Consumer products: Hazard analysis, standardization and (re)design

Hazard analysis and risk assessment are widely accepted tools in (re)designing products and industrial processes. They may also be used for consumer products; however, some differences exist between designing for occupational use and designing for consumers. In this paper the use of hazard analysis and risk assessment for designing consumer products and for developing product safety standards is discussed. A rationale for hazard-based standardization is presented with special attention to the differences between occupational and consumer safety.