Quincy, MA – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to strengthen community and workplace safety.
The MOU was signed by NFPA President James M. Shannon and CSA President, Standards, Pat Keindel at CSA headquarters in Toronto. Under the agreement, the organizations will work together to improve public safety and quality of life by promoting awareness, knowledge, and the application of standards and industry best practices in the community and workplace.
“We are pleased to have established a more formal relationship with CSA,” said Shannon. “NFPA and CSA share a common interest in serving the public and providing a safe environment where we work and live. We look forward to expanding our activities with CSA in the areas of electrical and fire safety and the important area of emergency preparedness and homeland security.”
“This newly established and historic alliance between NFPA and CSA is a statement of our shared common vision and interest in the betterment of public safety and the quality of life,” said Keindel. “It is within the interest and the greater good of our two nations that we work together to build an effective model of international cooperation on public safety issues.”
As a first step, the organizations have announced that NFPA has licensed CSA to use NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs as a base document for the development of a new voluntary Canadian National Standard for Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs.
As part of the alliance, NFPA and CSA resolve to:
- Establish a relationship to enable coordinated action to explore and pursue opportunities to undertake specific joint emergency preparedness, planning and emergency management, public health and safety, and public security initiatives.
- Create value for their stakeholders, constituents, members, and the general public in support of their common mandates.
- Build an effective model of regional cooperation for the common good.
Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is a membership association serving industry, government, consumers and other interested parties in Canada and the global marketplace. A leading developer of standards and codes, CSA aims to enhance public safety, improve quality of life, preserve the environment and facilitate trade. For more information visit www.csa.ca.
