Nonprofits and charitable organizations play a major role in America and its history, with 1.97 million tax-exempt organizations operating in the country today. In helping them meet their missions and other goals, standards are essential for many in the nonprofit sector. The ANSI Webstore makes it easy for tax-exempt organizations to add tax exempt certificates when acquiring the standards they need.
The tax-exempt sector in the United States predates the nation itself. The Thirteen Colonies saw a need for hospitals, fire departments, orphanages, and other organizations in the absence of an established governmental framework. In response, early settlers established charitable and other “voluntary” associations. The Founding Fathers even played a role. Benjamin Franklin was responsible for founding the first scholarly voluntary association, the Junto (or “Leather Apron”) Club.
Even as federal and state governments strengthened, well-established structures and programs of these organizations continued to fill a gap in social welfare. In his 1835 classic French work Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville noted:
“Americans of all ages, conditions, and dispositions constantly unite together. Not only do they have commercial and industrial associations to which all belong but also a thousand other kinds, religious, moral, serious, futile […] Americans group together to hold fetes, found seminaries, build inns, construct churches, distribute books […] They establish prisons, schools by the same method […] I have frequently admired the endless skill with which the inhabitants of the United States manage to set a common aim to the efforts of a great number of men and to persuade them to pursue it voluntarily.”
Legislation later helped secure the status of the tax-exempt sector. The Tariff Act of 1894 was the first statutory reference to tax exemption for certain organizations. The Revenue Act of 1913 established an income tax system with tax exemption for certain organizations. Most notably, with the establishment of the modern tax code with the Revenue Act of 1954, section 501(c) for exempt organizations went into effect. Today, most nonprofits in the United States operate as 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations.
The process for adding tax exempt certificates to the ANSI Webstore is relatively straightforward. While in the checkout process, select “Manage your Exemption Certificates” (this is on the bottom of the page for Step 2 of checkout). In the small popup window, you can either upload or manually add your exemption certificate. You then complete the checkout process as usual.
For more detailed guidance, we’ve outlined a step-by-step process below:
If you need help with this process or need any further assistance, please get in touch with ANSI customer service by emailing info@ansi.org, calling 212-642-4980, or live chatting with a customer service representative 8:30AM-6PM ET Monday-Friday.
You can also refer to the ANSI Webstore’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for help.
]]>Hydrocolloids were the first elastic impression materials available to dentists. When mixed, they form a viscous liquid that can be seated over oral structures. The liquid sets, becoming a gelatin-like solid that is flexible enough to be drawn over undercuts without significant permanent deformation. Hydrocolloids are important materials used in dentistry due to their biocompatibility with tissues, ease of use, physical properties, and hydrophilicity with oral tissues. ANSI/ADA 128-2022: Dentistry-Hydrocolloid Impression Materials specifies the requirements and test methods for hydrocolloid impression materials.
Impression materials are classified as either non-elastic or elastic based on mechanical properties. Non-elastic or rigid impression materials include impression compounds, zinc oxide eugenol, and impression waxes. Meanwhile, elastic materials are capable of stretching, compressing, and recovering after deformation; they comprise reversible and irreversible hydrocolloids, addition and condensation silicones, polysulfides, and polyether.
In dentistry, most intricate and precise procedures are made of hydrocolloids due to the material’s characteristics. Hydrocolloids are complex polysaccharides that disperse or dissolve in aqueous solution to give thickened or vicious effects, and they possess high molecular weight. They are found in the simplest to most complex material such as impression making, fillings, separating media, electro-polishing etc.
ANSI/ADA 128-2022 specifies requirements and test methods for amalgam separators used in connection with dental equipment in the dental treatment center. The American National Standard specifies the efficiency of the amalgam separators in terms of the level of retention of amalgam and the test procedure for determining this efficiency. It also helps to determine whether elastic aqueous agar and alginate hydrocolloid dental impression materials are of the quality needed for their intended purposes. ANSI/ADA 128-2022 details the requirements for labeling and instructions for use.
This standard does not address possible biological hazards associated with the materials. Assessment of these hazards is addressed in ANSI/ADA 41, ISO 7405 and the ISO 10993 series.
The two common hydrocolloids widely used in dentistry are reversible (agar) and irreversible (alginate) materials. Reversible hydrocolloid impression materials are formulated with agar and solidify from their liquid state to a gel in the mouth to capture a highly accurate impression. These materials are temperature sensitive, changing from liquid to solid at different temperatures. As a result, they are often used with special water-cooled trays in order to capture the most accurate impressions. Because of the reversible nature of these materials, models should be poured immediately after the impression is taken. It is usually only possible to pour one model per impression, which means reversible hydrocolloids need to be used under proper conditions and models must be created immediately after the impression is captured.
