ASSE Plays Role in ANSI/OSHA Agreement

Feb. 23, 2001
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) participated in the task force to frame the recently revised agreement between ANSI and OSHA.

In the development stages of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-OSHA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Deputy Executive Director/Director of Professional Affairs Tom Bresnahan, chaired a task force to frame the revised agreement between ANSI and OSHA.

The purpose of the MOU is to complement the service of both organizations in various areas of the standards arena.

Taking this draft ANSI and OSHA staffs crafted a document, which arrived at a consensus meeting each other''s apparent needs.

ASSE said that while some believe the MOU could have gone further and been more definitive, the agreement was signed on Jan. 19, by outgoing OSHA Administrator Charles Jeffress and ANSI CEO and President Mark Hurwitz.

As a result of the MOU, ANSI and OSHA will work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to coordinate federal activities in voluntary standards and to ensure adequate representation of U.S. interests in international standards organizations.

ASSE''s policy and view has been to urge the agency to use national consensus standards to jump-start OSHA rulemaking or reference and use these standards.

Bresnahan said he hopes that OSHA would find places for ANSI representatives on its advisory and negotiated rulemaking committees.

However, he pointed out, "only through the implementation group, appointed by both ANSI and OSHA, will the high aspirations of the MOU become reality to prevent injury, illness and fatalities."

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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