As reports of false or misleading equipment certification claims do surface, ASSP is offering clarity on what ANSI and ASSP do and do not certify, how legitimate conformance works, and how EHS professionals can evaluate certification claims made by manufacturers and distributors.  

Standards Are Not Certifications — and They Are Not Enforced  

Voluntary consensus standards, such as those developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and ANSI-accredited standards developers like ASSP, establish best practices and technical requirements for products and systems.  

However:  

• Neither ANSI nor ASSP certifies equipment.  

• Standards developers do not have enforcement authority.  

• There are no government penalties for falsely claiming compliance with a voluntary standard.  

This means a manufacturer may claim compliance even when its product has not undergone appropriate testing or review. While civil liability may arise if a product fails and the claim proves inaccurate, there is no federal mechanism for policing misuse of standards language.  

A Persistent Industry Challenge  

ASSP leaders in the past have observed instances of products labeled as “ANSI certified” or claiming compliance with ANSI, ISO or EN standards without evidence to support those statements.  It is important to note these misrepresentations are not limited to just EHS equipment such as fall protection. They appear across PPE categories including eyewear, gloves, workwear, footwear and more. Similar issues have been documented in other sectors such as automotive and electronics manufacturing, underscoring the breadth of the challenge.  

How Legitimate Conformance Is Established  

For many PPE categories, including fall protection, manufacturers are required to follow defined validation pathways before claiming compliance with an American National Standard.  

As an example, under ANSI/ASSP Z359.7 – Qualification and Verification Testing of Fall Protection Products, manufacturers may establish compliance in one of two ways:  

1. Independent Third-Party Certification  

A recognized, impartial certification body tests and validates the product according to the standard’s requirements.  

2. Testing Through an ISO/IEC 17025–Accredited Laboratory  

Manufacturers may conduct validation testing in a laboratory that meets the international requirements for testing and calibration competence.  ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation ensures consistent, technically sound test results.  

In both cases, manufacturers should be able to provide clear documentation of their testing and validation processes.  

What OSHA Does — and Does Not — Certify  

We have seen some labels suggesting that OSHA itself certifies PPE. This is incorrect.  

• OSHA does not certify PPE such as fall protection, gloves, eyewear or footwear.  

• One significant exception is respirators, which are certified by NIOSH.  

If an OSHA certification claim appears on a product, users should treat it as a red flag and request additional information.  

What Safety Professionals Can Do  

Because the marketplace does not have a formal enforcement mechanism for voluntary national consensus standards, EHS professionals play a critical role in due diligence. ASSP recommends:  

• Ask how compliance is validated. Manufacturers should be able to explain their testing process and provide documentation.  

• Look for independent certification or testing in a laboratory compliant with the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard.  As an example, these are the pathways permitted under ANSI/ASSP Z359.7 for fall protection.  

• Be cautious of vague or misleading labels. Phrases such as “ANSI approved,” “OSHA certified,” or “meets all standards” warrant closer inspection.  

• Engage suppliers in conversation. Our experience indicates that most organizations will be transparent about their testing, quality control and conformity assessment practices.  

• Report concerning claims. When EHS professionals encounter repeated or concerning misuses of standards language, notifying ASSP’s Standards Development Team can help the profession identify emerging issues.  

Keeping the Profession Informed  

ASSP is committed to helping members navigate complex standards and certification conversations. The organization is also exploring opportunities — including a future webinar with public/private industry experts — to further illuminate conformance issues and strengthen member understanding.  

EHS professionals rely on accurate information to make decisions that protect workers. By asking the right questions and recognizing legitimate certification pathways, the profession can help reduce confusion in the marketplace and promote safer, more reliable PPE and equipment overall.  

If you have questions about certification claims or standards compliance, contact the ASSP Standards Development Team at Admin.workspace@assp.org.