UK – British Standards Institution (BSI) BSI conducts post-publication reviews with industry and community partners to assess how standards are used in practice. They also fund research into the social impact of standards, including their effects on disabled and marginalized groups, which informs future revisions.
Publishing a standard does not mean people will see it or be able to use it. If people are not aware of it or cannot access it, it will not help the communities it is meant to support.
Common problems include:
Limited outreach can leave out small organizations or marginalized communities.
People or organizations may not know the standard exists.
The standard may be written in complex or technical language that is hard to understand.
A lack of accessible formats can prevent some people from reading or using the standard.
Ways to address the barrier
Establish continuous feedback loops
Make published standards free and easy to access
Measure the developed standard's impact with affected communities
Organizations often do not have tools to know if a standard is being used, understood correctly, or making a difference. Without ways to measure impact, standards may not reach their goals or serve all communities they intend to.
Common problems include:
No data on who is using the standard and how.
Difficulty improving standards because real-world effects are unknown.
No feedback on challenges or barriers in applying the standard.
Limited understanding of unintended negative impacts on marginalized groups.
Ways to address the barrier
Create an opportunity for public feedback before withdrawal
Establish continuous feedback loops
Make published standards free and easy to access
Measure the developed standard's impact with affected communities
Most feedback systems use digital tools that not everyone can use. Some online forms do not work with screen readers or other assistive technology. Requiring people to email a committee chair instead of using the standard feedback channels can deter people from providing feedback.
Ways to address the barrier
Allow anonymous feedback opportunities
Check and improve accessibility
Ensure websites are accessible
Establish continuous feedback loops
Measure the developed standard's impact with affected communities
Many people don’t know they can give input on standards during the enquiry stage. When people don’t know how or when to provide feedback, participation is low, and standards may not meet everyone’s needs.
Common problems include:
People being unaware of when public consultation periods happen.
Drafts being published online but without outreach, so few people see them.
Less contribution because of missed notifications.
Ways to address the barrier
Allow anonymous feedback opportunities
Create an opportunity for public feedback before withdrawal
Establish continuous feedback loops
Measure the developed standard's impact with affected communities