The website for OSHA states the following explanation: “The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is part of the United States Department of Labor. The administrator for OSHA is the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. With the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.”
ANSI’s website offers the following explanation for their organization: “The American National Standards Institution (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization that administers and coordinates the US voluntary standards and conformity assessment system. ANSI is not itself a standards developing organization. Rather, the Institute provides a framework for fair standards development and quality conformity assessment systems and continually works to safeguard their integrity. And as a neutral venue for coordination of standards-based solutions, the Institute brings together private- and public-sector experts and stakeholders to initiate collaborative standardization activities that respond to national priorities. ANSI serves as a strong voice on behalf of the U.S. voluntary standards community, protecting and strengthening its impact domestically and internationally. Through its membership, partnerships, and diverse programs and activities, ANSI represents the interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide.”
In short, OSHA is or is part of a governing body. They write standards which are the law. Disobeying the standards can result in violations, fines, and even cease of work.
ANSI is made up of a group of volunteers to achieve a consensus of the way things should be manufactured and used. In that nature ANSI standards are more specific and are often adopted by OSHA as regulations.
For example, the OSHA regulation for safety glasses specifically points out an ANSI standard for their manufacture. If the glasses are not designated ANSI Z87.1, it would not be OSHA compliant, and the user’s company could face an OSHA violation.
OSHA is the regulation, which is the law. ANSI is a voluntary standard agreed upon by manufacturers, engineers and other professionals who work in the area subject to the standard.
Malta Dynamics stays up-to-date on ANSI standards by participating on several committees as a manufacturer. Having ANSI committee members on staff helps to ensure our products are performing to the latest standards for our customers while meeting all OSHA standards that pertain to our products.
If you have regulatory questions, please reach out to our experts by calling 800.494.1840 or send an email to info@maltadynics.com.
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