The agar impression materials in ANSI/ADA 128-2022 are classified according to the consistencies they exhibit when they are ready for impressing against the oral or craniofacial tissue surfaces, and when tested.
ANSI/ADA 128-2022: Dentistry-Hydrocolloid Impression Materials is available on the ANSI Webstore.
]]>Transmission towers are constructed by zinc coated angle steel and connected by bolts. Tower bolts are therefore critical components in transmission towers that influence the dynamic characteristics of the tower. ASTM A394-08(2024): Standard Specification For Steel Transmission Tower Bolts, Zinc-Coated And Bare provides specifications for tower bolts that are manufactured for use in the “steel to steel” connections of power transmission towers, substations, and other similar structures.
Tower bolts are rod-shaped bolts used to secure steel-to-steel structural connections for the construction of electrical transmission towers and other steel structures. These bolts may also be used as high-strength anchors for wind power machines and as high-strength anchors for wind power machines. Tower bolts, however, undertake extreme environmental conditions, such as strong wind and ice. The connected bolts may loosen under all kinds of loads for a long time, which will lead to the tower structure failure. Therefore, it is not only necessary to know the looseness of bolts and provide early warning for the operations people of transmission lines, but also to assure quality assurance. Adhering to ASTM A394-08(2024) helps assure that tower bolts stand the test of time with high strength and durability.
ASTM A394-08(2024) covers the chemical and mechanical requirements of hexagon and square-head zinc-coated steel bolts and atmospheric corrosion-resistant bolts. The bolts addressed in the scope of this standard are in nominal thread diameters of 1/2 , 5/8 , 3/4 , 7/8 and 1 in. They are for use in the construction of transmission towers, substations, and similar steel structures. The various types of bolts covered in ASTM A394-08(2024) include the following:
This standard also covers hot-dip zinc coated steel ladder bolts, step bolts, and support-equipment bolts.
Tower bolts are used to secure a variety of doors, windows, cabinets, and gates in buildings. They serve as versatile, lightweight hardware solutions that help improve the security and functionality in various settings, ranging from homes to commercial spaces. Tower bolts are specifically ideal for inward swinging doors, garden gates, shed doors, and storage units because they offer durability and weather resistance.
They come in a hot-dipped galvanized finish for corrosion resistance. Hot-dipped galvanized steel coatings are more corrosion resistant than zinc plating, giving these bolts a thicker coating than other finishes. Tower bolts come in a variety of materials, such as aluminum, brass, copper, mild steel, and stainless steel. The materials used to make these bolts are mostly anti-corrosive to assure that they can be fixed in different areas like bedrooms, bathrooms, garage doors, basements, etc.
ASTM A394-08(2024): Standard Specification For Steel Transmission Tower Bolts, Zinc-Coated And Bare is available on the ANSI Webstore.
]]>The average cost of a data breach was $4.45 million in 2023, the highest average on record. The average time to identify a breach is 207 days. Information security is a key issue for organizations that has been amplified by rapid advances in attack methodologies and technologies. Luckily, ISO/IEC 27014:2020— Information Security, Cybersecurity And Privacy Protection – Governance Of Information Security provides guidance on the governance of information security.
There are many areas of governance within an entity, including information security, information technology, health and safety, quality, and finance. Governance in information security describes the way a company manages its information security needs. Ideally, it protects the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information. IT managers begin by identifying all possible risks and establishing an information security management system (ISMS). They then design proactive policies, frameworks, and strategies to tackle these issues at the source.
ISO/IEC 27014:2020 provides guidance on concepts, objectives, and processes for the governance of information security, by which organizations can evaluate, direct, monitor and communicate the information security-related processes within the organization. The intended audience for this document is:
Our past post ISO/IEC 27001:2022—Information Security Systems explains ISO/IEC 27001 more in depth.
Business is becoming more digital by the day, driven by advances in everything from cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) to blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT). With increasing volumes of sensitive data and systems now in the digital space, protecting them from cybercriminals is a growing priority, particularly as these criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated and tenacious. Security control failures can have many adverse impacts on an organization including unauthorized access and/or use of corporate systems, denial of service attacks, the transmission of malicious code such as ransomware, and data exfiltration.
