ISE 5610 Ergonomics in the Product Design Process

This book examines whether EU law will ensure sufficient safety for individuals using goods that have been produced using new technologies that are currently under development, such as major advances in mechatronics, nanotechnology, regenerative medicine and contour crafting. Together with an economic analysis of product liability it makes the book valuable for academics, practitioners, policy makers and all those interested in the subject

Product liability is an increasingly complex area that poses significant challenges to corporate risk managers, policy makers, business advisors, and even consumers. In the past decade, national headlines have highlighted the unprecedented number of liability claims and extensive social upheaval from products that pose serious unintended consequences for workers, consumers, and the environment. Given the potential financial losses from a potential product liability, the business stakes are high, especially in the global economy.

This book undertakes a behavioral approach towards the topic of warnings and product liability. Insights from cognitive psychology and ergonomics are essential for a thorough legal analysis of warnings, as they can shed light on people's abilities and limitations with regard to processing warning information, as well as on how the design of products can contribute to preventing accidents.