Ansi Asse Z590.2
Ansi Asse Z590.2
Ansi Asse Z590.2
2-2003
ANSI/ASSE Z590.2-2003
Criteria for Establishing the Scope and
Functions of the Professional Safety Position
June 2003
A S AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
S E SAFETY ENGINEERS
ANSI Z590.2-2003
The American National Standard Institute (ANSI) Z590 standard projects were initiated by the
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) in response to requests from its membership. After a
careful evaluation of commentary from its membership in its various venues, consensus was reached
for the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) to initiate this standards project, including use
of the canvass method approach. This methodology was chosen as the subject area of the standards,
developed within the scope of the project, are primarily, but not exclusively, issues of ASSE's mission
and purpose. ASSE currently has almost 30,000 members representing a diverse range of safety
professionals from industry, business, government, and academia. This diverse membership, in
conjunction with ANSI procedure, allows for development of such standards in a manner which
encourages participation from a wide range of interested stakeholders.
Using the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) model for the development of these
standards, ASSE created the Operating Procedures (OPs) governing its role as secretariat.
Concurrently, and integral to establishing the OPs, was registration of the standards project via the
Project Initiation Notification System, which sought public comment of all interested and affected
parties. While this notice was published in the ANSI Standards Action of November 7, 1997, the
thirty (30) day notice expired on December 8, 1997 without any comment from the general public
or affected/interested parties.
Accordingly, and based upon this record and its procedural criteria, ANSI's Executive Standards
Council approved establishment of the standards project, its operating procedures, and the ASSE as
secretariat on February 12, 1998. Under the alphanumerical designation, Z590.1, and its title,
Criteria for Establishing Levels of Competence in the Safety Profession, various aspects related t o
the safety profession are addressed. This second standard in the series is Z590.2 Criteria for
Establishing the Scope and Function of the Professional Safety Position.
To perform their professional functions, individuals practicing in the safety profession generally
have education, training and experience from a common body of knowledge. They need to have a
fundamental knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology, physiology, statistics, mathematics, computer
science, engineering mechanics, industrial processes, business, communication and psychology.
Professional safety studies include industrial hygiene and toxicology, design of engineering hazard
controls, fire protection, ergonomics, system and process safety, safety and health program
management, accident investigation and analysis, product safety, construction safety, education and
training methods, measurement of safety performance, human behavior, environmental safety and
health, and safety, health and environmental laws, regulations and standards. Many have
backgrounds or advanced study in other disciplines, such as management and business administration,
engineering, education, physical and social sciences and other fields. Others have advanced study in
safety, and this additional background extends their expertise beyond the basics of the safety
profession.
Because safety is an element in all human endeavors, the performance of these functions, in a variety
of contexts in both public and private sectors, often employ specialized knowledge and skills.
Typical settings are manufacturing, insurance, risk management, government, education, consulting,
construction, healthcare, engineering and design, waste management, petroleum, facilities
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management, retail, transportation and utilities. Within these contexts, they must adapt their
functions to fit the mission, operations and climate of their employer. Not only must individuals
practicing in the safety profession acquire the knowledge and skills to perform these functions
effectively in their employment context, through continuing education and training they stay
current with new technologies, changes in laws and regulations, and changes in the workforce,
workplace and world business, political and social climate.
As part of their positions, these individuals must plan for and manage resources and funds related t o
their functions. They may be responsible for supervising a diverse staff of professionals. By
acquiring the knowledge and skills of the profession, developing the mind set and wisdom to act
responsibly in the employment context, and keeping up with changes that affect the safety
profession, the required safety professional functions are able to be performed with confidence,
competence and respected authority.
This standard (Z590.2) sets forth common and reasonable parameters of the professional safety
position. The standard will help businesses and industry in identifying areas of responsibility for their
in-house practitioners of safety and outside safety consultants. In recent years legislation and
regulation at the national, state, and local levels has attempted to codify the professional areas of
responsibility for those practicing in the safety profession. The most compelling reason why such an
initiative should be undertaken is that ASSE identified hundreds of state and national
legislation/regulation in a single calendar year which would have established these levels of
responsibility. Having one American National Standard will offer a wide range of different options t o
private sector organizations and public agencies in creating their own benchmark.
American National Standard Z590.2-2003 uses a two-column format to provide both basic
requirements and implementing information. The left column, "Standard Requirements," addresses
the central principles and is printed in bold type. The right column, "Implementing Information,"
offers various criteria or approaches whereby the basic requirement is carried out in whole or part by
the methodology set forth and described in the I-Column.
Recognized job analysis methods are often used to derive the description of a practice in a field. Late
in 2000, the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) completed a comprehensive job analysis
study that involved about 1,500 safety professionals, most of who are members of ASSE. The study
identified and then validated through a survey twenty-four responsibility statements that describe
professional safety practice. Periodically, BCSP will conduct job analysis studies to ensure that the
examinations leading to the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation accurately reflect what
safety professionals do in practice. When one maps the responsibility statements from the BCSP
study to the statements in this standard that describe the professional safety position, there is a
strong correlation between the two sets of descriptions. As a result, most would conclude that results
of BCSP’s comprehensive job analysis study of professional safety practice validate the descriptions
of the professional safety position that appear in this standard. The BCSP study is cited in the
standard’s reference list.
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Those solicited and participating in the development of this standard are as follows:
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2.4 Interpretations: The intent of this standard is to I.2.4: Inquiries should be addressed to Secretary, ANSI
provide insight into the professional safety position. Z590, ASSE, 1800 E. Oakton Street, Des Plaines, IL
Concerns, questions or inquiries should be directed to the 60018.
secretariat.
3. Scope and Functions of the Professional Safety I.3: This standard specifically recognizes that the
Position: The scope and functions of the professional professional safety position is not all-encompassing and
safety position shall be to: that there is a great need for specialties and expertise,
including such professionals as industrial hygienists,
• Anticipate, identify and evaluate hazardous occupational nurses, ergonomists, etc.
conditions and practices.
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3.1 Anticipate, identify and evaluate hazardous I.3.1: This function involves:
conditions and practices, as implemented in whole or in
part by the methodology cited in I.3.1. I.3.1.1: Anticipating and predicting hazards
from experience, historical data and other information
sources.
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ANSI Z590.2-2003
3.2 Develop hazard control designs, methods, I.3.2: This function involves:
procedures and programs, as implemented in whole or in
part by the methodology cited in I.3.2. I.3.2.1: Formulating and prescribing
engineering or administrative controls, preferably before
exposures, accidents and loss events occur, in order to:
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3.3 Implement, administer and advise others on I.3.3: This function involves:
hazard control programs, as implemented in whole or in
part by the methodology cited in I.3.2. I.3.3.1: Preparing reports that communicate
valid and comprehensive recommendations for hazard
controls based on analysis and interpretation of accident,
exposure, loss event and other data.
3.4 Measure, audit and evaluate the effectiveness of I.3.4: This function involves:
hazard controls and hazard control programs as
implemented in whole or part by the methodology cited in I.3.4.1: Establishing and implementing
I.3.4. techniques involving risk analysis, cost, cost-benefit
analysis, work sampling, loss rate and similar
methodologies for periodic and systematic evaluation of
hazard control and hazard control program effectiveness.
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