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 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.
The health effects of water are of prime importance. Chemicals make water potable, letting it safely enter our bodies to keep our temperature regular, lubricate joints, protect our spinal cord, and expel waste. In doing this, they, of course, must not contribute to any adverse effects. NSF/ANSI/CAN 60-2024: Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals – Health Effects establishes minimum health effects requirements for chemicals, chemical contaminants, and impurities added directly to drinking water from treatment chemicals.
What is NSF/ANSI 60-2024?
NSF/ANSI/CAN 60-2024, also known as NSF/ANSI 60 or just ANSI 60, confronts a key issue with the treatment of water. While natural water is often not potable, the treatment performed to purify it must be conducted with care to prevent chemicals from residing within the treated public water source at harmful concentrations.
The treatment chemicals covered by the standard are intended to be present within the finished, potable water, but some others that will not be present are included as well. NSF/ANSI 60-2024 strongly emphasizes that treatment chemicals shall not exceed their single product allowable concentration (SPAC), or “maximum concentration of a contaminant in drinking water that a single product is allowed to contribute”.
Chemicals Covered by NSF/ANSI/CAN 60-2024
NSF/ANSI/CAN 60-2024 covers coagulation and flocculation, softening, precipitation, sequestering, pH adjustment, corrosion/scale, and disinfection and oxidation chemicals, as well as miscellaneous treatment and water supply chemicals.
To give some examples, chemicals mentioned in NSF/ANSI 60-2024 include:
Coagulation and flocculation: bentonite, aluminum chloride
The standard is not applicable to products resulting in the intentional introduction of microorganisms to treat drinking water. NSF/ANSI/CAN 60-2024 also doesn’t cover contaminants produced as byproducts through reaction of treatment chemicals with a constituent.
Changes to NSF/ANSI/CAN 60-2024
In the 1980s, in response to a competitive request for proposals from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a consortium led by ANSI-accredited standards developing organization NSF International agreed to develop voluntary third-party consensus standards and a certification program for all direct and indirect water additives. In 1988, these efforts culminated in the initial publication of NSF 60 and NSF 61.
Today, NSF/ANSI/CAN 60, as it is now designated, is revised periodically to remain current. NSF/ANSI/CAN 60-2024 revises the 2021 edition of the same American National Standard. When compared to the previous edition, it contains these changes of note:
New definition was added for “designated individual.”
Definition for “bonded individual” was removed.
New section 6.3.4, “Sodium and potassium permanganate,” was added for treatment chemicals to be tested for manganese and comply with new disclosure requirements for manganese composition. Manganese was also added to the list of metals in the footnotes of Tables 4.1, 5.1, 6.2, and 7.1.
Aluminum was added to the list of metals in the footnotes of Tables 4.1, 5.1, 6.2, and 7.1.
The preparation method in Section 8.7.4.2.2 was updated from Method G to Method F.
Language was updated in Section N-1.3.1.2 regarding trace organic contaminants that may be present in reagent water.
The previous revision of this standard, NSF/ANSI/CAN 60-2021, underwent two notable changes, the changes of which included:
Consistencies were added to the normalization equations throughout the standard.
Sodium dichloroisocyanurate, trihloroisocyanuric acid, and sodium permanganate were added to Table 6.2, “Disinfection and oxidation products – Product identification, and evaluation.”
There was also an addendum added to this standard, which added Informative Annex 6, “Sampling guidance for sodium hypochlorite for producers, diluters, and repackagers.”
Changes to NSF/ANSI 60-2020
The previous revision of this document was also substantial. For your reference, the changes made to NSF/ANSI/CAN 60-2020 included:
The tamper evidence requirements for packaged products were updated.
Language was added to clarify requirements for the application of tamper-evident seals.
3-chloro-1,2-propanediol was added to the minimum test battery for epichlorohydrin, a polyamine-based coagulant, under Table 4.1, “Coagulation and flocculation products – Product identification and evaluation.”
Labeling requirements were added for sodium hypochlorite products.
Chlorine dioxide and Bromochlorodimethylhydantoin (BCDMH) were added to the list of disinfection and oxidation products contained in Table 6.2.
Acetic acid was added as a miscellaneous treatment application.
New definition for “biological substrate.”
The appropriate use of citric acid was clarified, specifically for use with copper-based algicides, in well development / rehabilitation, and as an offline separation process cleaner.
Changes to ANSI 60-2019
For users of the standard who need an even deeper history of the changes, below are the updates made to the 2019 revision:
The typical use level (TUL) for sodium silicate was raised from 16 mg/L to 100 mg/L, and synonyms for sodium silicate were corrected.
The use and fate of chlorate & chlorite in drinking water was clarified.
New guidance was provided in Annex N-1 on conducting the potassium-40 correction method for radionucleotide analysis, and this language also standardized the threshold for conducting gross beta particle speciation.
Remineralization was added to the scope of the processes covered by drinking water treatment chemicals.
They typical use level (TUL) for fluoride products was lowered from 1.2 mg/L to 1.0 mg/L.
Annex names were changed from alpha characters to numeric and preceded by “Normative” or “Informative,” e.g. “Annex A” became “Informative Annex 1 (N-1).”
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61
We hold this liquid molecule in high esteem, and rightfully
so—human beings require a gallon of water every day to perform basic functions,
as well as some other sources here and there to cook and conduct various
hygiene-related tasks. As such, there are numerous standards devoted to water.
While NSF/ANSI/CAN 60-2024 deals with the health effects of chemicals directly imparted to drinking water systems, NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-2023 establishes the health effects from drinking water system components.
This standard applies to products like process media,
protective materials, joining and sealing materials, pipes, mechanical devices
used in treatment systems, and mechanical plumbing systems.
Some drinking water standards even come with companion standards to sufficiently organize guidance pertinent to their compliance. The companion standard to NSF/ANSI 60 and NSF/ANSI 61, NSF/ANSI/CAN 600, focuses on the “Health Effects Evaluation and Criteria for Chemicals in Drinking Water.” This information is referenced in section 3.4 of NSF/ANSI/CAN 60, which details contaminant concentrations.
