OSHA's Incorporation of the ANSI Z535 Standards: What's It Mean for Manufacturers?
Posted by Bethany Stadelmann | 13th Oct 2014
Why is OSHA's change to incorporate the ANSI Z535-2011 standards in their regulations important to product manufacturers using ANSI Z535.4 warnings on their products?
NEMA, the trade association for the electrical manufacturing industry, asked this question of our CEO, Geoffrey Peckham, in the latest issue of its ei Magazine.
With Clarion and Geoffrey's work in the standards arena – including his role as chair of the ANSI Z535 Committee for Safety Signs and Colors – this topic, part of the magazine's theme this month of 'standards collaboration', is just the right fit for us!
Now, to answer the question: there are two main reasons why this development in OSHA's regulations is important to product design engineers.
First, the OSHA change represents the U.S. government's validation of the ANSI Z535 design principles as the state of the art for warnings. This gives companies using ANSI Z535.4 labels an even better defense position should an accident occur and warnings are at issue.
Second, as employers install ANSI Z535-style signs and tags in their facilities and public areas, the U.S. will increasingly have a single, national uniform system of hazard recognition. The outcome of this consistency should be more effective communication.
Read the "Ask the Expert" Q and A in the October 2014 issue of NEMA's ei Magazine to learn more.