Kahlilah Guyah, CEO of EHS Compliance Services, was a member of the technical committee responsible for the latest revision of the ANSI z490.1 standard. This update includes the merger of two older standards and establishes accepted criteria for effective environmental, health and and safety training and learning systems. First approved in 2001, the 2024 revision aims to enhance understanding and use of the standard, increase emphasis on process and system improvement, and reflect current best practices. The standard emphasizes a systematic approach to instructional systems design (ISD) to ensure worker competency in protecting themselves and others from workplace hazards and risks.
Effective environmental, health and safety training is essential for mitigating workplace risks and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. The ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024 standard provides a comprehensive framework for designing, implementing, and evaluating SH&E training programs to enhance workforce competency and safety performance.
Key Highlights of ANSI Z490.1-2024
🔹 Comprehensive Learning System Approach: The standard follows the ADDIE Model (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate), ensuring a structured approach to SH&E training.
🔹 Integrated E-Learning & Classroom Training: This edition merges prior ANSI Z490.1 (instructor-led training) and Z490.2 (e-learning) into one cohesive standard, addressing modern training needs.
🔹 Organizational Responsibilities: Establishes clear guidelines for training providers, including competency requirements, resources, and record-keeping for compliance and continual improvement.
🔹 Learner Differences and Accessibility: Emphasizes learner engagement, accessibility, and accommodations for diverse workforce needs, including neurodivergent learners.
🔹 Evaluation & Continuous Improvement: Provides criteria for assessing training effectiveness, ensuring that learning outcomes align with workplace safety goals.
Why This Matters
Organizations that align their SH&E training with ANSI Z490.1-2024 can improve compliance, reduce EHS risks and incidents, and create a culture of continuous learning and EHS excellence. Whether you’re refining your current training program or starting from scratch, this standard offers a roadmap to success.
Organizations can take several key actions in response to the ANSI/ASSP Z490.1-2024 update to ensure compliance, improve training effectiveness, and align with industry best practices. Here’s what hey areas of focus:
Key Actions Your Organization Can Take Now to Incorporate ANSI z490.1 Best Practices:
- Assess & Update Training Programs
- Enhance Training Delivery & Accessibility
- Prioritize Understanding Learner Differences & Accessibility
- Define & Strengthen Training Provider Criteria
- Improve Training Management & Recordkeeping
- Align Training with Organizational Safety Goals
- Implement Stronger Evaluation & Continual Improvement Measures
Next Steps
Organizations can proactively audit their EHS training systems against the new standard and implement changes to enhance compliance, efficiency, and learner engagement.
Would you like help in developing a training needs assessment or in performing an audit of your current training program based on these updates? Contact us or join us for a webinar detailing the contents of this standards and tools you and use to conform with the standard!!