Implementing strong security controls (i.e., any type of safeguard or countermeasure used to avoid, detect, counteract or minimize security risks to physical property, information, computer systems or other assets) is critical to protecting various forms of data and infrastructure important to an organization.
There are several types of security controls that can protect hardware, software, networks and data from actions and events that could cause loss or damage. They are categorized as physical, administrative, and technical controls
An organization’s governing body provides overall direction and control of activities that affect the security of an organization’s information. ISO/IEC 27014:2020 details that this direction and control focus on circumstances where inadequate information security can adversely affect the organization’s ability to achieve its overall objectives.
ISO/IEC 27014:2020— Information Security, Cybersecurity And Privacy Protection – Governance Of Information Security is available on the ANSI Webstore.
]]>Ethylene oxide (EO or EtO) gas is one of the most common ways to sterilize medical devices, as approximately 50% of sterile medical devices are treated with EO—about 20 billion each year. EO sterilization consists of a safe, tightly controlled, highly regulated process that is critical for preventing infections and ensuring patients have safe surgeries and medical treatments. AAMI TIR16:2023— Microbiological Aspects Of Ethylene Oxide Sterilization provides guidelines for the ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization process.
Ethylene oxide (also known as EO or EtO) is a low temperature gaseous process widely used to sterilize a variety of healthcare products, such as single-use medical devices. Sterilization by EO kills microorganisms through exposure to EO gas under vacuum and humidity. Hundreds of thousands of medical, hospital, and laboratory processes rely on EO to sterilize devices and equipment to protect millions of patients from the real risks of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Medical devices and equipment commonly processed with EO include:
For the majority of these products, EO sterilization is the most effective and efficient—and often the only viable—sterilization technology. The gentle yet thorough nature of EO allows for the sterilization of many critical medical technologies and devices that would otherwise be destroyed and rendered unusable by other sterilization methods.
AAMI TIR16:2023 addresses various microbiological aspects of the development and validation of an ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization process. This technical information report (TIR) provides additional guidance to ANSI/AAMI/ISO 11135:2014 for medical device manufacturers, including those that use contract sterilization facilities or contract sterilization operations. Although the information presented was developed for application to medical devices, the content of AAMI TIR16:2023 may also be applied to other relevant products or materials.
This TIR does not address the various factors that can have an effect on the bioburden of the product and on the sterilization process.
The basic ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization cycle consists of five stages (preconditioning and humidification, gas introduction, exposure, evacuation, and air washes). The exposure time for most EO sterilizations is relatively long (around 6 hours). The gas aeration period is also lengthy, up to 24 hours or more. After loading items into an EO sterilization chamber, a vacuum is applied. Next, the chamber is filled to the desired relative humidity. Then an appropriate concentration of EO gas is added. Items undergoing sterilization rest in the EO gas under vacuum and humidity for the desired exposure time. The gas is slowly and safely evacuated from the EO sterilization chamber, and the sterilized items are given ample aeration time to support EO off-gassing.
For sterilization validations, the D value (i.e., the number of minutes exposure to a defined temperature to reduce viable bacteria by 90%) of biological indicators used for EO sterilization validations may range up to 10-fold over the range of relative humidity values. AAMI TIR16:2023 specifies that the D value of the internal process challenge device (PCD) is calculated using the Holcomb-Spearman-Karber Procedure (HSKP) or Limited Holcomb-Spearman-Karber Procedure (LHSKP), or the Stumbo-Murphy-Cochran Procedure (SMCP).
AAMI TIR16:2023 details that the physical parameters that have a significant effect on the lethality of an ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization process are EO concentration, temperature, EO dwell time, and humidity. These parameters are interrelated and a change in one can often be compensated for by a change in another. Other aspects that could affect lethality are the rate of sterilant injection, vacuum depth, and rate of evacuations during the sterilant-removal phases, as these aspects could impact the overall exposure phase time. Evacuations can be affected by chamber temperature, humidity, sterilant levels, vacuum pump performance, and/or product load configuration.
AAMI TIR16:2023— Microbiological Aspects Of Ethylene Oxide Sterilization is available on the ANSI Webstore.
]]>A slower fan speed does not produce a lower sound level. So, what determines a silent fan? The lowest fan sound level is achieved at the highest fan total (mechanical) efficiency. This means the more efficient the fan, the lower the airstream turbulence and resulting fan noise. ANSI/AMCA 320-23: Laboratory Method Of Sound Testing Of Fans Using Sound Intensity establishes a method of determining a fan’s octave band sound power levels.
