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.
ITS Releases Report on the Future of Transportation for People with Disabilities
The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), an ANSI member, has developed a report on autonomous vehicles and their potential use by people with disabilities.
Driverless Cars and Accessibility: Designing the Future of Transportation for People with Disabilities found that with the deployment of new technologies, major automakers have an opportunity to ensure that autonomous vehicles are accessible by people with disabilities. Leaders in the transportation, healthcare, and consumer electronics fields can work together to encourage manufacturers to produce accessible designs. The report concludes that now is the time to develop related standards and focus on universal design.
"This is a transformative time in transportation - everything is changing," said ITS America president and CEO Shailen Bhatt. "As automakers plan for automated vehicles, this is the perfect opportunity to reimagine and design cars in a way that makes them accessible for all potential drivers."
Read ITS America's full report.
OSHA Promotes Upcoming Safe and Sound Week for Workplace Health and Safety Programs
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is providing free materials and resources for "Safe and Sound Week," held this year from August 12-18.
The week recognizes the success of workplace health and safety programs, and provides information on how to improve programs that proactively identify and manage workplace hazards. Available resources include a webinar on the three core elements of effective health and safety programs, a list of 10 ways to get programs started, an OSHA safety and health recommended practices booklet, and more. Resources focus on the areas of management leadership, worker participation, and finding and fixing hazards.
Organizers of "Safe and Sound Week" include ANSI members the American Societyof Safety Professionals (ASSP), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the National Safety Council, among others. Learn more about "Safe and Sound Week" on OSHA's website.
ICC Acquires NTA, Gains Laboratory and Testing Capabilities
The International Code Council (ICC), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, announced that it has acquired NTA. NTA maintains one of the largest manufacturing inspection workforces on the market and is a leading provider of testing services, product certification, inspection, engineering, off-site construction plan review, and code evaluation.
"NTA joining the Code Council will bring their exceptional testing capabilities to our suite of services," said ICC CBO Dominic Sims. "This acquisition helps us to better fulfill our building safety mission and serve our members and clients."
NTA and the ICC also announced NTA's expansion with a new corporate campus opening in Bryan, Texas. The facility will consist of a large testing lab, training facility, and administrative offices. The organization's corporate offices and an additional testing laboratory are in Nappanee, Indiana.
Learn more in the ICC's news releases on the acquisition and new campus.
MASB Launches "Finance in Marketing" Video Library
The Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB), an ANSI member, has published a new educational resource freely available to all interested stakeholders.
The "Finance in Marketing" video library offers segments with insights and commentary from leaders in market research and measurement. Topics in the library's initial offerings include: The Overlap of Marketing and Finance; Accounting Principles; Problems Accounting for Marketing; What is an Intangible Asset?; What is a Brand?; Customer Lifetime Value; and more.
Read more and access the free library through MASB's news item.
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