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.
ASHRAE Launches Redesigned Website
ASHRAE, an ANSI member and audited designator, has announced the launch of a newly redesigned website that utilizes mega-menus for easy access to information and simplified navigation.
The website, ashrae.org, includes a search tool powered by Amazon Elasticsearch Service that shows thousands of relevant results to search queries from a multitude of ASHRAE sites such as its bookstore, eLearning platform, and Technology Portal. Targeted IP content provides local information based on the user's location, and the website layout supports viewing on smartphones, tables, and desktop or laptop computers.
"This redesign benefits all of our members and partners whether they are engineers, contractors, architects, manufacturers, educators, and others whose work is linked to the global built environment," said ASHRAE president Bjarne W. Olesen. "Our website visitors want to quickly find the information they need, whether they are searching from their desk or from a smartphone. We believe that this website speaks vividly to ASHRAE's leadership in the industry as well as the passionate support of our members."
Further additions and changes to the website will become available over time. Learn more in the ASHRAE news item.
UL Discusses Safe Solar Energy Use
Representatives of UL, an ANSI member and audited designator, recently participated in a podcast to discuss how the organization's work is supporting the safe and reliable use of solar energy in spite of the varying conditions that occur with the renewable resource.
Bruce Bailey, UL vice president of energy, and Ken Boyce, UL principal engineer director, spoke on the Solar Speaks podcast about smart inverters. Also called advanced inverters, these devices work intelligently to manage unstable conditions that come with the use of solar energy. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Boyce noted that UL is focused on grid compatibility and safety, as well as inverter reliability and performance metrics, to advance the use of solar energy.
Learn more and access the podcast in UL's news item.
ASME Survey Provides Salary Information for Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has released the results of its 2017 Salary Survey.
Responses, which were gathered from over 1,500 members, indicate that salaries are rising for mechanical engineers, with the median total primary compensation coming in at $124,000 in 2016. Those with over 20 years of experience have a median income of $144,644, while mechanical engineers early in their career have a median primary income of $73,079. The most lucrative areas for engineers are in nuclear, petroleum, chemical, utilities, and consulting practices. Salaries are also higher in overseas markets, particularly in China, where energy and transportation development are widespread.
"It is an exciting time to be an engineer," says Charla K. Wise, president of ASME. "The demand for engineers continues to grow, and many stimulating job opportunities are emerging."
Read more, including information on the male-female wage gap and regional discrepancies, in the ASME news item.
ASSE Lists Nine Lesser-Known OSH Mistakes to Avoid
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has published an article detailing some lesser-known mistakes that organizations may make when developing an occupational safety and health (OSH) system.
One mistake featured in the article is thinking that low incident rates are directly correlated to low fatality rates. While a correlation may seem logical, some larger organizations have levels of injury rates below the national average but occupational fatality rates above the average. By removing this false assumption, organizations will be in a better position to examine their data and develop a more effective OSH system.
Another mistake that ASSE lists is failing to prioritize risks. Although organizations may wish to address all risks and hazards equally, in reality there are limits to resources that necessitate the prioritization of hazards based on level of risk. Without such prioritization, resources are stretched thin and too much attention is given to less frequent or less severe injuries. Clearly defined priorities by leadership can lead to a more effective plan to protect employees.
Read more, including seven additional OSH mistakes to avoid, in the ASSE news item.