An alternative designs, materials, or methods to protect against a hazard which the employer can demonstrate will provide an equal or greater degree of safety for employees than the methods, materials or designs specified in the standard.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
equivalent (adjective)1.
equal in force, amount, or value , also equal in area or volume but not superposable - a square equivalent to a triangle
2.
a) like in signification or import
b) having logical - equivalence equivalent statements
3.
corresponding or virtually identical especially in effect or function
4.
obsolete equal in might or authority
5.
having the same chemical combining capacity - equivalent quantities of two elements
6.
a) having the same solution set - equivalent equations
b) capable of being placed in one-to-one correspondence - equivalent sets
c) related by an equivalence relation same
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
equivalent (noun)one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value
SYNONYMS:
coequal, compeer, coordinate, counterpart, equivalent, fellow, like, match, parallel, peer, rivalRELATED WORDS:
analogue ( analog); double, half, mate, twin; associate, colleague, companion, copartner, partner; competitorequal, comparable, parallel, analogous, similar