ANSI/AMCA 320-23 applies to fans of all types and sizes. The American National Standard specifies guidelines on suitable test environment acoustical characteristics, the measurement surface, and the number of intensity measurements. It is limited to the determination of airborne sound emission for the specified setups. The basis of its the test method originates in ANSI/ASA S12.12 but differs because it covers a wider frequency, contains requirements somewhat more specific and restrictive than those of ANSI/ASA S12.12, and provides for sound power level adjustments.
Sound power levels are determined using sound intensity measurements on a measurement surface that encloses the sound source. A measurement surface is defined as that which encloses the entire fan, fan inlet, or fan outlet, depending upon the objective of the test. The sound power level of fans should be calculated using the surface area and the measured sound intensity data.
Vibration is not measured, and the sensitivity of airborne sound emission to vibration effects is not determined.
When air is moved, small, repetitive pressure disturbances are imparted to the air. When these pressure disturbances are sensed by a hearing mechanism (your ear), sound or noise is created. The difference between sound and noise is that all noises are sounds while not all sounds are noises. Sounds can be used to communicate, warn and navigate, and as a form of entertainment; noise is an unwanted or unpleasant sound. Moreover, ANSI/AMCA 320-23 applies to sound as the sound pressure level, which describes the loudness level of the sound (often compared to the brightness of a light bulb), is used to measure fan noise.
Sound pressure level is defined asthe amplitude of pressure oscillations at some location. It is dependent on location, distance, and environment. The sound level of fans is expressed in a unit called the sound pressure level and is denoted by dB(A); it is expressed in decibels (dB) with a reference level of 20 µPa. The “(A)” indicates that sound pressure levels are “A-weighted.” This A-weighting corrects frequency measurements to replicate the frequency response of human hearing.
The sound pressure level of fans is measured by a sound level meter located 1 m from the fan’s intake side in an anechoic chamber. Since the measurement is done with the fan suspended in their air with almost no obstructions around it, the measured value is the sound pressure level when the airflow is equal to the maximum airflow.
ANSI/AMCA 320-23: Laboratory Method Of Sound Testing Of Fans Using Sound Intensity is available on the ANSI Webstore.
]]>According to ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2023: Safety Requirements For Packaging And Processing Machinery, safe is “the state of being protected from recognized hazards likely to cause serious physical harm.” Unfortunately, there is no such thing as being absolutely safe (i.e. being entirely free of all conceivable risks), especially in the case of machinery, which will always possess present hazards. That being said, the operation of machinery, such as packaging machinery and packaging-related converting machinery used to produce food, beverage, and pharmaceutical products, is always a necessity.
Therefore, the goal is not to eliminate all hazards but to mitigate them as much as possible in pursuit of a status that objectively can be deemed as safe. This is fulfilled through risk assessment and risk reduction for any group or individual affiliated with packaging machinery.
The process for risk assessment is covered in the ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2023 standard, which was written and published by The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI), an ANSI-accredited standards-developing organization.
ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2023 covers the basic terminology, principles, and a methodology for achieving safety in the design and the use of machinery, and guidance is given for documenting this process. The iterative process of risk assessment and risk reduction specified in the standard helps designers, integrators, and users of machinery by providing them with principles based on knowledge and experience of the design, use, incidents, accidents and risks associated with machinery.
The requirements of this standard apply to new, modified, or rebuilt industrial and commercial:
Responsibility for risk management processes for packaging machinery is held by both the machinery suppliers and the users, who must define and achieve acceptable risk. While their responsibilities do differ, since the supplier is tasked with the design, construction, and information for operation and maintenance of the machinery, and the user’s duty lies solely with operation and maintenance, each party involved uses the same risk assessment process.
Since the risk assessment process should be identical for both the supplier and the user of the packaging machinery, there are many opportunities for collaborative efforts between the two groups. For example, the user is responsible for the installation or commissioning of the machinery, but they can acquire assistance from the manufacturer of that machinery through labels and guidance that simplify the assessment of risk that emerges during installation.
As for the risk assessment process, an initial factor to consider is scalability to fit the particular organization and its culture. Variables related to this include the size or complexity of the project, location (conducted on or off site), formal (multi-discipline) vs. informal, cultural norms, and potential hazards related to product contamination.
The process itself is a series of logical steps used to systematically examine the hazards associated with the packaging machinery. The fundamentals of risk assessment are to identify hazards, assess risk, reduce risk to an acceptable level, and validate and document the results. These ideas are reflected in the seven basic steps of the risk assessment process:
There are two main approaches to this process, as discussed in ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2023: hazard-based and task-based. Each of these is self-explanatory and specific to the needs of the organizations involved.
