Impact and Growth of Voluntary National Consensus Standards for Occupational Safety and Health

ASSP encourages support of consensus standards activities and processes as an alternative to government regulation of occupational safety and health whenever conditions permit. When compared to government regulation, consensus standard activities allow for greater participation by ASSP professionals in the development of safety and health practices. Also, since consensus standards do not profess to address every possible situation, ASSP, OSH professionals also have greater influence in the application and interpretation of consensus standards than they do with federal, state, or local regulations.

The ASSP supports a complementary relationship between OSHA regulations and consensus standards related to occupational safety and health which uses valid consensus standards enforcement, mindful of the fact that consensus standards are not written to address every foreseeable circumstance. ASSP points out that action of this nature may empower and enhance the professional stature of both ASSE members and OSHA compliance officers. Most importantly, such action will allow for a more efficient and responsive use of occupational safety and health resources thereby improving working conditions.

This session will focus on these standards, how they are used, the context in how they are used, and the implication for OSH Professionals. More importantly, we will talk about why ASSP members and OSH Professionals need to care about these standards and pay attention to them.

Objectives:

• Assess the significance of ANSI/ASSP Standards, highlighting their impact on the profession and emphasizing the importance of understanding and engaging with pending new/revised standards.
• Evaluate practical insights into the application of voluntary national consensus standards in both public and private sectors, emphasizing their tangible benefits and relevance to occupational safety and health.
• Illustrate the real-world utilization of ANSI/ASSP Standards by government agencies at both global and domestic levels, showcasing their role in advancing occupational safety and health initiatives.

Presenter:

Tim Fisher, CSP, CHMM, CPEA, ARM, FASSP

Director, ASSP Standards Development and Technical Services

Agenda:

11:30 am                               Lunch & Networking

11:55 am                               Chapter Announcements & Introductions

~Noon to ~1:00 pm           Presentation

Meeting Sponsor:

Not a current member apply here and select Three Rivers as your primary chapter, see you soon!

Register to Attend:

*** $40.00 Charge for Walk-Ins