labor, and equipment manufacturers in the construction and demolition industry to help make work practices safer for all.
The A10.7 standard is applicable to the storage, handling, and use of commercial explosives and blasting agents in the construction industry. The standard should not, however, be applied to pyrotechnics, small-arms ammunition, or explosive power packs in the form of explosive-activated or explosive-charged construction devices such as explosive rivets, explosive bolts, charges for driving pins or studs, and cartridges for explosive-activated power tools. The standard provides best practices for use of commercial explosives and should be used to guide handling and use in a construction and demolition environment.
“Knowledge of the state-of-the-art best practices found in A10.7 is vital for any operator wanting to provide adequate explosives safety and security,” said Lon Santis, chair of the A10.7 subgroup.
ASSE currently serves as the ANSI secretariat for ten additional standards committees, working with professionals worldwide to establish best practices for protecting people, property, and the environment. For more information about ASSE’s work with ANSI and current standards projects, visit www.asse.org/publications/standards.
Standards play a critical role in the field of occupational safety and health, providing a set of regulations and level of excellence that must be met. Standards help businesses improve safety and quality of life for employees, while enhancing competitive advantage for global businesses. The ASSE Standards Development Committee works diligently to provide the most up-to-date standards to aid in regulating dangerous work activities and preventing injuries and illnesses.