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Standards Update

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By Walter Wingo, Standards Editor -- Design News, October 16, 2000

Worldwide standards push for occupational safety fails

Yet another attempt to establish global management standards for occupational health and safety (OHS) has fallen short. At a meeting in Geneva, the Technical Management Board of the International Organization for Standardizations (ISO) again decided not to consider the controversial idea. That, despite a strong push for the proposal by the British Standards Institution in conjunction with the International Labor Organization. Proponents wanted ISO to establish a technical committee to convert BS 8800, the British guidelines for management of OHS, into an ISO standard. Although 29 board members voted in favor of the proposal, 20 voted against. ISO rules require a two-thirds majority to set up a new technical committee. The board subsequently decided that it would be inappropriate to accept a request to help the International Labor Organization develop its own OHS standards. Three years ago ISO rejected an earlier attempt to establish such management standards following a stormy international workshop on the issue. The majority of stakeholders argued that a global standard would conflict with existing health and safety standards and regulations in many nations. Fax Keith Tozzi at 011 +44 181 996 7001.

Coming of ISO 9000:2000 requires changes in sector-based versions

Atwo-month period has begun for the ultimate approval of ISO 9000:2000, the abundantly revised international series of standards for quality management. The final draft is circulating among ISO members for balloting. If, as expected, the draft is approved, ISO will publish it as a full-fledged international standard before January. Meanwhile, industries that have developed special versions of the current ISO 9000:1994 are under pressure to adapt quickly to the big changes in ISO 9000:2000. The next three years are to be a transition period during which the 1994 version can coexist with ISO 9000:2000. However, major industries with multiple suppliers and customers need to make sure their quality management programs mesh with the latest world standard. Among industries that have tailored ISO 9000 to their special needs are telecommunications, aerospace, medical devices, and automaking. Each has built its quality management guidelines around ISO 9001, a section of ISO's 9000 series that has undergone extensive alteration in the final draft being voted upon. Email: martin.grosskopf@csa-international.org .

Multinational quality guidelines take hold in auto industry

There is now a single, new umbrella standard that enables many automotive suppliers to sidestep multiple certifications for quality management in Europe and the U.S. ISO/TS 16949 embraces common features of quality management standards for auto industries in France (EAQF), Germany (VDA6.1), Italy (AVSQ), and the U.S. (QS 9000). Each of these four standards is a sector-based adaptation of ISO 9001: 1994. In most cases, only one audit under ISO/TS 16949 would satisfy requirements of all of the older standards. That should especially help auto suppliers that have customers in several countries. The International Automotive Task Force, a group composed of automakers around the globe, developed the composite standard and submitted it to ISO for approval. The task force has also devised a system for administering third-party certifications of suppliers under ISO/TS 16949. Fax Nigel Overton in London at: +44 661 0790.

EU's 'new approach directives'explained

A new guide describes the European Union (EU) directives, standards, and procedures for demonstrating compliance with those requirements. Compiled by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, the publication is called "A Guide to EU Standardization and Conformity Assessment." Among subjects covered are EU's "new approach directives," which establish uniform health, safety, and environmental requirements for major categories of products sold in the 15 EU nations. The 24 directives supersede requirements of the individual countries. The institute will make the guide (NIST Special Publication 951) available on the Internet at http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/217/osc.htm .  

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• Help for those who must comply with Europe's 'New Approach'

• Safety standards for machinery undergoing major overhauls

• ISO offers guides for managing environment, quality at firms

• Conformity assessments ease up for electronics manufacturers

• Medical device makers prepare for new European Union edict

• New ASME code expected in July for boilers, pressure vessels

• Websites assist standards writers, users

• Institute issues new guidelines for air-conditioning equipment

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