The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) are in the process of creating a U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to lead discussions on the creation of a new occupational health and safety (OH&S) standard for global occupational health and safety.

The new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) effort -- Project Committee (PC) 283 – “represents one of the most significant consensus standards activities within the last 50 years” say the ANSI and ASSE, who note that it has the potential to positively impact occupational health and safety management on a global level.

Bangladesh incidents show need

“The recent tragedies at garment factories in Bangladesh have highlighted the need to do more to assure global worker safety and health,” according to a joint statement by ASSE President Kathy Seabrook and ANSI President and CEO S. Joe Bhatia. The goal for the international standard is to provide effective, real-world solutions for worker safety.

“Current efforts to ensure worker safety need to be improved in factories around the world. ISO PC 283 will be doing critically important work, and the U.S. needs to have a strong, active and engaged role in this activity.”

Pending ANSI accreditation, ASSE will lead the development effort by serving as U.S. TAG administrator for ISO PC 283. ANSI is the U.S. member body to ISO, and the TAG will advise ANSI on voting positions and will lead discussions on creation of the new standard.

Organizations who are interested in participating in the initiative should act quickly. Because of the high level of interest in the topic, U.S. TAG membership may be capped to keep the committee at a manageable size.

The information:

Here is a summary describing the U.S. TAG’s activities and what your organization would be expected to contribute with regard to resources and participation. Global Standards Project Information (DOC)

Here is the application: Global Standards Project Application (DOC)