Advancing Safety Communication: Highlights from the Recent ANSI Z535 & ISO 3864-2 Standards Meetings
At Clarion Safety, our commitment to advancing product and workplace safety communication, as well as risk reduction, is reflected not only in our products and services but also in our active participation in shaping the standards that guide these areas.
We’re proud to share that our team recently took part in the Spring 2025 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z535 committee meetings and International Organization for Standardization’s Technical Committee 145 (ISO/TC 145) meetings.
These sessions are critical for maintaining and evolving the visual safety communication standards in the Unites States and around the world, impacting facility signage, product safety labels, safety colors, warnings formats, symbols, and more. Keep reading for a look at key highlights from these ANSI and ISO meetings.
ANSI and ISO – Understanding These Standards and Clarion Safety’s Role
There are two main standards for safety labels that are key to creating effective warnings: ANSI Z535 domestically in the U.S. and ISO 3864-2 internationally.
Here at Clarion Safety, for decades, we’ve been an active member of ANSI Z535, responsible for the seven standards that make up the Z535 family, and of ISO/TC 145, one of the most influential standards-writing committees as it standardizes the vast majority of symbols in use around the world.
Our director of standards compliance, Angela Lambert, is our representative for the ANSI Z535 committee. Angela is also our representative as the chair of ANSI Z535.1, as a delegate representative of the U.S. TAG to the ISO/TC 145, responsible for the library of ISO 7010 registered symbols and the ISO 3864 set of standards, and as a liaison between ISO TC/283 and ISO/TC 145 committees.
“It’s an honor to be a part of these standards-setting efforts, to come together with my colleagues across all different industries and countries, and help shape safety communication,” Angela says. “This Spring was productive across both sets of standards, with committee meetings held for both ANSI Z535 and ISO/TC 145 in late April and early May.”
ANSI Z535 Standards Highlights
Following a June 2023 virtual committee meeting, in late April, ANSI Z535 committee members came together in Arlington, Virgina for a full day session covering current and future standards topics.
The committee continues to focus on ensuring that U.S. safety communication practices remain consistent, clear, and aligned with current technologies and user expectations. The agenda centered around committee membership and leadership updates (including the appointment of a new subcommittee chair for ANSI Z535.3), subcommittee updates, and possible future directions for the current standards including discussions on symbols and harmonization efforts with global standards.
The next edition of the ANSI Z535 standards are expected to be published in 2027, with change proposals for revisions currently being accepted.
If you are interested in learning the basics of ANSI Z535 and the most recent iteration of the standards, download our complimentary whitepaper here.
ISO/TC 145 Highlights
ISO/TC 145 is responsible for the continual development of an international language of symbols used on signs, products, and in the built environment to inform people of a wide variety of meanings, all known as graphical symbols.
While TC 145’s annual meetings are typically held in-person, this year, the international committee came together virtually for a two-day session. The agenda focused on revisions to the ISO 7010 library of internationally-standardized symbols. As global operations grow increasingly interconnected, these international standards are key to ensuring safety messages transcend language barriers and support compliance worldwide. Amendments, or symbols update, are expected in the coming months.
What These Updates Mean for Safety, Compliance, and You
Being part of these ANSI and ISO committees allows us not only to stay at the forefront of compliance trends but also to provide feedback based on your real-world applications. We’ll continue to advocate for practical, effective safety standards and keep you informed on how changes may impact product labeling, facility signage, and regulatory compliance.
Do you need help navigating safety standards or today’s best practices?
Our team is here to support you every step of the way from machine safety and risk consulting to safeguarding to visual safety communication. Reach out to us today!
