Quality Standards Update
by Paul Scicchitano
It is not clear whether an enhanced ISO standard would facilitate
commerce.
Management System Standards III
You're weathering the ISO 9000 frenzy nicely, and you've even gotten up
to speed on the upcoming ISO 14000 series standards on environmental management
systems. But if you think it's safe to go back to your real job, brace yourself
for management system standards III.
The International Organization for Standardization, the same people who
brought you the international quality and environmental management system
standards, are turning their attention to a new area-occupational health
and safety.
Much like the ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 series standards, international standards
for occupational health and safety management systems would most likely
focus on systems issues (i.e., whether companies have effective systems
for managing health and safety).
Some of these issues may extend beyond the occupational health and safety
area. Standardization work could conceivably address such issues as employer-employee
communication or the importance of employee input regarding health and safety
matters.
Work in this area is widely viewed as a logical next step in ISO's quality
and environmental standards. A number of experts believe it is not only
possible, but practical, to upgrade companies' quality, environmental and
occupational health and safety management systems.
However, as the American National Standards Institute, ISO's U.S. member
body, discovered in recent weeks, key U.S. stakeholders appear to have serious
reservations about moving ahead. Some 300 people, representing a cross-section
of business and industry groups, governmental agencies, labor, insurers
and standards-developing organizations, appeared to oppose the creation
of international standards for occupational health and safety (particularly
since the United States does not have its own recognized national standard
in this area).
One of the greatest concerns among U.S. stakeholders is the possible effect
of an international standard on legal precedents. An American task force,
investigating issues surrounding the ISO project, found that the United
States has experienced more than a century of case law dealing with employer-employee
relationships and more than 50 years of statutory, regulatory and administrative
law. To the extent the ISO project covers employer-employee communication
and cooperation, it may conflict with U.S. case law, according to the task
force.
The task force said possible conflicts could be particularly troublesome
for companies or organizations facing commercial pressure to conform to
the ISO standard while, at the same time, having to comply with U.S. labor
law, and possibly even legally binding collective-bargaining agreements
that apply to occupational health and safety issues.
It isn't clear whether an enhanced ISO standard would facilitate commerce-one
of the organization's goals.
Occupational health and safety has been regulated in most industrialized
nations for more than a century. But, so far, no national or regional consensus
standards exist. Each country has its own standards, practices and regulations.
And, in some parts of the world, the differences in manufacturing practices
and working conditions are sources of competition.
Australia, the United Kingdom and Norway are all in the process of drafting
national standards that could serve as models for the international work
to come. You may recall that the United Kingdom took the lead in developing
similar standards that were key forerunners of the ISO 9000 and ISO 14000
series standards.
In the United States, industry and professional groups, along with private
companies, have been formulating initiatives that address occupational health
and safety. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has addressed
various management systems issues through its Voluntary Protection Program,
including a recent safety and health program standard initiative.
OSHA has not taken a stand on the controversy surrounding ISO's work. However,
it did participate in a two-day workshop put on by ANSI to gauge U.S. interest
in upgrading the ISO management standards.
ISO plans to hold a symposium this September in Geneva to gauge international
sentiment for ISO work in this area. The organization's Technical Management
Board, which oversees the work of the organization's technical committees,
is expected to make a final decision on whether to proceed later this year
or in early 1997.
Now is the time to make your feelings known by sending a letter or fax to
ANSI. If your company has already experienced market pressures that address
ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 registration, you should pay particular attention
to what's happening at the international level.
History has a way of repeating itself.
About the author
Paul Scicchitano is managing editor of Quality Systems Update, a
monthly newsletter and information service by Irwin Professional Publishing
on ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 issues. For more information, telephone (703)
591-9008, fax (703) 591-0971 or e-mail isoeditor@aol.com.
