SES Offers Interactive Standards Webinars
The Society for Standards Professionals (SES), a member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), is hosting two interactive webinars as a follow-up to its most popular presentations from the Society's annual conference in August.
Both sessions will be moderated by prominent standards executives, and will provide ample opportunity for discussion with the presenters.
For further details, or to register, visit www.ses-standards.org.
ASSE Announces Ninth Annual "Safety on the Job" Poster Contest
ANSI member and accredited standards developer the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has announced its ninth annual "Safety-on-the Job" poster contest for children aged 5-14. Open through February 14, 2011, the contest seeks to raise awareness of workplace safety among children of all ages.
The posters that best illustrate safety on the job will be selected as winners among five age group categories. An award ceremony will be held in Washington, DC, on May 2, as part of ASSE's celebration of North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), which runs May 1-7.
Since 2002, ASSE has joined with the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) to raise public awareness of occupational safety, health, and the environment in North America. During NAOSH Week, ASSE and CSSE members implement activities such as fleet safety classes, ergonomic awareness events, and emergency preparedness workshops to promote the positive benefits a safe workplace.
Click here for more information.
European Standard for Universal Phone Chargers
The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) have released a common mobile charger standard, allowing Europeans to use a single charger for multiple phones, regardless of brand.
The move, which was mandated by the European Commission, seeks to reduce the number of chargers unnecessarily sold, along with their associated electronic waste.
The new universal micro USB charger will only be compatible with data-enabled phones, such as smartphones, that can connect to a computer. While data-enabled phones currently make up just one quarter of the European market, they are expected to swiftly outpace and replace conventional cell phones.
According to CENELEC, the standard specifies the common charging capability and interface requirements for external power supplies used with data-enabled mobile phones. The interface is largely based on USB specifications, with adjustments required for touch telephones.
The Commission expects the first phones and chargers compatible with the new standards to hit the European market early this year.
Under the auspices of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and its Technical Committee 100, Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment, U.S. experts are at work on an international standard in this area. The U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to IEC TC 100 has been working closely with the USB Implementers Forum to work out the details of incorporating the USB solution into an IEC standard.
Medical Alert Monitoring Association Seeks ANSI Accreditation
The Medical Alert Monitoring Association (MAMA) has submitted an application for accreditation as an ANSI-accredited standards developer. MAMA's standards activity would cover the development of standards for the personal emergency response industry.
please contact: Ken Gross, president of Medical Alert Monitoring Service, ([email protected]; fax: 212.556.6966; phone: 212.840.5181).
Comments to AWC should be submitted by February 7, 2011, with a copy to Jim Thompson, the recording secretary of ANSI's Executive Standards Council ([email protected]; fax: 212.840.2298).
To view or download MAMa's proposed operating procedures, click here.