ASSP Updates Construction, Demolition Standard

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has updated a key national voluntary consensus standard for construction and demolition sites, which are among the most hazardous work environments.

ANSI/ASSP A10.1-2024 Pre-Project and Pre-Task Safety and Health Planning establishes effective elements and activities for pre-project and pre-task safety and health planning in construction and demolition work.

“The primary purpose of this standard is to assist construction owners, project constructors and contractors in making pre-project and pre-task safety and health planning a typical part of their overall planning process,” said subcommittee Chair Wesley Wheeler, SMS, CESCP, MSP, of the National Electrical Contractors Association.

“There must be a formal process in place to evaluate the safety and health performance of constructor candidates.”

The standard calls for each potential contractor to provide a report detailing safety staff assigned to the project, time allotted for safety and health training, a substance abuse program, and personal protective equipment and other resources anticipated for the project. Safety training should include new hire orientation, job-specific and task-specific training, on-site safety meetings and regular re-training.

“The revised standard also recommends the use of leading indicators to more accurately gauge workplace safety and health performance,” Wheeler said.

The American Society of Safety Professionals is a global association for occupational safety and health professionals. For more than 100 years, it has supported occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals in their efforts to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities. It provides education, advocacy, standards development and a professional community to members in order to advance their careers and the OSH profession as a whole.

Organizations that make worker safety a core value help reduce the economic and reputational costs of incidents involving their workers.

That may include medical care, equipment repair, liability, lost productivity, environmental impacts and damage to the company’s reputation.

• To obtain A10.1-2024 or other workplace safety standards, visit the online ASSP Store.