Hello, John, I see where you have drawn the line!
I can just see now the IEC rewriting the definition of users of 60950 equipment as 1) trained servicepersons, 2) fools, and 3) all others. The definition of fools would be mindless persons who ignore all instructions and logic. Safety would be achieved, in addition to the usual compliance, by having users signing a paper when placing an order or purchasing equipment that they will read all instructions and agree to abide by the conditions of use placed on the equipment. This document gets back to the manufacturer who files away this bureaucracy, to be retrieved when a fool tries to sue for hot coffee in their lap, or a tingle when drilling under rafters when standing on an aluminum ladder in the swimming pool. This would take care of the crazies who try to sue for any possible misuse of their brains. Seriously, I am all for protecting the innocent and uneducated user. But the user should also be accountable for responsible use of equipment. The problem is, how does one define that??? [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: John Woodgate Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2001 1:07 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Sometimes product safety just isn't enough I read in !emc-pstc that Tania Grant <[email protected]> wrote (in <[email protected]>) about 'Sometimes product safety just isn't enough', on Fri, 14 Dec 2001: > And we have strayed here from the subject matter (although I don't > mind!). Just how much does a product designer and a product > safety professional owe to make the product safe under any > circumstances? In my estimation, the line has to be drawn > somewhere. Do we have to protect the user against obvious > sabotage? (What is 'obvious'?) My point was that we, product > safety professionals, also have an obligation to educate the user > in product safety, not just submit product to bureaucratic agencies > for proof of compliance. It is impossible to make anything foolproof, because the Devil keeps making more and more ingenious fools. (Unknown author acknowledged) -- Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only. http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk After swimming across the Hellespont, I felt like a Hero. ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Michael Garretson: [email protected] Dave Heald [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected] Jim Bacher: [email protected] All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: No longer online until our new server is brought online and the old messages are imported into the new server.