Ultimately, regardless of the approach used, risk assessment comes down to the fact that risk is a function of the severity of harm and the probability of occurrence of that harm. Due to this, risk must be appropriately scored for proper evaluation.
With this understanding of severity of the risk, along with the probability of its likelihood, users and suppliers are able to take measures necessary to control the hazards. Some potential measures are preferred, such as elimination or substitution of the component or process responsible for the hazards. Others, while not ideal for thoroughly mitigating the hazards, may also be selected, such as using personal protective equipment (e.g. safety glasses, earplugs, gloves). This decision is to be determined by the user or supplier. Where practical, hazards should be eliminated by design.
Like other management processes or systems in other industries, the risk assessment process should incorporate active leadership and competent persons to assure success.
ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2023 revises the 2016 edition of the same American National Standard. Notable changes made to this standard include:
ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2023: Safety Requirements For Packaging And Processing Machinery is available on the ANSI Webstore.
]]>ASTM D4169-23: Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems provides a uniform basis of evaluating the ability of shipping units to withstand their distribution environment.
Shipping and transport were long used throughout human history as part of distant exchanges. However, modern shipping was conceived in 1955 when Malcom P. McLean, a trucking entrepreneur from North Carolina, bought a steamship company with the idea of transporting entire truck trailers with their cargo still inside. His later realized it would be simpler to have a container that could be lifted directly from a vehicle and into a ship, establishing the system of “intermodalism.”
Intermodalism means that the same cargo, within the same container, could be transported with minimum interruption using a variety of transport modes. These containers were to be moved seamlessly between ships, trucks, and trains, simplifying the logistics of the shipping process.
With the enhanced shipping capabilities born from the establishment of this industry standard, products and materials could spread throughout the planet in ways that had been too difficult prior. In the 21st Century, thanks largely to the Internet, nearly any attainable item can be delivered directly to your home. This has become not an extravagant comfort but a norm, one that many came to depend upon throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, throughout 2020, the first year of the pandemic, there were 131 billion parcels shipped worldwide.
By assuring the performance of shipping units, ASTM D4169-23 helps to support the globalized web of individuals, companies, and nations that comprise our society.
ASTM D4169-23 covers a laboratory testing method that exposes the shipping units to a sequence of anticipated hazards for their journey. The test specimen to be used should consist of complete shipping containers that are representative of the container system as a whole. This includes the actual cargo contents, but dummy test loads are acceptable under certain conditions.
The standard addresses a wide range of concerns through its different testing procedures. Some of these are applicable to almost any shipping container being used, while others are more specific to a particular usage. For example, the hazard of rail switching, which is tested through longitudinal shock, would not apply to shipping containers that are not transported using railways.
Other hazards that ASTM D4169-23 prepares for include handling, warehouse stacking, vehicle stacking, stacked vibration, vehicle vibration, loose load vibration, environmental hazard, low-pressure hazard, and concentrated impact. The appropriate procedures for these are detailed in the standard.
ASTM D4169-23: Standard Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Containers and Systems is available on the ANSI Webstore.
The above video demonstrates the truck profile test under Assurance Level I (High Level), Level II (Medium Level), and Level III (Low Level). Please note that the information detailed in this and the other videos in this blog post was derived from past versions of ASTM D4169 and created by various users of the standard. Those who want to make use of the most current and accurate testing requirements should consult the ASTM D4169-23 document.
]]>Good things happen when standards are fulfilled. A flex-fuel car runs smoothly and efficiently when we fill the tank with E85 fuel that meets a standard. A toll booth transponder, which meets a standard, communicates and pays the tolls during a summer drive from Chicago to Maine and then down to North Carolina while protecting the security of the credit card it is linked to. A new microwave oven, which meets a standard, plugs in to an electrical outlet and works exactly as the instruction book states with the needed protections for safety. Of course, it takes some time to learn all the functions and buttons, but it does work!
When standards are not fulfilled, we don’t get the expected good outcomes. Sometimes that is a relatively minor annoyance that we can easily observe and fix. In other cases, serious or severe damage to life, health, the environment, or property results that we don’t know about until it is too late to avoid (a damaged car, traffic violations, or a kitchen fire).
It seems there should be some effort made to give assurance that standards are fulfilled. Not just for consumers, but also for all the companies and organizations who would suffer unwanted outcomes when standards are not fulfilled; like an E85 gas station, a toll bridge or toll road authority, and a home insurance company.
