Safety and the environment – theme for the July e-tech

This month's e-tech focuses on safety and the environment

Electricity is readily available and widely used. Do we question whether what we are doing might be dangerous, either for ourselves or for our entourage? The answer, of course, thanks to IEC International Standards, is no!

This issue of e-tech looks at some of the aspects linked to taking a balanced approach when dealing with the issues of health, safety and the environment, and the ensuing regulatory needs.

( read article )

Erratum June edition IEC Global Visions

The picture entitled IEC Global Visions in the June newsletter mistakenly showed the first video in the series of interviews with CEOs of global companies.

The correct picture of Keith Williams, the President and CEO of UL (Underwriters® Laboratories Inc.), is shown here.

( watch the video )

Virtualizing trade – economies of electricity

In a recent article by Ronnie Amit and published on the WTO website, the IEC General Secretary and CEO emphasizes the role of electricity in a changing world where it is setting new smarter trends for future trading based on virtual exchange.

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IEC President speaks at 50th General Assembly of CENELEC

CENELEC recently held its 50th General Assembly in parallel with the 6th Annual Meeting of CEN-CENELEC in Malta.

Key speakers were IEC President Jacques Régis and Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

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IEC Global Visions continue to show strategic importance of standards in business

A third video has now been put on line in the series, IEC Global Visions.

The third video in the series centres on Shai Agassi, CEO & Founder, Better Place, a company that, in the space of three years, has risen from the level of start-up to take a leading role as an electric vehicle mobility services provider backed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler.

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Lites.asia provides information on lighting and technical exchange for standardization

Lites.asia aims to increase Asian countries’ participation in the development of IEC International Standards to ensure that the standards include and take into account regional requirements from the outset and reduce the need for subsequent local variations.

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GridWeek 2010

The global conference for Smart Grid – empowering our energy future through collaboration, education and conversation.

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Standards make the world go round

IFAN has launched its 2nd worldwide poster contest.

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IEC Standards on medical safety recognized by US FDA

Safety is crucial in the medical sector. For years, IECEE has based its assessment and certification of medical electrical equipment and devices on the IEC 60601 series of standards, accepted worldwide as a reference in that field.

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IECEx-certified cordless caplamps make underground mining safer

Underground mines are hazardous environments.

Miners work in confined spaces with low lights and visual contrasts that increase manifold the risks of injury or death. Proper illumination and protection against Ex (explosive) atmospheres are critical in such harsh conditions.

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Easier identification of IECQ requirements

IECQ, the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components, is proposing a new set of documents that clearly define the specific requirements for each of its Schemes.

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The importance of safeguarding

Safeguarding humans is of paramount importance in all areas of life. Increasingly it is recognized that the environment also needs to be cherished if human quality of life is to be maintained.

ACEA (Advisory Committee on Environmental Aspects), as the name suggests, advises the IEC SMB on environmental matters.

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Advisory committee on safety brings broad experience, tight focus

IEC Advisory Committees have a complex job. ACOS (the Advisory Committee on Safety) is no exception. Reporting to the IEC SMB, ACOS is "responsible for the assignment of horizontal safety functions and group safety functions".

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Eats, Shoots & Leaves Making for coherency – the role of the IEC Editing team

Small mistakes in punctuation or phraseology can have a big impact on the wording of a standard. A team of highly focused editors at the IEC keeps a close watch on the work of TCs and SCs to ensure that the resulting International Standards are unambiguous, clear and able to be understood by all.

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When hazards become opportunities

View from the Chair: Yoshiaki Ichikawa, Chairman TC 111: Environmental standardization for electrical and electronic products and systems.

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Dynamic agenda of IEC activities presented to PASC in Mongolia

IEC President Jacques Régis was in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for the 33rd PASC meeting. It provided him with the ideal opportunity to update PASC members on some of the more recent IEC work and projects and tell them about updates to the IEC Masterplan, due to be approved in 2011.

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Nominations within the IEC

The IEC community has seen a number of changes in recent weeks:

• New President of a National Committee
• Nomination to SB 1.

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Rwanda – now has 'Affiliate Plus' status

Rwanda, a participant in the IEC's Affiliate Country Programme, has adopted 88 of the IEC International Standards received through the Programme. 40 of them relate to safety.

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Designs on the environment

Companies, facing pressure to improve the recyclability performance of their products, are adopting an ECD approach early on in product conception and modifying design strategy to integrate environmental constraints.

They are phasing out potentially harmful components such as lead, mercury and cadmium and eliminating superfluous packaging and accessories.

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IEC TC 76 guides laser safety standards to worldwide acceptance

Lasers have become so integrated into our lives that we hardly notice them anymore. Perhaps a 50th anniversary of the first laser calls for a few moments' reflection.

One of the most remarkable uses for lasers is in medicine. Lasers can demolish a tumour without surgery, correct vision, heal wounds, even remove unwanted hair.

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New edition of popular household safety publication

Visiting a theme park, inviting friends for a barbecue, enjoying ice cream on a sunny afternoon, camping or just spending a couple of hours gardening… For many, summer is synonymous with outdoor activities, which IEC International Standards make as safe as they are enjoyable.

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Three new safety standards pre-released

Three FDIS (Final Draft International Standard) dealing with safety are currently available in the IEC Webstore as pre-release International Standards.

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