International Safety Equipment Association

TOP OF THE NEWS

Fall Meeting Wrapup

Speakers at the Protection2003 Symposium peered into their crystal balls for a look at safety and health in the next 25 years.
MSA Chairman John Ryan III was presented the 2008 Robert B. Hurley Distinguished Service Award at a banquet on November 10.
ISEA Product Group chairs reported on plans, projects and activities at the Fall Meeting in November. This year attendees were briefed on the Eyewash and Shower, Hearing Protection, High Visibility Products, Protective Apparel, Respiratory Protection and Respiratory Protective Escape Devices Groups. Their presentations, plus presentations from the 2007 Fall Meeting, are here.
The Strategic Plan for 2009 looks at how to turn challenges into opportunities, focusing on the core areas of standards development, government relations and knowledge access.

STANDARDS AND PRODUCT INFORMATION

Setting the Standards for Safety Equipment. Read the November product group update (pdf).

The ISEA Global Standards Database is on line. ISEA member companies now have access to information on over 2000 standards from 250 countries and regions, in 17 equipment categories. Click here (password required) for more information, including instructions on how to search the database.

ISEA has asked FHWA to accept public safety vests for use on federal highways. Effective this November, workers in a federal highway right-of-way have to wear high-visibility clothing that complies with ANSI/ISEA 107-2004, class 2 or 3. Vests that comply with ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 are designed for use by emergency responders and other public safety personnel. While FHWA has not stated that public safety vests will meet the November requirement, it issued a letter eariler this year acknowledging that ANSI/ISEA 207 is compatible with its requirements, and it has proposed to revise the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices to reference both standards. ISEA has written FHWA, requesting that the agency modify the regulation, or issue an interpretive ruling, allowing public safety vests to be acceptable for its right-of-way visibility rule.

Product standards are essential for the safety equipment marketplace. A new brochure from ISEA explains how these standards are developed and used, and why it's important for equipment manufacturers to participate in development of standards. Safety Equipment Standards - Your Keys to Business Success is organized in a question-and-answer format, covering US standards, international standards, and conformity assessment. Contact ISEA for a copy of the brochure, or view the PDF version here.

OSHA has issued a proposed rule clarifying that violations of PPE and training standards may result in penalties on a per-employee basis. Under the proposed approach, each employee who is not protected will be considered a separate violation. The rule was published in the August 19 Federal Register and affects general industry, construction and maritime standards. It does not impose any new PPE or training requirements, but gives OSHA a big hammer to enforce existing rules. OSHA is accepting public comments until September 18.

The Department of Homeland Security has announced $1,834,051,404 in grants for preparedness and response. ISEA members can go to the Members Only page for information on where the money is going.

ISEA is urging OSHA to be involved in an upcoming EPA rulemaking on hearing protection rating. ISEA members can read more in latest Washington Report.

A special edition of Protection Update celebrates ISEA's first 75 years. ISEA's quarterly newsletter for safety equipment users includes a review of important milestones in the association's history and members views on the value of ISEA to their companies, in addition to its regular features. It's published in the 70th anniversary edition of Occupational Hazards, and available online as well.

ISEA members have a link to a vast store of information affecting safety equipment markets through the Market Intelligence Digest. Read more about it here.

How can safety equipment manufacturers and distributors provide the most value to their customers? By making sure they select the safety equipment that best meets their needs. The Qualified Safety Sales Professional (QSSP) course offered by ISEA and its industry partners is an intensive course in the technical and regulatory fundamentals of safety and health, designed specifically for sales and marketing professionals. Go to QSSP for details.

Looking for quality personal safety equipment? Try the ISEA Online Buyers Guide. It lists PPE and other products in over 160 categories, with contact information for ISEA member manufacturers.

A printed edition of the Guide is available. Give us your name and address and we'll mail you a copy.

International Safety Equipment Association
1901 North Moore Street
Arlington, VA 22209-1762 USA
(703)525-1695
fax (703)528-2148
E-mail isea@safetyequipment.org