Archive for 2019

History: As part of the rules and regulations regarding workplace safety, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires protective footwear for workers in industrial settings. Occupational foot protection is included in the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) section of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards, specifically 29 CFR 1910.136. The existing OSHA standards for PPE…

History: OSHA refers to this Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) as the one “that gave workers the right to know now gives them the right to understand.” To be specific: On March 26, 2012, OSHA amended the 1983 hazard communication standard to align with the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).…

History: In 2014, the International Building Code (IBC) officially recognized ANSI code MH29.1:2012 as the authority over industrial scissors lifts. The reference can be found in Chapter 30, section 3001.2. This was considered a big win at the time, since some states and municipalities go strictly by the IBC, and it clearly separates industrial scissors…

History: Back in the day, workers considered it a sign of durability and hardiness to not wear gloves when performing tasks in the workplace. Most never considered wearing gloves to keep a better grip on tools, prevent knuckle busters and burns, or just to keep the hands clean. This attitude is often still a problem…

History: The health risks associated with exposure to dust containing crystalline silica are well-known today, but it is important to note this wasn’t always the case. In 1700, Dr. Bernardino Ramazzini found evidence of silicosis in stone cutters. Approximately 200 years later, Dr. Alice Hamilton, a physician whose work resulted in significant safety and health…

History: Emergency eyewash stations, as well as shower equipment, are addressed by ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014: American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment. This standard, written and published by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), an ANSI-accredited standards developing organization, establishes minimum performance and use guidelines for eyewash and shower equipment for the emergency treatment…

History: The ANSI/ISEA 121-2018, American National Standard for Dropped Object Prevention Solutions standard comes in response to the thousands of workers each year in the U.S. who are injured (and hundreds who have died) from being struck by falling objects, such as hand tools, instrumentation, small parts, structural components and other items that have to…

History B11 Standards, Inc., founded in 2010, is ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization that administers and develops the ANSI B11 series of American National Standards and Technical Report on machine/machine too/machinery safety. B11 Standards Inc. is accredited by ANSI as the U.S. Technical Advisory Group Administrator to ISO Technical Committee 199 (machinery safety standards) and ISO…