The Standard

"The Standard", operated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), is a blog that will feature posts that will highlight recent developments, hot topics, and news related to standards. Check out our blog posts on The Standard and feel free to join in on the conversation. You can also find out more information about standards at the ANSI Webstore.

Follow up: Women's Lacrosse Headgear Standard Set for Second Ballot

Posted November 13, 2014 11:54 AM by KevinCassidy

I wrote about the debate between the Florida High School Athletic Association and US Lacrosse over the use of helmets during high school girls lacrosse games. You can read about it here.

There has been a new development in this story. US Lacrosse representatives will be attending the semi-annual ASTM International meetings in New Orleans with the intention of putting the finishing touches on the women's lacrosse headgear performance standard. Currently the standard is being edited and will require a second balloting phase in January.

If there are no negative votes during the second balloting phase then the headgear standard could be published as early as February. Any negative votes would only further delay the approval of the standard.

ASTM has been busy with standards regarding the safety of women's lacrosse players. ASTM recently released the new ASTM F3077-14 standard for eye protectors for women's lacrosse.

1 comments; last comment on 01/28/2015
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Don't Forget to "Look Before You Pump"

Posted November 05, 2014 12:00 AM by KevinCassidy

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) has been active in educating consumers about the variety of fuels available at the pump, and how to identify the right fuel for your outdoor power equipment.

E-15, or 15% Ethanol is a blend of gasoline that contains no less than 10% and up to 15% ethanol (by volume). E-15 gasoline was approved by the EPA for use in cars that were manufactured after 2001. However, the EPA prohibited the use of E-15 in any 'non-road" vehicles, including outdoor power equipment.

Gasoline that is blended with more than 10% ethanol is illegal for use in outdoor power equipment. Using E-15 gasoline in outdoor power equipment could result in permanent damage to the engine and might void the manufacturer's warranty.

Learn more about the Look Before You Pump campaign by visiting www.LookBeforeYouPump.com and search for #LookB4UPump on Twitter and Facebook.

You can also check out this video from the President and CEO of OPEI, Kris Kiser, about the campaign.

8 comments; last comment on 11/08/2014
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Safety News:The Helmet Debate in Girls Lacrosse

Posted June 12, 2014 12:00 AM by KevinCassidy

Recently, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) voted to require the use of helmets by high school girls lacrosse players in Florida starting in the 2015 season. US Lacrosse (USL), the governing body for high school girls lacrosse, does not require female athletes to wear helmets. Female athletes are allowed to wear soft helmets if they would like to, but they are not required. The FHSAA believes that it is time to make a change by requiring helmets as a precautionary measure.

Ann Kitt Carpenetti, Vice President of the USL, issued a statement regarding the decision by the FHSAA to require helmets for girls lacrosse players. She said:

"US Lacrosse appreciates the FHSAA Board of Directors' concern about athlete safety, but we don't understand why they chose to disregard the information provided to them by the sport's national governing body. Members of our staff were available at the FHSAA's recent meeting to provide an in-person update on the headgear issue and to share information about what is being done to address this important player safety issue in hopes of avoiding the introduction of this short-sighted and vague mandate.

"Prevention of head injuries in both men's and women's lacrosse continues to be a priority of US Lacrosse. Led by the respected physicians and researchers who comprise our Sports Science and Safety Committee, we are actively engaged in numerous interventions focused on reducing the risk of head injury in both men's and women's lacrosse, and we have been recognized among the national sports medicine community for our collaboration and proactivity in this regard.

"Additionally, US Lacrosse continues to fund and lead research to better understand the frequency and severity of head injury specific to both men's and women's lacrosse, and we have been working with ASTM International for more than a year to develop a consensus headgear standard for women's lacrosse based on the results of that research and the importance of appropriately balancing player safety with game integrity. We believe that the standard will be approved this fall.

"It is simply irresponsible to enact rule mandates requiring head protection in women's lacrosse without a clear understanding of the mechanism of head injury in a version of the sport that is entirely different from its male counterpart, and without head protection designed and manufactured specifically to mitigate that injury mechanism. In both cases, US Lacrosse is providing prudent, focused leadership based on well-founded medical and research protocols."

The ASTM Subcommittee F08.53 will be responsible for developing the new Specification for Headgear Used in Women's Lacrosse standard. This standard is intended to reduce the forces from external physical sources reaching the defined impact area of the head in impacts that may occur during women's lacrosse.

Find additional information about safety standards from ASTM and many other standards developing organizations at ANSI.

4 comments; last comment on 11/07/2014
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