In an effort to communicate the vital role that standards play in daily life, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) publishes a series of snapshots of the diverse standards initiatives undertaken in the global and national standards arena, many of which are performed by ANSI members and ANSI-accredited standards developers. Two of the latest selections follow:
Power Presses
Hydraulic and pneumatic power presses are used throughout the manufacturing industry, to form, cut, join, pierce, bend, and trim metal for use in the construction of ships, bridges, engine parts, and numerous other applications. Hydraulic presses utilize forced water while pneumatic presses rely on pressurized air. Use of these machines can cause injury due to the risk of accidental misdirection of the released energy during production, maintenance, commissioning, and de-commissioning.
To ensure the safety and effectiveness of TENS, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) recently published ANSI/AAMI NS4-2013, Transcutaneous electrical stimulators. This new ANS establishes labeling, safety, and performance requirements, as well as referee tests, for portable, battery-powered TENS devices used in the treatment of pain syndromes. The non-invasive, low-risk treatment is intended for use on intact skin and mucous membranes that do not require surgical intervention or violation of the skin surface.
AAMI, an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, is dedicated to enhancing the ability of healthcare technology professions, healthcare institutions, and industry to understand, develop, manage, and use medical instrumentation and related technologies safely and effectively.