To ensure that manufacturing processes and professionals render quality products and services, many local, state, and federal codes and regulations require the qualification and certification of fabrication procedures, inspection personnel, and engineering professionals. An example of one such regulation is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Process Safety Management, 29 CFR 1910.119, which requires that employers provide documentation of the qualifications of personnel in industries having recognized certification programs. Though this particular code is geared toward the chemical industry, it exemplifies the manner in which the federal government is becoming increasingly involved in qualification and certification. In general, government codes and regulations provide assurance that individuals are technically competent to perform work and provide inspection services in their industries.
