The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization overseeing the development of voluntary standards in the United States. ANSI themselves do not create standards, but rather they accredit standards developed by consumer groups, government agencies, consumer groups, and even other standards organizations. Members of ANSI come from many different backgrounds, from individual members to academic institutions, international bodies, and more.
ANSI standards cover products, services, processes, systems, and personnel, putting forth some very important standards when it comes to occupational health and safety. These standards are voluntary and cannot be enforced by ANSI, but OSHA is a governmental agency that has adopted a number of their regulations with the corresponding ANSI standard.
A few ANSI workplace safety standards to be aware of include:
- ANSI z535: This is a series of six standards covering the design and formatting of safety signs. It includes the colors used for signs, a criterion for safety symbols, safety signs and labels used for products, safety tags and barricades, and product safety information. ANSI standards have four main components for safety signs to follow: the safety alert symbol as well as safety symbols, the signal word, and the word message.
- ANSI z87.1: OSHA standard 1910.133 requires employers to provide eye and face protection that comply with the ANSI Z87.1 standard. In order for safety glasses, safety goggles, and other related protection to be ANSI-approved, they must be tested to check if they can provide protection from a number of hazards. When employers purchase eye and face protection that are sold as being compliant with ANSI Z87, they can be certain the goggles, glasses, or face protection will offer the right level of protection.
- ANSI S3.19: Unlike eye and face protection, head protection, and foot protection, OSHA has not adopted the ANSI standards for hearing protection. However, following the ANSI S3.19 standard will not only keep workplaces in compliance with OSHA, but also ensure the ear plugs or ear muffs provided to employees will give them a predictable level of production.
Similar Glossary Terms
- What does ANSI stand for?
- What does it mean to have OSHA/ANSI compliant signs?
- ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 Standard [Eye Protection + Safety Glasses]
- OSHA Sign Compliance: ANSI 1967 vs. ANSI 2011 [With 2017 Updates]
- What are ANSI standards?
- ANSI Z535 [Updated Guide to Safety Signs & Labels]
- Where do ANSI standards apply?
- What are ANSI standards?
- Are ANSI and ASME the same?
- Who do ANSI standards apply to?
- How many ANSI standards are there?
- Why is ANSI important?
- Which countries use ANSI standards?
- Where can I find ANSI standards?
- Who regulates workplace safety?
- ANSI Safety Colors
- What ANSI standards have been adopted by OSHA?
- Are ANSI standards mandatory?
- How does ANSI work?
- Can OSHA enforce ANSI standards?
- What are the steps to get ANSI certified?
- What are ANSI colors?
- What is PPE?
- Who enforces ANSI standards?
- What are workplace safety requirements?
- What are the ANSI standards for pipe color codes?
- How often are ANSI standards updated?
- What does the Z87 on safety glasses mean?
- Does OSHA regulate pipe marking?
- Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)
- Who develops and enforces valve tag regulations?
- When are NFPA diamonds required?
- What is ANSI certification?
- What are the standards and regulations of valve tags?
- Pipe Color Codes – ANSI/ASME A13.1
- ANSI TIA 606-B Cable Labeling Standards
- What do different symbols on safety signs mean?
- What is a Noise Reduction Rating? [ANSI S3.19 Explained]
- What does it mean to be OSHA compliant?
- What is hearing protection?
- Who regulates PPE?
- ANSI Color Codes for Pipe Marking
- International Standards Organizations (ISO)
- What colors should be used for fire related signs?
- How do ANSI classes relate to PSI?
- What does PPE stand for?
- What are electrical safety standards and who enforces them?
- Hard Hat
- What does ISO stand for?
- When was OSHA developed?
- What does OSHA stand for?
- NIOSH
- How does OSHA work?
- Regulatory Compliance
- When are NFPA labels required?
- Who enforces NFPA standards?
- OSHA
- What is GHS compliance?
- What is the relationship between CDC and OSHA?
- OSHA Safety Sign Requirements [1910.145]
- What does IFC stand for?
- What does GHS stand for?
- What organization is involved with fire safety regulations?
- What types of businesses need to be OSHA compliant?
- What are PPE requirements?
- Safety Colors (OSHA Guidelines and Color Codes)
- Hard Hat Classes [OSHA & ANSI Standards]
- Are NFPA and ISO standards the same?
- What are OSHA’s requirements when it comes to PPE?
- What does NIOSH stand for?
- Do valve tags have words, numbers, or pictures on them?
- GHS
- What does the NFPA regulate?
- HAZCOM
- What is HAZCOM training and how often is it required?