Memorandum of Understanding
between
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and
The American National Standards Institute

Whereas the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has the statutory authority to develop, promulgate and enforce occupational safety and health standards; and

Whereas the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (sections 6(a) and 6(b)(8) recognizes that national consensus standards producing organizations have an important role in the development of occupational safety and health standards; and

Whereas the Act (section 20(c) permits cooperative working arrangements between OSHA and private organizations to assist OSHA by conducting studies relating to its responsibilities under the Act; and

Whereas OSHA recognizes that the services, facilities, and members of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) may be of assistance to OSHA in carrying out its statutory responsibilities; and

Whereas ANSI is recognized as a coordinating and approval agency for voluntary national consensus standards in the United States and is ready to provide assistance and support in occupational safety and health standards, regulations and related issues; and

Whereas, ANSI working through its accredited standards developers has already demonstrated through the performance of various activities an ability to render technical assistance and support to OSHA in carrying out its statutory authority;

It is agreed that:

ANSI will furnish assistance and support and continue to encourage the development of national consensus standards for occupational safety or health issues for the use of OSHA and others. OSHA will continue to cooperate and assist the ANSI Federation in its mission in a manner consistent with OSHA policy. Such technical assistance and support generally includes but is not limited to the following program activities;

ANSI will encourage its accredited standards developers to provide technical support, as requested, in the development, promulgation and application of OSHA's occupational safety and health standards, such as the preparation and distribution of technical guides, and the development of training curriculums;

ANSI will provide assistance to OSHA, as requested, in connection with the activities of OSHA's standards advisory committees;

ANSI will provide OSHA with proposed draft ISO, IEC, CEN/CENELEC and other international safety and health standards for the purpose of receiving OSHA comment as part of the overall U.S. position on these standards;

ANSI will coordinate interpretations and rationale of selected American National Standards for OSHA, as requested, in connection with OSHA standards development and compliance activities;

The two organizations will maintain a mechanism for consultation in the planning of occupational safety and health standards development activities in the areas of mutual concern to the extent consistent with OSHA policy and section 6(g) of the Act;

OSHA will provide ANSI with those occupational safety and health research reports it has developed for general use consistent with section 20(d) of the Act involving areas of mutual concern;

OSHA will participate on selected ANSI accredited standards committees and canvass reviews in a manner consistent with the policies of the Act;

OSHA will provide ANSI with notices of standards development activities relating to standards proposals, hearings and final rules.

The purpose of the cooperative effort sought under the Memorandum of Understanding is to bring the technical resources and support of ANSI together for the purpose of assisting OSHA in carrying out its responsibilities. Also, to the extent consistent with its obligations under the Act, and other laws, OSHA will make its technical resources available to ANSI to assist it in meeting its mission.

To implement this understanding, a working group composed of representatives of the respective organizations shall be constituted to delineate, through mutual agreement by both organizations, those assigned tasks which are to be carried out. Representatives to this working group shall be responsible for implementing this Memorandum of Understanding for the respective parties.

________________________________
Gerard F. Scannell
Assistant Secretary of Labor
Occupational Safety and
Administration

________________________________
Manuel Peralta
President
American National Health
Standards Institute

Signed May 21, 1991