Insight 🫵🏾

New member of the ASSE/ANSI A10 Committee for Construction and Demolition Operations 

This summer, we deepened our commitment to construction safety by becoming formal voting members of the ASSE/ANSI A10 Committee for Construction and Demolition Operations. The ANSI accredited committee is one of the longest-running voluntary national consensus standards committees in the United States, with roots dating back to the 1920s. The committee is responsible for writing and interpreting consensus safety standards for hazards associated with construction and demolition. 

We currently chair two A10 standard setting subgroups:

·       A10.46 – Hearing Loss Prevention

·       A10.49 – Control of Health Hazards in Construction

An also sit on the following standard setting subgroups:

·       A10.06 – Demolition Operations

·       A10.19 – Pile Installation

·       A10.21 – Wind Generation/Turbine Facilities

·       A10.25 – Sanitation in Construction  

·       A10.28 – Work Platforms Suspended from Cranes or Derricks

·       A10.34 – Public Protection

·       A10.40 – Reduction of Musculoskeletal Problems

The standards developed by the A10 committee are widely recognized by both public and private sectors, including the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The A10 series of standards covers a diverse range of activities, from scaffolding and excavation to personnel hoists and concrete work. 

Key milestones

·       1920s: A10 is established under the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

·       1931: The American Institute of Architects serves as the committee's Secretariat, adopting The Associated General Contractors of America, Manual of Accident Prevention in Construction as the first A10 American National Standard.

·       1944: The committee is formally founded as the A10 Accredited Standards Committee (ASC).

·       1976: Interest in developing new and better standards was reinvigorated when a representative from the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) was appointed chairman of the A10 committee.

·       2004: ASSE officially becomes the Secretariat for the A10 committee.

·       2018: The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) changes its name to the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). The organization continues to serve as the Secretariat for the A10 committee. 

Modern structure and purpose

Today, the committee is formally known as the ANSI/ASSP A10 Accredited Standards Committee. It is composed of a wide range of representatives from various sectors, including: 

·       Large construction companies and contractor associations

·       Labor unions

·       Government agencies and universities

·       Large engineering and consulting firms 

Our formal membership in the ANSI/ASSP A10 committee reinforces our dedication to industry-wide safety. By chairing and participating in key subgroups, we are actively contributing to the creation and interpretation of standards that protect workers and enhance safety protocols across the construction and demolition sectors.

We believe that a collaborative approach is the best way to improve safety for everyone. Our work on the A10 committee, including our leadership roles in the Hearing Loss Prevention and Control of Health Hazards subgroups, is focused on building consensus for the betterment of the entire industry. What safety standards do you think are most in need of attention today? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.