It can range in length from a few pages to a few thousand pages, and usually says something about a product, a range of products or a service. A standard may discuss safety, performance and quality requirements. It may outline materials that should be used and tests that should be conducted. Or it may be more concerned with product dimensions, the meaning of technical terms or the way in which a service is provided. Each standard is as unique as the thing it describes.
Many standards have nothing at all to do with safety.
For instance, the metric system is a standard system of measurement which we all use every day. The fact that a kilogram is the same in Newfoundland as it is in British Columbia has no direct bearing on your safety. It does, however, make it easier to compare prices from one grocery store to another. If you think about it, our high-technology world is actually made up of countless pieces that must fit and work together like a massive jigsaw puzzle. This doesn't happen by accident - it's the result of careful standardization.