Test Methods in Safety Standards - Application of Human Factors Data -

Abstract

Safety standards for consumer products can offer an important contribution to accident reduction. This paper describes how effective testing methods for safety requirements, which are part of a safety standard, may be developed.

In order to be effective, testing methods for the evaluation of products on aspects of safety must be valid, reproducible, and efficient. Various forms of testing methods are discussed with regard to their effectiveness.

The development of testing methods for trapping hazards, which can be applied to all kinds of products, is described in a case study. For this purpose, a number of accident scenarios have been drawn from data on trapping hazards. In each scenario a testing method is described, and criteria based on human factors data is added.

Accident scenarios have proved to be an extremely useful link between accident data and the simulation of performance on which a testing method can be based. Because human factors data is usually gathered for other purposes, implementation of this data in safety standards must be done with great caution.

We recommend the use of man-models in testing methods for optimal results. Furthermore, we recommend the verification of test conditions and criteria by user trials or panel tests.

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