The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the approval of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASSE standard, “Prevention through Design: Guidelines for Addressing Occupational Risks in Design and Redesign Processes” (Z590.3). This new standard provides guidance on including Prevention through Design concepts within an occupational safety and health management system, and can be applied in any occupational setting.
This standard can save lives and prevent injury. For example, as skylights become synonymous with green construction and energy conservation, we expect to see an increase in skylight installation. If skylights are designed and installed with proper guarding, deaths and injuries to workers who inadvertently fall though skylights during construction and maintenance activities could be prevented. Another example involves bailing machines used to break down cardboard for recycling in various industries. If the bailers were designed and installed with proper guarding, workers would not be able to enter the machines for trouble shooting thus preventing deaths and injuries.
Development and publication of this standard was a major goal for the NIOSH Prevention through Design Plan for the National Initiative. ASSE’s leadership in developing this standard and gaining ANSI approval lays the foundation for organizations to include Prevention through Design principles in their occupational safety and health management systems. The standard also provides tools for determining and achieving acceptable levels of risk to hazards that cannot be eliminated during design.
The new standard complements, but does not replace, performance objectives existing in other specific standards and procedures. The goals of applying Prevention through Design concepts in an occupational setting are to:
- achieve acceptable risk level;
- prevent or reduce occupationally related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities;
- and reduce the cost of retrofitting necessary to mitigate hazards and risks that were not sufficiently addressed in the design or redesign processes.
The newly approved standard will be available soon in print and electronically. For more information, please contact ASSE Customer Service at 847-699-2929 or customerservice@asse.org.
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is also actively engaged in including Prevention through Design concepts into the revisions to (ANSI)/AIHA Z10 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems standard. Including Prevention through Design into Z10 is a natural fit since the “systems” approach to occupational health and safety enables management and worker collaboration on corrective actions, enables the “anticipation” of occupational hazards so that risks to workers from the hazards can be assessed and controlled during design, and enables the inclusion of occupational safety and health into an organization’s planning process.
We hope these efforts bring a renewed interest in Prevention through Design. We would like to hear from you. Do you have ideas on where redesign could lead to safer work environments and cost savings in your industry?
For more information about Prevention through Design, please visit the NIOSH Prevention through Design topic page.
For more information on the new standard, see the ASSE Tech Brief
Ms. Heidel, a NIOSH Research Industrial Hygienist, is the Coordinator of the PtD National Initiative.
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September 22, 2011 at 4:48 pm ET - Bev Hiller
Do you know when this standard will be available for puchasing?
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AUTHOR COMMENT September 23, 2011 at 2:07 pm ET - Donna Heidel
According to ASSE, the standard will be available for purchase in approximately 30 days. Feel free to contact ASSE directly at 847-699-2929 or customerservice@asse.org.
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September 23, 2011 at 2:18 pm ET - Mifsoup
Very informative post. Thanks for taking the time to share your view with us.
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September 23, 2011 at 5:55 pm ET - Jevaughn Brown
Are these standards enforced by law or are they “simply” respected guidelines? Or to put it another way I’m wondering, does the CDC use this “Prevention through Design” standard to formulate and issue legal regulations?
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AUTHOR COMMENT September 27, 2011 at 12:16 pm ET - Donna Heidel
ANSI standards are voluntary consensus standards and are not regulatory. NIOSH conducts research and prevention on occupational safety and health issues and is not a regulatory body. ASSEs leadership in developing this standard and gaining ANSI approval lays the foundation for organizations to include prevention through design principles in their occupational safety and health management systems. The standard also provides tools for determining and achieving acceptable levels of risk to hazards that cannot be eliminated during design.
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September 26, 2011 at 6:14 am ET - Paul
Interesting development. I have a few questions:
◦How does this standard relate to the publications from 2008, in particular “Prevention through design” by FA Manuele in Professional Safety Oct 2008?
◦How does this standard relate to ISO 31000 ‘Principles and guidelines of risk management’ and ISO 31010 ‘Risk assessment techniques?
Have a nice day, Paul.
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AUTHOR COMMENT September 27, 2011 at 12:53 pm ET - Donna Heidel
Fred Manuele chaired the committee that developed ANSI/ASSE Z590.3; therefore, it is aligned with the article to which you refer.
ISO 31000 Principles and guidelines of risk management is a broadly based treatise which Z590.3 supports. The Prevention through Design standard provides guidelines for including PtD principles and procedures within an overall safety and health management system. Particularly, Z590.3 is supportive of Section 5.4 Risk Assessment in ISO 31000.
IEC/ISO 31010 is devoted entirely to Risk assessment techniques. Z590.3 is definitely in line with the sections on Risk Assessment Concepts, Risk Assessment Process and Selection of Risk Assessment Techniques. Discussions cover 31 such techniques, which were considered a bit much for Z590.3. In an addendum for Z590.3, comments are made on eight of the techniques, all of which are included in IEC/ISO 31010.
Incidentally, these ISO standards are now also ANSI standards. The American Society of Safety Engineers is the Secretariat. The relative numbers are ANSI/ASSE Z690.2-2011 and ANSI/ASSE Z690.3-2011.
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September 27, 2011 at 4:41 am ET - David
Thanks for the information. But I coundn’t understand when exactly they announced the ANSI standard approval? It’s stated “recently”…
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AUTHOR COMMENT September 27, 2011 at 12:59 pm ET - Donna Heidel
The ASSE press release announcing the standard is dated September 14, 2011. For more information see http://www.asse.org/en/index.php/press_releases/asse-announces-approval-of-ground-breaking-z590-3-standard-for-prevention-through-design/
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September 29, 2011 at 6:15 am ET - lynn dwyer
I work in the deli at shoprite and the slicers are at least 20 years old. I have been injured 3 to 4 times due to the hook coming loose from the product. I have seen newer slicers and see that they have many safety prevention features. Please have someone call me at [phone number]. I am tired of my words being ignored by the store. I need help please. Thank you.
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AUTHOR COMMENT September 30, 2011 at 4:30 pm ET - Donna Heidel
If you feel your safety or the safety of your coworkers is at risk you can contact your local OSHA office. Contact information can be found at http://www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html
Additionally, the OSHA document Safeguarding Equipment and Protecting Employees from Amputations contains a section on page 38 describing Safeguarding and Other Controls for Food Slicers.
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November 30, 2011 at 3:36 pm ET - Bruce Lyon
Hi Donna,
Thanks for the great summary you posted. I just participated in the ASSE webinar on Z590.3 and look forward to PtD case studies/ROI when available. I will forward any to you as they develop.
I will also be interested in seeing PtD incorporated into the upcoming Z10 revision.
Thanks again,
Bruce
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February 15, 2012 at 12:53 am ET - Web Design
We are excited to see that the American National Standards Institute has validated our efforts.and those of many other safety organizations.with the implementation of a Prevention .Through Design (PtD) standard.
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October 31, 2012 at 3:20 am ET - Website Designing Ajmer
I am very glad to know that American National Standard Institute is aware for human health. I visit your link a got more information about this rule. I hope its working better.
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April 24, 2013 at 10:42 am ET - Minni Mathews
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is doing a great job. I would appreciate this.
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