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Forensic Human Factors and Ergonomics

Case Studies and Analyses

Edited by Michael S. Wogalter

0 CRC Press Taylor & Fran cis Group

Boca Raton London New York

CRC Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

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Library of Congress Cataloging -in-Publication Data

Names: Wogalter, Michael S., 1955- author . Title: Forensic human facto rs and ergonomics: case studies and ana lyses/ Michae l S. Wogalte r. Description: Boca Raton: Taylor & Franci s, 2018. I Series: Human factors and ergonom ics I Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2018014021 (print) I LCCN 2018014743 (ebook) I ISBN 9780429869167 (Adobe PDF) I ISBN 9780429869150 (ePub) I ISBN 9780429869143 ( Mob ipocket) I ISBN 9781498780728 (hardback) I ISBN 9780429462269 (ebook) Subjecls: LCSH: Forensic engineeri ng--United States. I Human enginerri ng--United States. I Design--Human factors. I Product safety--Law and legislation. I Personal injuri es--Uniled Stales. I Evidence, Expert--Uniled States. I Ergonomics. Classificat ion: LCC KF8968.25 (ebook) I LCC KF8968.25 .W64 2018 (prin L) I DOC 344.7304/2 --dc23 LC record ava ilable at https://lccn. loc.gov/2018014021

Visit the Taylor & Francis We b site at h ttp: //ww w.taylorandfrancis.com

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In loving memory of my mom, Laura, and in honor of my dad, Ralph.

Also a grateful acknowledgement to Kenneth R. Laughery, Sr.,

my distinguished mentor and friend .

Contents

Human Factors and Ergonomi cs Book Series Foreword ......................................................... .ix Foreword ......................................................................................................................................... xi Pre face ........................................................................................................................................... xiii Edito r ............................................................................................................................................ xvii Contribu tors ................................................................................................................................. xix

Section I Introductory Chapters

1. Introduction ................................................ .................................... ......................................... 3 M ichael S. Wogalter

2. Hazard Analysis and Hazard-Control Hierarchy ....................................................... ... 17 Mi chael S. Wogalter

3. Communication-Human Information Processing (C-HIP) Model.. ........................... 33 Michael S. Wogalter

Section II Case Study Chapters

4. Alternati ve Infant Sleep Products: Parent Lifesav ers or Infant Death Traps ......... . 53 Shelley Waters Deppa and Elaine D. A llen

5. A Hazard Hanging at the Window .................................... ............................................... 69 Carol Pollack-Nelson

6. Case of the Baby Sitter with No Restraint... ................................................................. ... 91 Christophe r B. M ayhorn and Michae l S. Wogalter

7. N ot a Step! .......................................................................................... .................... .............. 105 Michael J. Kalsher and Michael S. Wogalter

8. Colorfu l Rounded -Tip Scissors: Too Sharp for Children .......................................... 123 Al ison G. Vredenburgh, Ilene B. Zack owi tz, and A lexandra N. Vredenburgh

9. Following the Lead : Duped by Pipe Dope ........................ ............................................ 135 Mi chael S. Wogalter and Michae l J. Kalsher

10. This Game Had a Bad Ending .................................................................................. ........ 149 James M. Miller and Bradley T Cook

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Contents

11. A Close Brus h , 'l'ith De ath ........ .................. ...... ...................................... ........ .................. 163 Mich ael 5. Vi'ogalter

12. The Medium is the Message: Warning Presentation Matters ................................... 179 David R. Lenorovitz

13. Heavier Than Air ................................................................................................................ 197 Michael S. Wogalter, Kenne th R. Laughery, Sr., and Christopher B. Mayhorn

14. Over-Reaching Consequences ......................................................................................... 215 M ichael S. Wogalter and Tatyana Kildisheva

15. A Step in the Right Direction .................... ................ ...................................................... 231 H. Haroey Cohen and Cindy A. LaRu e

16. Don't Walk: Hazardou s to Cross Mid-Block. .............. .............. ........ .............. .............. 243 Ilene B. Zackowit z, Alison G. Vredenburgh, and A lexandra N. Vredenburgh

17. Beginning with a Ma lfunctioning Fuel Gauge and Ending with a Pedestrian Casualty ........................................................................................................ ... 257 Rudolf G. Mortimer

18. A Truck Driver's Dilemma ............................................................................................... 271 Joseph Cohen and H. Harvey Cohen

19. ROPS, Seatbelts, and the Unexpected Rollover ........................................................... 283 David R. Lenorovitz, Edward W. Karnes, and Micha el S. Wogalter

20. Do Not Recline Th at Seat. ....... ...................................................... ...... ............ .................. 303 Kenneth R . Laughery, Sr. and Michael S. Wogalter

21. Working Out of View .................... .................................................................................... 315 William J. Vigilante, Jr.

