Voluntary performance standards

Modified vans and cars enable persons with disabilities to independently drive a vehicle. Wheelchair tie-downs and occupant restraints in personal vehicles and in public transportation vehicles are allowing people to be safely transported to their chosen destination. Fortunately, voluntary performance standards for restraint and tie-down technologies have been developed by a task group within the Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE). Standards for car hand controls, van body modifications, and wheelchair lifts are also available from SAE. These standards provide the rehabilitation engineer with a set of took that can be used to confirm safety compliance of modified transportation equipment. Currently in process and stiU requiring several more years of work are transport wheelchair and vehicle power control standards. 

What is ISO 14001 Among other things, it is a framework for managing the environmental aspects of your business. It is a voluntary consensus, private-sector standard that can be used by any company, any size, anywhere in the world. ISO 14001 is not required it is strictly voluntary. It does not establish performance standards or require you to reach zero pollution in your operation. But it does require a company to commit to continuous improvement of its EMS. 

ANSI has adopted a voluntary consensus standard that gives guidance regarding preparation of MSDSs. The standard applies to the preparation of MSDS for chemicals and materials used under industrial occupational conditions. It presents basic information on how to develop and write a 16-section MSDS. It identifies information that must be included to comply with the performance oriented OSH A HCS. 

NIST (2004) Performance Standard for Wood-Based Structural-Used Panels, Voluntary Product Standard. PS 2-04. US Department of Commerce, Washington, DC Nomura Y (1980) Quinone additive cooking. Japan TAPPI, 34 ) 50-5 Nurmi AJ and Lindroos L (1994) Recycling of treated timber by copper smelter. Intemational Research Group on Wood Preservation, Document No. 94-500-30 Nylinder P (1958) Aspects of quahty production Part 2 (in Swedish). Skogen, 45(23) 714 and 717-8... 

Under Section 7(a)(1) of the CPSA, the Commission may promulgate consumer product safety standards that enhance product safety by prescribing (1) requirements concerning product performance, or (2) requirements that a consumer product be marked with or accompanied by clear and adequate warnings or instructions. The Consumer Product Safety Amendments of 1981 stress Congress preference for the adoption of voluntary safety standards in lieu of mandatory federal requirements. In its amended form. Section 7(b) provides that the Commission shall rely upon voluntary consumer product safety standards. . . whenever compliance with such voluntary standards would eliminate or adequately reduce the risk of injury addressed and it is likely there will be substantial compliance with such voluntary standards. ... 

The Administrator shall establish protocols, criteria, and minimum performance standards for laboratory analysis of lead in paint films, soil, and dust. Within 2 years after October 28,1992, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall establish a program to certify laboratories as qualified to test substances for lead content unless the Administrator determines, by the date specified in this paragraph, that effective voluntary accreditation programs are in place and operating on a nationwide basis at the time of such determination. To be certified imder such program, a laboratory shall, at a minimum, demonstrate an abihty to test substances accurately for lead content... 

ASTM is a scientific and technical organization formed for the development of standards on characteristics and performance of materials, products, systems and services and the promotion of related knowledge. ASTM is the world s largest source of voluntary consensus standards. 

In Europe, the European Community has adopted a number of performance standards that serve as voluntary quality and environmental standards for its members. The European Foundation for Quality Management (EEQM) promotes and rewards organizations that adhere to their excellence model for quality. Accompanying these standards are safety and environmental performance measures that directly impact the overall quality of the product. These standards have also laid the foundation for documentation of performance standards and continual improvement process. 

The NTTAA directs EPA to provide Congress, through OMB, explanations when the agency decides not to use available and applicable voluntary consensus standards. In the 2006 Proposal, EPA proposed to adopt a number of work practice requirements that could be considered technical standards for performing... 

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, Chicago, Illinois The association develops voluntary appliance performance standards and makes safety recommendations to Underwriters Laboratories and the American Gas Association, represents the industry in consumer and government relations, compiles statistics, sponsors certification programs, and provides consumer appliance information, educational materials, and technical aids, www.aham.org... 

Agency. A second example of an external method of quality assessment is the voluntary participation of the laboratory in a collaborative test (Chapter 14) sponsored by a professional organization such as the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Finally, individuals contracting with a laboratory can perform their own external quality assessment by submitting blind duplicate samples and blind standard samples to the laboratory for analysis. If the results for the quality assessment samples are unacceptable, then there is good reason to consider the results suspect for other samples provided by the laboratory. 

ISO 9000 is not a statutory requirement and neither is certification, hence certification is voluntary. However, suppliers may be under pressure to obtain registration to ISO 9001, ISO 9002, or ISO 9003 in order to tender for contracts. Within the ISO 9000 certification scheme, the certification industry is regulated by accreditation bodies. An International Accreditation Forum (lAF) attempts to harmonize accreditation practices world-wide through ISO Guide 61. The accreditation bodies authorize certification bodies to conduct certification to prescribed standards - a process that is called accreditation. The accreditation body performs witness audits and desk audits of the certification body to ensure compliance with the conditions of accreditation. 

The regulations also address the need to ensure that drug information provided by pharmaceutical firms is truthful, balanced, and accurately communicated. As such, it must be consistent with the indications for use and the established performance and limitations. In Europe, the directives do not impose a specific requirement to review advertising or promotional material before it is released. Acceptable standards may be achieved via voluntary codes of practice and self-regulation. However, national authorities must monitor such material and should have the power to act where the need arises. In the U S, the F DA must vet advertising and promotional material before it is released. 

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