Standards

Standards are specifications created by committees comprised of industry experts, consumer representatives and interested parties.

There are International Standards (ISO[1]), European Standards (CEN[2]), American National Standards Institute (ANSI[3]), Australian Standards (SAI[4]), New Zealand Standards (SNZ [5])

Sometimes standards are adopted into law and become mandatory for manufacturing and production industries. For example, the minimum standards for child safety seats, ladders, electrical powerboards, etc.

The AS/NZS standard 4801 which was approved in 2001 (AS/NZS 4801:2001) is referred to in the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 as being the standard by which the Work Health and Safety Regulators may determine whether or not a WHSMS can be certified or not.