Se ction III Concluding Chapter

22 . Ge neral Final Comments ......................... ................... .......... ................... ......................... 339 Michael S. Wogalter

Author Index ..................... ............ ............... .............................. ............. .................................... 353

Subject Ind ex ................................................................... .................................. ......................... 359

H.t1ni Book

Contents

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Human Factors and Ergonomics Book Series Foreword

This boo k is an import ant part of a growing Human Factors and Ergonomics book ser ies by Taylor & Francis Group/CRC Press. Forensic Human Factors and Ergonomi cs: Case Stud ies and Analyses illustrates how injury cases can be viewed and analyzed using a human factors and ergonom ics viewpoint. Usefu l lessons can be learned that are generalizab le to other kind s of products, equipment, systems, environments, and tasks that wi ll surel y help to avoid or reduce injuries. This book is destined to become a classi c worldwide and will be read for man y yea rs to come.

Waldemar Karwowski Series Editor

ix

Foreword

Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) concerns the interface between people and products they use, environments in which they function, and jobs/tasks they do. It is a discipline that discovers and applies information and knowledge about human behavior , including using information about people 's characteristics, abilities, and limitation s, so that their activities usi ng products in disparate environments are productive and safe.

The pa st several decades have seen a substan tial increa se in HFE specialists serving as exper t witnesses in product liability and personal injury litigation. The role of the forensic HFE expert witness in such litigation is to analyze the facts and issues in the case from an HFE perspective and to formulate opinions based on the results of the analyses. The exper t may be called upon to provide hi s/her opinions verba lly, by written reports, and/ or by deposition. Should the case go to trial, the role of the expert is to educate the jury regarding the HFE issues.

A main purpose of this book is to show how the HFE professional can offer useful ana lyses of injury cases. Accordingly, a number of cases in which a product or environment was involved in severe injury, death, or property damage are described. Each case includes an HFE analysis of such an event, a discussion of better alternatives, and lessons learned. Peop le's in teraction wit h products, tasks and environments are comp lex, and not all int eractions are "obvious" or generally known by the public. An HFE professional can offer in sigh t on potential causes of injury events based on princ iples and researc h of which laypersons, including members of a jury, may be unaware without having formal trainin g and expe rience in the discipline.

Of the 22 chapters in this book, 18 are case studies. The vas t majority of th e author s are HFE specialists who have con sidera ble experience (and credentials) in the HFE discipline and who have served in the role of an expert wit ness in var iou s product or premi ses liability cases.

A broad spectrum of HFE issues are presented using a range of products, concep ts, tasks, and environmen ts. The book focuses on how injury scenar ios can be analyzed from an HFE perspective . In general, th e book does not focus or describe particulars of the exper ts' role in litigation processes; there are many other books that address those matters. The attempt is to show that the HFE profession can offer insights that might be useful in litigation and also most importantly provide solutions to enha nc e future safety.

Chap ters 1, 2, and 3, aut ho red by the editor, Michael Wogalter, are intended to provide the reader with some background and perspective before reading the case studies in Chapters 4 through 21. Ch apter 1 introduces the book and previews its purpose and content. Chapter 2 reviews the topics of hazard analyses and the basic h azard contro l hierarch y, which provide methodologies central to the analysis of many of the case studie s. Chapter 3 describes the Communication-Human Information Processing (C-HIP) Model, a relevant theoretical model for analyz in g warni n g effectiveness. The final chapter (Chapter 22), also by the editor, describes several main topical points th at cut through several of the chap ters and gives some final thoughts.

Because this book focuses on HFE ana lysis, its main utility is to provide guidance in fulfilling an important part HFE expert's role in litigation. It centers on analyzing descriptive injury scenar ios u sing principles and methodologies of th e HFE discipline. It is thu s not

xi

Foreword

intended to be a compe ndium of tasks th at an expert witn ess mig ht do in the cour se of being retaine d in cases.

Forensic H uman Factors and Ergonomi cs: Case Studi es and Analy ses can be used as a supp lementar y readin g text in a general HFE or a forensic safe ty course. It could be pri mary text concernin g foren sic safe ty or a spe cialized safe ty p sychology course. The book w ill be usefu l as referen ce for attorneys, engineers , design ers, and arc h itec ts.

Kenneth R. Laughe ry, Sr. Professor Emeritus, Rice Univer sity

January 2018