Hi John A. and all:
A different process than “risk assessment:” A hungry polar bear is a hazardous energy source. The bear’s energy exceeds John A.’s defensive energy, thus John A. can expect to be injured or worse during a polar bear encounter. The safeguard for John A. is distance. However, if the London Zoo had a polar bear (it doesn’t), the safeguard would be a fence or cage or some other form of polar bear containment. Assuming the containment method is reliable, the probability of John A. injury from a London Zoo polar bear is no more than the distance safeguard. When John A. climbs a ladder, he has potential energy that increases with increasing height on the ladder. If he should fall, the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy imparted to the body when it collides with the ground. The principal safeguard is behavior (skill). A supplemental safeguard could be a harness which would arrest his fall before he hit the ground. I have considered “energy” imparted to the body as the cause of injury. And, I have identified one or more safeguards for prevention of transfer of the energy to the body. As I said, a different approach. Best wishes for the holiday season, 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]>
