A new standard for consumer incident investigation is in development through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to assist organizations and businesses with preventative measures to improve the safety of products, services and facilities. Dr. Amin Yazdani, executive director, Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance (CISWP) at Conestoga, is chair of the Canadian mirror committee through the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) to support the ISO development.
According to Health Canada, the Consumer Product Safety Program received over 2,300 consumer product reports in 2019, with a reported 23 resulting in death and close to 800 in non-fatal injuries. Currently, no standard exists nationally or internationally to investigate consumer incidents in order to prevent them in the future to protect the safety of body and life at the consumer level.
“The standard will outline requirements to objectively conduct investigations to establish all the factors that contribute to the event in order to prevent a recurrence,” said Dr. Yazdani. “By adopting and implementing this standard, events that adversely affect consumers can be prevented.”
The ISO standard will set out to provide general requirements and guidance on the principles, procedures and methods for investigating incidents where there have been injuries, illnesses, damage to health or fatalities to consumers, damage to property or environmental damage related to the use of products, services or facilities by consumers. The outcome of the investigation will provide recommendations for improvements that, when implemented, will reduce risk of injury and build consumer trust.
“The standard has the potential not only to raise the safety level of Canadians but also the credibility of the quality of Canadian products and services on the international market, increasing the potential for investment opportunities for Canadian industries,” Dr Yazdani continued. “It also has the potential to contribute to commercial advancement by reducing economic costs associated with consumer accidents.”
In June, Dr. Yazdani attended the standards development committee meeting in Tokyo, Japan, as the head of the Canadian delegation and chair of the Canadian mirror committee through SCC. The ISO standard is supported by 19 member countries and anticipated to be released by the end of 2023.
The Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance works to improve the safety, wellness and performance of the Canadian labour force by generating knowledge, transferring research to practice, and strengthening workforce development -- all in collaboration with stakeholders.
For more information, contact CISWP at ciswp@conestogac.on.ca.