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Impact of Standards on the Safety of Products. by Mark Wasmuth, BSI British Standards. The Costs of Accidents and ill-health at Work. In the UK each year: Over 1 million injuries and 2.3 million cases of ill-health are experienced by workers;
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Impact of Standards on the Safety of Products by Mark Wasmuth, BSI British Standards
The Costs of Accidents and ill-health at Work In the UK each year: • Over 1 million injuries and 2.3 million cases of ill-health are experienced by workers; • Around 40 million working days are lost to business; • Over 25 000 individuals are forced to give up work because of injury or ill health. • These cost British employers an estimated £3.3 to £6.5 billion each year • Most organisations do not know what accidents and ill-health really cost them in time and money.
Accidents to Consumers • Every year in the United Kingdom about 5,000 people die as a result of an accident in the home, or during their leisure time; • Over 2 million people are treated in hospitals; • Another 1.5 million consult a general practitioner. • The cost to society of UK home accident injuries was estimated (in 1996) at £25,000 million a year. • Source – UK Home Accident Surveillance System
Product Sectors - 1 • Appliances burning gaseous fuels • Cableway installations designed to carry persons • Construction products • Electromagnetic compatibility • Equipment and protective systems in potentially explosive atmospheres • Explosives for civil uses • Lifts Low voltage equipment • Machinery safety • Measuring instruments • Medical devices: Active implantable
Product Sectors - 2 • Medical devices: General • Medical devices: In vitro diagnostic • New hot-water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fluids (efficiency requirements) • Non-automatic weighing instruments • Packaging and packaging waste Personal protective equipment • Pressure equipment • Radio and telecommunications terminal equipment • Recreational craft Simple pressure vessels • Toys safety
New Regulation – Machinery Safety • Machinery Safety Regulation and 800+ New Standards were introduced to the UK (and EU) during 1989
Enforcement of safety regulations in the UK Inspection by the UK Market Surveillance authorities: • Consumers are protected by the Trading Standards departments of local government • General Workplaces are the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with a regional offices network • Other Agencies enforce regulations for specific areas: • Medical devices, radio, transport, utilities, etc.
Legal Penalties For non-compliance the penalties are severe: • Enforcement authorities are allowed to seize and destroy non-compliant products • Courts can impose unlimited fines and imprisoned for Directors But: • Enforcement authorities encourage manufacturers to be compliant with advice and support from the Quality Infrastructure institutions
UK Quality Infrastructure Institutions • Regulations – UK Government • Standards – BSI • Certification – various accredited bodies • Product Testing – various accredited laboratories • Metrology (Scientific/Industrial) – NPL • Metrology (Legal) – NWML • Accreditation – UKAS