Did You Know? offers a quick look at the broad scope of activities underway within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Federation of members and partners, highlighting recent accomplishments and new resources related to standardization.
SES Webinar to Discuss Standards and Copyright Law
SES - The Society for Standards Professionals, an ANSI member, has announced an upcoming webinar on how copyright law applies to consensus standards.
Copyright: A Case Study will review the general principles of U.S. copyright laws, and introduce listeners to several case studies where copyright law was applied to consensus standards. The webinar will also explore how copyright applies to standards that are referenced in a legislative enactment or a government regulation, an issue recently brought before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. It was ruled that the referenced standards publication would not lose its protectable interest under copyright law, but that ruling is now on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals.
The webinar will be held on November 15 from 1-2:30 p.m. ET. Register on SES's website.
NFPA Offers Tips on Allowing Kids in the Kitchen for Thanksgiving
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an ANSI member and audited designator, provides stakeholders with several resources related to fire safety for Thanksgiving.
The Association's "Kids in the Kitchen" flier details how kids can participate in cooking Thanksgiving dinner by listing what children can safely do at each age. Six to eight year olds can peel vegetables and set the table, while kids nine to twelve can use electrical appliances like the microwave and turn stove burners on and off with adult supervision. It's not until age fourteen that children are old enough to operate the stove or oven without an adult present.
Other Thanksgiving resources offered by NFPA include safety tips for the kitchen, a warning video about the dangers of turkey fryers, and a report on home fires involving cooking equipment. See NFPA's website to access these materials.
The Toy Association Survey Shows Parents' Lax Attitudes Toward Toy Safety
The Toy Association, an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has released the results of a survey the demonstrate parents may have concerning attitudes towards toy safety.
82 percent of survey respondents said that the age label on toy packaging is only a suggestion, although many (67 percent) are concerned about the safety of toys with small parts. 73 percent would allow younger children to play with their older siblings' toys, and 81 percent buy toys based more on their child's interests than on what is recommended for the child's age.
"Parents and other consumers should always heed the age label on toy packaging. Toys labeled 3 are not safe for kids under three, because they may contain small parts, which can be a choking hazard," says Joan Lawrence, senior vice president of safety and regulatory affairs at The Toy Association. "Contrary to what some parents might think, a toy's age grading isn't about how smart a child is. It's based on the developmental abilities of kids at a given age and the specific features of the toy."
To learn more about the survey results and read toy safety tips that will promote safe playing this holiday season, see the TIA news item.
WQA Guide Helps School Administrators Deal with Lead in Drinking Water
The Water Quality Association (WQA), an ANSI member, offers a free guide for school administrators that outlines the process of keeping the school's drinking water safe.
"What school administrators need to know about drinking water" provides information on testing, Point-of-Use/Point-of-Entry products for lead removal, the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act, relevant standards, and more.
"We wanted to make sure administrators had some basic guidelines and recommendations to follow for assessing the quality of their drinking water," said WQA executive director Pauli Undesser. "We highly recommend officials conduct thorough tests in accordance with their state's laws or guidelines and determine if specific water treatment is required."
Access the free guide on WQA's website.