Mathew Moreau, product manager of dropped tools and FME at Pure Safety Group (PSG), has been named chairman of the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Standards Committee for Dropped Objects Solutions. The committee is the first ever to focus exclusively on preventing dropped object hazards in general industry, construction, and other sectors that involve work at height.
In 2018, the committee set the first U.S. standard to establish design, testing, and performance criteria for active systems used to prevent dropped objects in the workplace.
Dropped objects cause 278 deaths and 52,700 injuries a year in the U.S. alone, according to the latest statistics, making it the third-leading occupational safety hazard.
Warren Faber, engineering manager, has been named vice chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) committee that sets safety standards for anchorage connectors for active fall protection systems. The committee’s work includes standardizing definitions and establishing requirements for design, performance, testing, labeling, instructions, inspection, maintenance, and storage of anchor connectors. Faber was chosen by the committee chairman for the position.
He has been an active contributor on the committee for six years and sits on several sub-committees for standards, including Z359.13 and Z359.14. He also is involved with CSA Z259, the fall protection committee in Canada, where he is an associate member and chairman of CSA Z259.11: standards for personal energy absorbers and lanyards.
“Even though they are voluntary, anchorage standards should be seriously considered in the manufacture and use of these products,” Faber said. “The committee is made up of experienced engineers and government experts who follow a strict and transparent process with the ultimate goal of keeping workers safe while working at height.”
Moreau served on the ISEA committee during its early work on the first dropped objects standard, which was released in 2018. Moreau was with Ty-Flot®, now a PSG company, maker of dropped prevention products such as tool tethers, tool carriers, and, its most recent invention, the Stronghold® Quick-Switch® system, and he had a long history of involvement with the standard. The patented Quick-Switch design allows tools to be passed between or transported by workers while they stay 100 percent tied off to avoid being dropped.
“I’m honored to serve as chair, given I’ve dedicated my career to finding ways to save lives and prevent injuries caused by dropped tools,” Moreau said, who will have the role through 2021. “Most people aren’t aware of the damage caused by a drop, which costs companies more than $5 billion a year in workers comp claims. ISEA raises awareness of this hazard and then provides solutions, through standards, on how to reduce or eliminate the issue.”
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