Which of the following is a characteristic of voluntary standards?

Voluntary standards are designed to promote best practices within industries but are not enforced by law. They serve as guidelines that organizations can choose to follow to improve quality, safety, or efficiency. The benefit of voluntary standards is that they encourage innovation and flexibility; organizations can adopt them based on their specific needs without the pressure of legal requirements.

These standards are often developed collaboratively by industry experts and can vary in terms of adoption among organizations. Since they are not legally mandated, organizations maintain the autonomy to determine whether to implement them into their operations. This characteristic differentiates voluntary standards from legally mandated standards, which must be adhered to under law.

Understanding that voluntary standards are not enforced helps agencies and manufacturers align with best practices at their discretion, fostering a culture of continuous improvement without the constraints of legal penalties.