Human Factors Contributions to Consumer Product Safety

Abstract

The mission of the Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction at the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC, Commission) drives the Division of Human Factors to evaluate corrective action plans and propose redesigns of consumer products. Human factors studies and research focus on consumer product-related injuries, including assessing system design hazards for the general United States consumer population, ranging from newborns to seniors. These assessments include: usability, safety features, choking hazards, and evaluation of potential misuse of a product that could lead to injury or death. This paper will provide an overview of human factors work conducted at the CPSC and discuss how this specialized work contributes to reducing risk to the American public.

Keywords: Consumer products, safety, standards, hazard, risk, warnings

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe100149