OSHA revokes slip resistance provisions from Steel Erection Standard

Jan. 20, 2006
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today that it's revoking the provision within the Steel Erection Standard that addresses slip resistance of the walking surfaces of coated structural steel members, reported the American Institute of Steel Construction...

CHICAGO, Jan. 18 -- The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today that it's revoking the provision within the Steel Erection Standard that addresses slip resistance of the walking surfaces of coated structural steel members, reported the American Institute of Steel Construction.

According to OSHA: "The ability to comply with the slip resistance provision depends upon two technical developments: completed industry protocols for slip testing equipment and the availability of suitable slip resistant coatings." However, OSHA added, "Rulemaking comments indicated that the test methods are not likely to be completed by the July effective date because ASTM will not have completed the required validation process. Comments also indicated that ASTM will likely withdraw the test methods altogher because they are brand-specific rather than generic. Lack of completed test methods has delayed the development of suitable slip resistant coatings. In addition, there has not be adequate testing of coatings to determine whether they have sufficient durability in the variety of applications in which they will be used, especially in corrosive environments."

AISC agrees with OSHA's position to withdraw the standard since without adequate and consistent measurement, which is not currently possible, any standards become meaningless. Stated AISC President Roger Ferch: "While AISC is a strong supporter of measures that improve the safety of steel erection, we opposed these provisions because there was no reliable method of testing available."

The American Institute of Steel Construction Inc. (www.aisc.org), with headquarters in Chicago, is a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry. AISC's mission is to make structural steel the material of choice by being the leader in structural steel-related technical and market-building activities, including: specification and code development, research, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, and market development. AISC has a long tradition of service to the steel construction industry of providing timely and reliable information.

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