Misuse is unique to what you want to do. You use (misuse) the product to accomplish your particular objective which differs from the intended use of the product. You stand on a chair (intended for sitting) to reach something that would otherwise be out of reach. The US TV program MacGyver (~1985-1991) was based on misuse of common things to solve a problem.
"Foreseeable" misuse is an oxymoron. You can't foresee misuse of a product unless you know what the user wants to do (his objective). The product and its misuse was the fun of the MacGyver TV program. More seriously, what is a "foreseeable misuse" of a computer? The term "foreseeable misuse" has been foisted upon us for years, but we don't know what it means or how to protect against it (even though we are required by some safety standards to provide safeguards against "foreseeable misuse"). How do you protect someone who stands on a chair? How do you protect someone who misuses a computer? My neighbor took the guard off his portable saw and was injured. This was clearly misuse. How do you provide protection when the user removes the safeguard? For an eye-opening treatise on misuse, see Don Norman's "Psychology of everyday things" and his other books. Best regards, Rich -----Original Message----- From: Doug Powell [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, October 17, 2014 10:06 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [PSES] Misuse mains cordset In recent years many standards have been adding risk assessment to their requirements. A part of this is all about foreseeable misuse. That said I do not feel it is appropriate for a manufacturer to "police" every action if the end user. You best bet may be to mitigate by saying something along the lines of "not for use for any other purpose..." Thanks, - doug Douglas Powell http://www.linkedin.com/in/dougp01 - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]>
