Although OSHA officially created the NRTL program in 1988, it technically created the program in 1983 however only cited 2 external approved testing and certification laboratories: UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and FMRC (Factory Mutual Research Corporation). Following successful legal action by a private laboratory in 1983, OSHA was ordered to exclude all references to UL and FMRC from all OSHA regulations. In 1988, OSHA revised its regulations to exclude all lab-specific references, and the Nationally Recognized Research Laboratory (NRTL) Program was created to recognise other equally qualified private testing and certification organisations.

Companies in the United States depend on Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) to approve their goods for safety. The NRTL program authorizes test labs to conduct product certification and ensure that the products follow OSHA specifications. Each NRTL is recognized with a specific set of test requirements, and each NRTL employs its own distinct registered qualification mark(s) to indicate product conformance to the relevant product protection test standards.

Items for use in the workplace shall be tested by a federally recognised research laboratory (NRTL) accredited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the United States (OSHA). Contact MegaLab to determine whether your item requires NRTL certification.

Products intended for use within the Canadian market shall be tested and certified against Canadian standards (CSA). These standards full under the control of the SCC (Standards Council of Canada).