The American National Standards Institute and the International Safety Equipment Association have approved the “Dropped Objects Standard,” which institutes minimum design, performance and labeling requirements for products that prevent falling objects (i.e., anchor attachments, tool attachments, tool tethers and containers), as well as guidelines for testing that equipment. Essentially, ANSI/ISEA 121-2018 establishes tethering systems and containers as the best practice when it comes to falling object safety and offers guidance on what constitutes a proper tethering system.
The standard does not cover passive controls, such as netting and toeboards, nor will it include longstanding falling object PPE such as hard hats, eyewear and footwear.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, incidents related to dropped objects resulted in more than 250 fatalities and nearly 48,000 reported injuries in the United States in 2016.
