Nov 01, 2007

Information and product destruction services is a rapidly growing industry. In order to develop standards to serve the needs of this industry, ASTM International Committee E34 on Occupational Health and Safety has formed Subcommittee E34.25 on Mobile and Plant-Based Security Destruction Equipment Safety Requirements. All interested parties are invited to participate in the standards developing activities of E34.25.
 
According to Robert Johnson, National Association for Information Destruction, and E34.25 member, information and product destruction services are currently provided to customers in two ways. “Mobile destruction is where the shredding equipment is mounted on a truck so the service can be easily witnessed by the customer,” says Johnson. “The plant-based method is where materials are transported to a secure destruction facility to be destroyed.”
 
Johnson notes that, because of the nature of the services provided, there are a number of health and safety issues unique to the information destruction industry that E34.25 will address in its standards. The first proposed standard E34.25 will develop will be a minimum safety standard for the design, construction and operation of shredding equipment and facilities. Instructions, warnings and personal safety requirements will all be specified in the proposed standard.

For further technical information, contact Robert Johnson, National Association for Information Destruction, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz. (phone: 602/788-6243, ext. 201; rjohnson@naidonline.org). Committee E34 meets April 6-7, 2008, at April Committee Week in Anaheim, Calif. For membership or meeting information, contact Kevin Shanahan, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9737; kshanaha@astm.org).

Release #7807