The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) produces industrial and commercial standards for world wide application. The ISO is composed of representatives from various national standards setting bodies.
The ISO is a non-governmental organisation (NGO), however the ISO’s ability to set standards that often become law, either through treaties or national standards, makes it an influential NGO. In practice, the ISO acts as a consortium with strong links to governments.
Requests for standards usually originate from the industry that they are intended for. ISO standards can also be used as a basis for the development of national standards by national standards setting bodies of individual countries. Conversely, standards developed by one country can be presented to the ISO to be developed as international standards.
Safe Work Australia and ISO
Safe Work Australia participates in the ISO’s Nanotechnology Technical Committee (TC 229) through the Standards Australia Nanotechnology Committee (NT-001). Safe Work Australia's representative coordinates Australian contributions to the TC 229 Health, Safety and Environmental Working Group.
Safe Work Australia contributed to the drafting of the ISO Technical Report entitled ‘Health and Safety Practices in Occupational Settings Relevant to Nanotechnologies.’ This technical report provides information on the safe handling of nanomaterials, and has been approved for publication by ISO member bodies.
ISO website