Opinion ID: 2091058
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: ansi standard

Text: The parties do not dispute that ANSI Z49.1-94 was relevant to the facts of this case. However, the school argues that the trial court erred in its interpretation of that standard, and in particular E4.3. This section provides in part, Cotton clothing, if used for protection, should be chemically treated to reduce its combustibility. Under ANSI Z49.1-94, §§ 2.6 and 2.7, the term should indicates provisions which are not mandatory, while the term shall indicates provisions which are mandatory. The school claims the trial court improperly substituted its own definition of the term should in determining that the school was negligent in allowing Christopher to wear untreated cotton clothing during the welding class. The trial court determined that the term should as used in ANSI Z49.1-94, E4.3, carries an expression of duty or obligation. The school claims that because the wearing of chemically treated cotton is not mandatory under ANSI Z49.1-94, E4.3, the school did not breach its duty of care by allowing Christopher to wear an untreated cotton-flannel shirt. However, this standard is applicable to anyone performing welding, and while it may not be mandatory for all welders to wear chemically treated cotton, the court noted that students who are learning to weld need to be provided with as much protection as possible. The standard of care in this case is that of ordinary negligence, or what a reasonable person would or would not do under similar circumstances. See Tapp v. Blackmore Ranch, 254 Neb. 40, 575 N.W.2d 341 (1998). Advisory safety standards, such as the ANSI standard, may represent a consensus of what a reasonable person in a particular industry would do, and therefore may be helpful to the trier of fact in deciding whether the standard of care has been met. Hansen v. Abrasive Engineering and Manufacturing, 317 Or. 378, 856 P.2d 625 (1993); Kent Village v. Smith, 104 Md.App. 507, 657 A.2d 330 (1995). See, also, Tite v. Omaha Coliseum Corporation, 144 Neb. 22, 12 N.W.2d 90 (1943); Davis v. GBR Properties, 233 Ga.App. 550, 504 S.E.2d 204 (1998); Meseck v. General Elec. Co., 195 A.D.2d 798, 600 N.Y.S.2d 384 (1993). ANSI Z49.1-94, E4.3, clearly expresses a recommendation that cotton clothing be chemically treated if it is used for protection. The school did not follow that recommendation, which may be considered as evidence of negligence. We determine that under the circumstances of this case, considering the sufficiency of the evidence in the light most favorable to the successful parties, the trial court's utilization of ANSI Z49.1-94, E4.3, was not clearly wrong. See Johnson v. School Dist. of Millard, 253 Neb. 634, 573 N.W.2d 116 (1998).