Ergonomics
ISSN: 0014-0139 (Print) 1366-5847 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/terg20
Research into accidents as a design tool H. KANIS & M. F. WEEGELS To cite this article: H. KANIS & M. F. WEEGELS (1990) Research into accidents as a design tool, Ergonomics, 33:4, 439-445, DOI: 10.1080/00140139008927148 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00140139008927148
Published online: 27 Mar 2007.
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Date: 09 November 2015, At: 14:37
ERGONOMrrCS,
1990, VOL. 33, NO. 4,439-445
Research into accidents as a design tool H. KANIS and M. F. WEEGELS
Downloaded by [Nanyang Technological University] at 14:38 09 November 2015
Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 9, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands Keywords: Accident data; Consumer goods; Industrial design; Product liability;
Product safety. Product liability legislation presses to gain more insight into the occurrence of accidents with consumer products, to the benefitof both producers and consumers. In this paper research is presented that was carried out in order to provide this insight. The research consisted of recording the reconstruction of accidents by the victims. The design relevance of the comprehensivedata was assessedby a panel of industrial designers. The results are discussed in view of the development of a method that is actually applicable by industrial designers, in order 10 anticipate possible waysof use that might result in accidents. It is argued that the availability and the application ofsuch a method would not only contribute to the prevention of accidents, but might also positively affect the marketing position of a product.
1. Introduction Consumer products that do not meet technical safety standards can be excluded from the market by preventive or repressive legislation. Association of products with any lack of safety may provoke negative publicity, for example when denounced in publications of comparative tests by consumer organizations. In a number of cases compliance with safety standards can be certified and exploited by manufacturers as a marketing tool. However, the safety of products conforming to technical criteria is only a part of the issue. Generally the occurrence of accidents is equally linked with how and where products are being used. Product liability legislation, as forthcoming in the European Market, forces producers and industrial designers to use the expected safety of a product as a guideline for the actual use people make of products. The financial consequences for a manufacturer may be considerable in the case of an awarded claim. As long as there are no adequate means to foresee how people will use products, an obvious way for manufacturers to secure their interests is to effect a product liability insurance. Insurance-premiums have already increased considerably during the past few years, and there is no reason to assume that these costs will not be passed on to the consumer. This unfortunate situation may be tackled by creating adequate means to anticipate probable or possible future use. The application of such methods by industrial designers may have two kinds of effect that are important from a marketing point of view: • unwelcome publicity, which may erode a marketing position, may be prevented; • insurance-premiums can be lowered, which may result in lower selling-prices. 001
ISSN: 0014-0139 (Print) 1366-5847 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/terg20
Research into accidents as a design tool H. KANIS & M. F. WEEGELS To cite this article: H. KANIS & M. F. WEEGELS (1990) Research into accidents as a design tool, Ergonomics, 33:4, 439-445, DOI: 10.1080/00140139008927148 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00140139008927148
Published online: 27 Mar 2007.
Submit your article to this journal
Article views: 18
View related articles
Citing articles: 1 View citing articles
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=terg20 Download by: [Nanyang Technological University]
Date: 09 November 2015, At: 14:37
ERGONOMrrCS,
1990, VOL. 33, NO. 4,439-445
Research into accidents as a design tool H. KANIS and M. F. WEEGELS
Downloaded by [Nanyang Technological University] at 14:38 09 November 2015
Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 9, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands Keywords: Accident data; Consumer goods; Industrial design; Product liability;
Product safety. Product liability legislation presses to gain more insight into the occurrence of accidents with consumer products, to the benefitof both producers and consumers. In this paper research is presented that was carried out in order to provide this insight. The research consisted of recording the reconstruction of accidents by the victims. The design relevance of the comprehensivedata was assessedby a panel of industrial designers. The results are discussed in view of the development of a method that is actually applicable by industrial designers, in order 10 anticipate possible waysof use that might result in accidents. It is argued that the availability and the application ofsuch a method would not only contribute to the prevention of accidents, but might also positively affect the marketing position of a product.
1. Introduction Consumer products that do not meet technical safety standards can be excluded from the market by preventive or repressive legislation. Association of products with any lack of safety may provoke negative publicity, for example when denounced in publications of comparative tests by consumer organizations. In a number of cases compliance with safety standards can be certified and exploited by manufacturers as a marketing tool. However, the safety of products conforming to technical criteria is only a part of the issue. Generally the occurrence of accidents is equally linked with how and where products are being used. Product liability legislation, as forthcoming in the European Market, forces producers and industrial designers to use the expected safety of a product as a guideline for the actual use people make of products. The financial consequences for a manufacturer may be considerable in the case of an awarded claim. As long as there are no adequate means to foresee how people will use products, an obvious way for manufacturers to secure their interests is to effect a product liability insurance. Insurance-premiums have already increased considerably during the past few years, and there is no reason to assume that these costs will not be passed on to the consumer. This unfortunate situation may be tackled by creating adequate means to anticipate probable or possible future use. The application of such methods by industrial designers may have two kinds of effect that are important from a marketing point of view: • unwelcome publicity, which may erode a marketing position, may be prevented; • insurance-premiums can be lowered, which may result in lower selling-prices. 001
