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Having to pay to read legal reqirements... - 7/26/2015 6:26:47 AM

MercTech

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Joined: 7/4/2006
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There is one facet of our government that has always seemed "just a bit wrong" to me.

In the regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are several requirements to meet the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI publishes standards for safety shoes, safety eyeglasses, etc. But the real oddity is one simple fact.

A citizen is required by law to comply with ANSI standards but has to pay, and not cheaply, to be able to read what the standard is.

Since compliance is required by federal regulation; shouldn't the wording and specifications of an ANSI standard be covered by the freedom of information act?

I'm reminded of the Alice's interactions with the Red Queen can't you hear this being something Lewis Carrol would pen, "You must comply with the law but you aren't allowed to know what is in the law." <grin>

Ref:
ANSI - http://www.ansi.org/

You have to buy a license to read the standard?
http://webstore.ansi.org/StandardsComparison.aspx

And the rest of the world uses ISO standards
http://www.iso.org/iso/home.html

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RE: Having to pay to read legal reqirements... - 7/26/2015 6:37:27 AM

KenDckey

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Joined: 5/31/2006
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Yeah Merc ANSI standards definately aren't cheap. They are incorporated by reference into OSHA regulations and should therefore be public domain in my opinion.

There are other organizations as well. Like the National Fire Protection Association which charges $95 for a copy of the National Electric Code.

(in reply to MercTech)

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RE: Having to pay to read legal reqirements... - 7/26/2015 7:27:23 AM

DaddySatyr

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Joined: 8/29/2011
From: Pittston, Pennsyltucky
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I don't have the time to look it up but I know there used to be/is a U.S. Code that says if they expect us to comply with laws, they have to publish them, publicly. One would assume that means "for free". Maybe a library?

Michael

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Screen captures (and pissing on shadows) still RULE! Ya feel me?

"For that which I love, I will do horrible things"

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RE: Having to pay to read legal reqirements... - 7/26/2015 8:06:59 AM

KenDckey

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Joined: 5/31/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr

I don't have the time to look it up but I know there used to be/is a U.S. Code that says if they expect us to comply with laws, they have to publish them, publicly. One would assume that means "for free". Maybe a library?

Michael

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9702

Incorporation by reference. Non-governmental entities may be incorporated without publishing as a part of the standard because they aren't government.

(in reply to DaddySatyr)

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