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Resources for staying informed on paint scare
The quest for ERGONOMICALLY SOUND learning environments
Ergonomics is not the easiest of topics to pick apart, due
largely to its many differing approaches and its broad impact
on work and learning environments. But in its essential form,
ergonomics entails the design of teaching, learning and
working environments that are people-friendly and facilitate
the activities performed within them.
This ‘science of work’ seeks to remove barriers to quality, creativity and productivity and performance. More specifically, ergonomics looks at the relationship between the human physiology and the artefacts around it – from furniture to architectural layout.
We’ve given prominence to a few different viewpoints on ergonomics in this issue of DIDACTICS WORLD, with the intent of informing both buyers and suppliers of the ramifications it may have on the process of environment design and the buying process.
But unfortunately, ergonomics can not be reduced to a simple set of axioms. Though on the surface it seems to offer a manageable set of do’s and don’ts, go a bit deeper and one gets mired in various considerations, best practices, recommendations and opinions on how best to go about ergonomic design.
And though most practitioners will have some idea of what ergonomics might entail, there is a dearth of standards and legislation that might lead to the consistent introduction of ergonomic products in learning environments.
This gives rise to a somewhat thorny issue of responsibility – who should be answerable for the occupational health, safety and comfort of people in a learning environment? Is the onus on suppliers to offer ergonomically sound products, or is it the buyer that should come up with stringent ergonomic checklists during purchase? And in the absence of clear standards,how do buyers and suppliers decide on common principles?
Whether you’re a practitioner, a designer, a purchasing officer or even a concerned parent, we would like to hear your views on this debate. It is it the buyer, or the supplier that holds final responsibility for following ergonomic principles? And how does one decide which principles are the most important? The best replies will be given space in our letters section. Please send all responses to letters@didacticsworld.com
To date, about 9 million Chinese-made toys have been recalled due to potential contamination from lead-based paint or other safety issues. Thanks to the Internet, staying abreast of these recalls is easier than ever.
Here are some of the best sites on the web where educators can turn to find relevant, trustworthy and credible information regarding the massive Chinese toy recall.
- U.K. Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (http://berr.gov.uk/index.html) is the organisation within the U.K. government that regulates consumer safety, including product recalls. Check their site for the latest recall information and consumer alerts.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (http://www.cpsc.gov) is the U.S. agency charged with protecting consumers and families from products that post a fire, electrical or mechanical hazards. The CPSC works closely with manufacturers, including Mattel, to keep the public apprised of potential hazards related to consumer goods.
- Consumer Reports (http://consumerreports.org) is a notfor- profit organisation with a long standing history of providing unbiased and current consumer information. Since Consumer Reports isn’t advertiser supported, it’s free of murky corporate obligations and as a result provides highly reliable information to consumers.
In addition to traditional web media, there are also several Web 2.0 (or social media) outlets where you can turn for information advice, and discussion on product safety.
- Reuters News (http://www.youtube.com/user/reutersvideo) has a channel on YouTube and posting videos related to the toy recall. The CEO of Mattel, the main toy manufacturer caught up in the toy scandal, has also posted his own videos (http://www.mattel.com/safety/us/) to keep consumers aware of the latest developments.
- The Consumer Reports Blog (http://blogs. consumerreports.org/safety/) is where the Consumers Union, the parent organisation of Consumer Reports, keeps the public informed of the latest product recalls. To keep upto- date on the latest recalls, add the Consumer Reports Blog RSS feed to your favorite news aggregator.
- Yahoo! Groups (http://groups.yahoo.com) is the leading community site on the web and has several public groups dedicated to consumer safety issues.
- If it’s podcasts you prefer, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has their own podcast (http://www.cpsc.gov/mp3.html) has a summary of recalls along with other product safety news.You can subscribe to the CPSC podcast in iTunes, My Yahoo! or via RSS feed.
In conclusion, when using the Internet to research toy safety or consumer product information, it’s important to evaluate the credibility of the information contained on the web. Doing so will assure that you have the most accurate information to make well informed decisions on the products you use in your classroom.
Educators should have active role in promoting safety
This is a good time to touch on this topic. When health and safety becomes a worry in consumers’ mind, there is need to take action. Luckily the Middle East region was not very effected by the recall of Chinese toys. But there have been rumors of a few products.
The responsibility for making sure that products are safe lies with the manufacturer.However, as teachers,we should also be aware of the issues, and help make our schools and colleges a safer environment. Teachers can identify any products they might be suspicious of and bring them to the attention of the school authorities.
Final responsibility lies with manufacturers
Health and Safety issues are key points when making buying decisions. I think that buying teams should educate themselves on the recent issues, and make sure that the products they are buying are good. Also, it is the duty of the government and import authorities to keep a check on certain products. If a product is found to be faulty, as a buyer I will hold the manufacturer responsible. It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to replace the products. But no doubt, such a scare could have harmful effects on a school or college’s reputation. Therefore, buyers should brief themselves fully before going into the market.
