ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024: Safety, Health, and Environmental Training

While many methods that workers use to avoid hazards derive from common sense, some are not as intuitive, and proper training is required to prepare them. ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024: Criteria for Accepted Practices in Safety, Health, and Environmental Training covers a standard practice for carrying out safety, health, and environmental training by creating a general structure to be used for the process.

SH&E Learning

Prior to the initial publication of the ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024 standard in 1998, safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) learning was addressed specifically by only a few federal regulations in the United States. These still-in-use requirements are constrained by their limited scopes, which simply identify the technical topics that need to be covered in a training course. Such topics include asbestos, hazard communication, and storm water management.

For example, OSHA requires through 29 CFR § 1910.1001(j)(7) that employees participate in asbestos safety training instituted by their employer if they are exposed to asbestos fiber levels at or above the permissible exposure limit. It further stipulates that the workers must undergo refresher training after a certain time has passed, but requires no specific information about the training itself.

What Is ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024?

ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024 provides employers with the means to carry out this training, touching upon all facets of the training process. This begins with its development, and the standard details many recommendations for identifying learning objectives, designing a suitable course structure, and establishing the physical location for the program.

Then, for the delivery of the training, ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024 addresses the manner in which the instructor can present the subject matter to the trainees, carefully meeting the learning objectives established during the development stage of the process. The instructor can deliver this information to the trainees in many ways, and the standard elaborates on potential technology to consider and how their usage depends on factors like cost and purpose.

For evaluation, the standard’s framework provides methods for assessing the knowledge acquired by participants, including written tests, oral examinations, and on-the-job demonstrations. Upon completion, the participant is awarded a certificate indicating his or her competency. It is also important that the training procedure itself be evaluated alongside the participants, so that it can be improved for use in other workplaces in the future.

Merging of ANSI/ASSE Z490.1 & ANSI/ASSP Z490.2

One major update to made this document is that it merges the content of ANSI/ASSP Z490.1 and ANSI/ASSP Z490.2, meaning that ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024 is now the single comprehensive standard for SH&E training standard and includes both physical and e-learning.

In the past on this blog, we wrote about ANSI/ASSP Z490.2, its relation to ANSI/ASSP Z490.1, and when it was sent for approval to the Z490 Committee. You can still read these posts for background, but please remember that Z490.2 will no longer be a separate, standalone document.

Past users of this standard may also note that the 2016 edition of Z490.1 had ASSE in its designation. This has changed to ASSP due to the American Society of Safety Engineers changing its name to the American Society of Safety Professionals in 2018.

Changes to ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024

In addition to merging Z490.1 and Z490.2, ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024 went through the following important changes:

• New section was created on organizational responsibilities with criteria for providing resources for SH&E learning management systems.
• Expanded criteria about the roles and functions of training providers.
• Enhanced alignment of the standard with the analyze, design, develop, implement, and
  evaluate (ADDIE) model for instructional systems design.
• Enhanced language for learner-focused engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Owners of the past versions of this standard should be especially attentive towards the Annexes of the document, as they have undergone many revisions in this new edition to meet current industry needs.

ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024: Criteria for Accepted Practices in Safety, Health, and Environmental Training is now available on the ANSI Webstore.