The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), a trade association of 80 safety and PPE manufactures, has announced the availability of draft revisions to its voluntary consensus standards for workplace first aid kits and air-purifying respiratory protective smoke escape devices.

These revisions were drafted by ISEA product groups, and are circulated for expert consensus review and approval as American National Standards (ANSI standards). Any member of the public may submit comments during this review period.

“ANSI/ISEA Z308.1, American National Standard – Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits and Supplies,” provides guidance for minimum performance levels of first aid kits for all types of uses and situations in the work environment. Kits in compliance with this standard will provide a basic range of products to deal with most types of injuries encountered in the workplace.

“ANSI/ISEA 110, American National Standard for Air-Purifying Respiratory Protective Smoke Escape Devices,” provides performance requirements and testing procedures for devices intended for use by persons escaping from fire-generated products of combustion, commonly known as “smoke hoods.”

More detailed descriptions of the proposed revisions, and information on obtaining review copies, can be found on the Web atwww.safetyequipment.org/stdreview.htmPublic comments must be received by ISEA by March 2, 2009. For information, contact ISEA manager of standards programs Cristine Fargo at 703-525-1695.