New A10 construction standards on lockout/tagout, hearing loss prevention and sanitation are open for public comment until May 3, 2005, along with four existing A10 standards seeking reaffirmation.
The A10.46 draft standard Hearing Loss Prevention for Construction and Demolition Operations covers guidelines on protecting construction employees from noise exposures higher than 85 decibels. The A10.44 draft standard Control of Energy Sources for Construction and Demolition Operations provides requirements for developing and utilizing lockout/tagout procedures to prevent injuries from the unexpected startup of machines or release of stored energy from equipment during construction operations. The A10.25 draft standard Sanitation in Construction provides requirements for employers to ensure the health of employees at a construction site with toilet facilities that do not have sewer waste-disposal systems.
Four existing A10 standards are to be reaffirmed with no changes, and are under public review as per ANSI procedures. This includes the A10.7-1998 standard Commercial Explosives and Blasting Agents — Safety Requirements for Transportation, Storage, Handling and Use and the A10.39-1996 standard Construction Safety and Health Audit Program, which provides guidance to organizations in evaluating construction safety and health programs. The A10.27-1998 standard Safety Requirements for Hot Mix Asphalt addresses guidelines to protect employees and facility operators involved with hot mix asphalt. The A10.15-1995 standard Safety Requirements for Dredging covers performance safety requirements to reduce workplace injuries in marine dredging operations. This standard addresses proper use of pressurized equipment and systems, housekeeping safety, and walking and working surfaces to prevent slips and falls.
Public comments on the standards must be submitted in writing by May 3, 2005 to ASSE, care of Tim Fisher, 1800 E. Oakton Street, Des Plaines, IL 60018. For more information, go to www.asse.org.
