IMO the CD-ROM/Cup holder is abuse whereas metal fork is a foreseeable misuse (less people uses plastic fork in a hot toaster).
In my opinion: 1. Using a CD tray to hold a cup is misuse, because CD tray is used is to hold a CD. 2. Bread stuck in a toaster is an abnormal condition; it is not a fault condition because there is no fault in the toaster as the toaster resumes normal operation after removal of the stuck bread. 3. Using a fork (metal or plastic) to remove stuck bread in a toaster is misuse of the fork, because a fork is used to convey food to the mouth. 4. Standing on a chair is misuse of the chair, because a chair is used for sitting. Misuse is using the product for some purpose other than the intended use of the product. Abuse is subjecting the product (in normal use) to stresses beyond its specs. The safety professional cannot foresee misuse unless he knows a) what the other person wants to do and b) how the product can be used (misused) to help accomplish the goal. If one needs a handy place to set a cup, and the CD tray is handy and will hold the cup, then misuse is possible. What makes the story fun, none of us would have chosen the CD tray as the place to put a cup. Predicting what another person wants to do in a given situation - foreseeing -- is difficult or impossible. Best regards, Rich - ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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]>