Conformity assessment is the name for a broad range of activities to provide assurance that standards, or more generally, specified requirements, are fulfilled. According to ISO/IEC 17000, Conformity Assessment is defined as “demonstration that specified requirements are fulfilled.” The demonstration is usually on a sample since the conformity assessment process often destroys the samples that undergo the demonstration; for example, chemical analysis of E85 fuel, heat and sunlight resistance of a toll transponder or safety testing of a microwave oven. A successful demonstration, sometimes coupled with an obligation or commitment to provide the product or service that is the same as the sample, has met a very broad range of assurance needs for well over 100 years at a reasonable cost.
So, who performs the conformity assessment demonstrations? That depends on the situation and especially the consequences of not fulfilling a standard, like a damaged car, traffic violations, or a kitchen fire.
In cases where the consequences of noncompliance are of little or no significance a demonstration might be done by the manufacturer or service provider during production, delivery, or quality processes. These demonstrations might not even be known to the consumer, especially when a guarantee or warrantee is also offered to provide assurance.
In other cases, assurance is needed that the consequences of noncompliance are prevented by fulfilling a standard; it is not enough to correct a noncompliance when it arises. These demonstrations might be done by an independent organization. Such organizations stake their business survival on providing competent, impartial, and consistent demonstrations that standards are fulfilled. Some even impose an obligation for ongoing fulfilment as a condition of performing a demonstration.
In still other cases the consequences of noncompliance are so high that the user of the product or service performs the demonstrations themselves. Consumers rarely have the knowledge or capability for this. However, government and industry users of products and services do and can performs demonstrations for their own assurance needs.
Any person or organization that performs any activity that is part of a demonstration that standards, or specified requirements, are fulfilled is a “conformity assessment body.” In the broadest sense anyone is a conformity assessment body if they have performed an activity that demonstrates a requirement is fulfilled. More commonly, however, “conformity assessment body” means a person or organization with the knowledge and capability that performs activities in formal or structured demonstrations; examples include the manufacturer or provider of the product or service, an independent organization in the business of providing assurance by demonstrating fulfillment of requirements, or the user of a product or service and those who protect user interests.
Common examples of activities in a demonstration include selection and preparation of samples; testing in a laboratory or in an actual use setting; inspection; auditing; information analysis; review of these activities and results obtained; decision that a suitable, adequate, and effective demonstration has been completed; and issuance of a letter, report, certificate, or other statement indicating a successful demonstration was completed.
In any given demonstration, multiple conformity assessment bodies can be involved. The choice of which bodies perform which activities is driven by the balance between the related costs and the assurance that is needed as described above.
Conformity assessment bodies (CABs) come in a variety of organizational forms and ownership; they can be commercial in focus or non-profit entities. Here are some examples of the different types of CABs that can undertake conformity assessment activities:
CABs range from multinational companies to those offering national products and services within one specific country, or small localized entities that work in a specific sector or region.
In your work life and personal life, you are likely using the results of conformity assessment bodies without realizing it. Just as standards play an increasing role in daily life, conformity assessment bodies are hard at work delivering needed assurances largely in the background. Standards and conformity assessment are an assurance safety net for improving quality of life for now and the future.
]]>Ladders are a common household tool, used in all seasons for everything from spring cleaning to holiday decorating. They are also vital to job sites for many industries. While ladders are safe when used properly, thousands of injuries still occur each year. This is why the American Ladder Institute (ALI) created its signature safety event, National Ladder Safety Month, which is held each March and is the only program dedicated exclusively to promoting ladder safety at home and work.
For the eighth year in a row, National Ladder Safety Month will rally individuals and companies nationwide to spread the word on safe ladder use. By joining the conversation on social media using #LadderSafetyMonth, utilizing American Ladder Institute’s free Ladder Safety Training, accessing the official marketing guide, and more, you will be playing a part in decreasing ladder injuries and fatalities worldwide. Each week in March, National Ladder Safety Month will focus on four different themes to help drive the conversation and direct the focus on separate areas of ladder safety.
By increasing awareness, reinforcing ladder safety training, and educating homeowners and working professionals, the American Ladder Institute will accomplish its goal of lessening ladder accidents.
Contributing Author: American Ladder Institute (ALI)
ALI is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved developer of ladder safety Standards. Standards are technical specifications, developed and tested by subject experts, which prescribe rules governing the safety construction, design, testing, care, and use of various types of ladders.
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