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Regulations in the construction, commercial, aerospace, and other industries are in constant flux. That means businesses have to stay up to date on ever-changing testing and regulatory demands, while maintaining strict quality standards to stay competitive, and within the law.
Regulatory Changes Vs Standards
One issue facing companies is understanding the difference between changes in regulation and changes in standards. Standards are not necessarily legally mandated, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important. In many cases, state laws are determined by industry standards. Even when that isn’t the case, standards driven by industry experts are often important to customers and other businesses you may work with. The biggest differences between standards and regulations are:
Standards:
- Are based on expert consensus
- Are based on technical documentation
- Are voluntary but highly recommended
Regulations:
- Are mandated by government bodies
- Are drafted by a variety of individuals and entities
- Are often based on industry standards
- Are legally required, and violations are punishable
Why Regulations Change and Why it Matters
Regulations and industry standards are regularly updated. While this can mean additional costs and paperwork for businesses, changes are typically enacted for good reason. They come about either due to new information on safety, new technologies that make safety or efficiency easier to implement, or due to stricter environmental protections as new information is gathered on how manufacturing processes or materials impact the environment.
How New Regulations Impact Businesses
Updated regulations in testing and safety can impact businesses in several different ways. These can include:
More Stringent Testing Requirements
Some recent legislative changes, such as stricter regulations on lead limits and PFAS use, will require more stringent testing for manufacturers and workplace managers. Ensuring materials meet the new safety and environmental requirements will prevent costly fines and help ensure the well-being of workers and the environment.
Certification Requirements
As testing becomes more important to ensure materials are within legal limits, obtaining certifications from a reputable lab or government entity is also more important. This not only provides businesses with the necessary paperwork to prove they have followed government guidelines, but also provides peace of mind when it comes to employee safety.
Harsher Penalties for Infractions
With new guidelines and regulations in materials requirements, there are also new penalties for those who do not operate within these new mandates. OSHA, for example, now has a maximum fine of up to $16,550 for first-offense violations. Intentional or ongoing violations may incur fines of up to $165,514.
Challenges for Businesses
Updates in regulations can also mean extra paperwork, manpower requirements, and costs for businesses. The biggest hurdles they face with new legislative changes include:
Balancing Multiple Regulatory Bodies
Businesses operating in more than one country not only need to keep up with regulatory changes within their own government, but also in any nation where their products will be manufactured and sold.
Maintaining Accurate Testing
Tests must be performed accurately and scientifically, and results must be reproducible. Consistent testing and results are the biggest factor in maintaining regulatory compliance, and the accuracy of testing comes down to the quality of the laboratory and its staff. Inconsistent results or methodologies in testing can mean fines and other penalties for manufacturers, so it’s important that testing remains accurate and consistent even within varied labs or teams.
Accuracy in Data Management
Testing is only the first of several steps for maintaining regulatory compliance. Results must be properly collected and stored, and must be easy to access when needed. Existing frameworks exist for this process, including the Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Laboratory Practice guidelines.
Staying Ahead of Regulatory Changes
In order to remain compliant, manufacturers have to keep track of the ever-changing legislative mandates that are introduced each year. While this will remain a challenge for businesses, especially those with a limited staff and budget, there are ways to make the process more manageable.
Keep Employees Up to Date
Ongoing employee education and training help to ensure that everyone on your team is up to speed on new regulations, workplace protocol, and maintaining product safety standards. While training employees on an ongoing basis is a time commitment, it can pay off immeasurably with fewer regulatory violations and resulting fines or other penalties.
Use an External Laboratory
One of the easiest ways to adhere to manufacturing, environmental, and construction industry regulations is to use a third-party lab. Choosing a reputable lab means having a team dedicated entirely to maintaining government regulations and certifications. It can also help with proper documentation, testing consistency, and accuracy. Making the right choice in lab partners is of the highest importance, since utilizing the wrong facility can cost you thousands in fines, product loss, and other penalties.
Invest in Tech for Data Collection and Quality Management
Whether you use a third-party lab or keep testing in-house, it’s a good idea to invest in automation software and quality management tools to keep track of testing data. This will allow you to quickly access results and certifications, whether obtained from your own team or from a separate laboratory. It can also help you maintain consistency if you use more than one testing method or facility.
Stay Ahead of the Game
Implementing stricter testing standards before they become regulations can help businesses stay ahead of the curve in navigating ongoing legislative changes. This includes maintaining the highest standards for materials quality testing, environmental impact testing, and safety testing.
Jordan McDowell
Writer & Content Strategist
Philadelphia, PA