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• Compiled a database of arboricultural safety standards among 29 countries • Searched for common safety categories in 29 countries with at least 1 ISA component • In 82 % of countries, an industry standard was used • From 14 unique standards, we identified 90 safety categories • Of 90 safety categories, 19 were in all standards and 20 were in all but 1 standard Arboricultural safety standards exist in some countries, but it is unclear how many standards exist, how they compare to one another, and whether (and how many) countries share standards. To address these gaps, we obtained and analyzed arboricultural safety standards from 29 countries. We determined which safety categories were included in each standard to highlight frequently and infrequently included categories. We computed the proportion of all safety categories included in each standard, and we compared standards to determine their similarity with one another. Among 29 countries, 14 unique standards exist. Of 90 safety categories gleaned from the standards, 19 were included in all standards and 20 were included in all but 1 standard. Standards in Hong Kong, Poland, Singapore, Spain, and Sweden included at least 90 % of 90 safety categories. Our findings can be used by safety committees around the world to develop or revise local standards; they may also be used to help develop an international best management practices guide for safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have provided considerable ED50 data for both visible and near infrared wavelengths from single laser pulses below one nanosecond of exposure. The current ANSI Z136.1 standard doesnot offer an approved maximum permissible exposure limit for subnanosecond single laser pulses and the current suggested maximum permissible exposure limit may be overly conservative. Lacking an approved standard industrial, medical, educational, and military uses of these types of laser systems may be limited or prohibited. A new set of laser maximum permissible exposure limits for subnanosecond visible and near infrared single laser pulses is recommended, along with the stepstaken to develop the proposed standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a risk-based approach for establishing thresholdaccountability values for radioactive sealed sources based on current scientific information and realistic assumptions. Although this paper focuses specifically on accountability thresholds, the methodologyprovided can be easily modified to determine risk-based exemption and licensing thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]