Transcript Smoking

Material Safety
Noadswood Science, 2012
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Material Safety
 To understand how materials are tested for safety and
whether they are ‘fit for purpose’
Markings
 Look at the three motorbike helmets below – which one
would you buy?!
 Would either of the symbols below, if on the back of one of
the helmets make you reconsider?!
Markings
 What is wrong with this safety helmet?!
 Is it fit for purpose?! It has no CE mark so you can’t be sure if
it will meet the standards a helmet requires…
Structure & Properties
 Materials scientists are concerned with the design,
manufacture and use of all classes of materials including:  Metals
 Ceramics
 Polymers
 Biomaterials
 They are also concerned with energy, environmental, health,
economic and manufacturing issues related to these
materials
 It is their job to research the structures and properties of
materials to obtain information that could be used to make
new products or enhance existing ones…
Product Tested
 Products must be tested by materials scientists for their
quality before they goal on sale – why is this?
 Product testing ensures that they comply with national and
international standards and mandatory regulations that
determine formulation, biological, chemical and physical
properties
 This is all to ensure they are fit for purpose safe to use!
Setting & Testing Standards
 In the UK the British Standards Institute (BSI) and European
Committee for Standardization (CEN) are two organisations
which are responsible for setting and testing product
standards…
 “Standards are created by bringing together all interested
parties… all parties benefit from standardization through
increased product safety and quality”
CE Mark
 Products marketed in the European Community carry a CE
mark
 A CE mark means the product has been tested for quality
and purpose, and that a certain standard has been met
 Without this guarantee buying products such as motorbike
helmets is a major risk
 * In the UK we also have the kite mark recognised and
awarded by the BSI
Markings
 So why shouldn’t you buy this helmet?!
 Is it fit for purpose?! It has no CE mark so you can’t be sure if
it will meet the standards a helmet requires…
Fatal?
 In 2011 moto GP rider Marco Simoncelli died when his
motorbike helmet came off…
 The helmet was CE marked and was of the highest quality…
but Simoncelli wore the helmet loose and undone (against
the testing recommendation) – this cost his life
Products
 What products do we buy in the UK with safety standards attached
to them? Try and list 10…
 Protective clothing – safety helmets, motorcycle helmets, riding
helmets, eye protection etc…
 Fire safety – carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, smoke
alarms etc…
 Building & construction – windows, glass, insulation, ladders, toilet
seats etc…
 Vehicles – car service, windscreens, road markings, lights, garage
services
 Electrical & gas – plugs, sockets, fuses, IT equipment, gas
appliances etc…
 Health – surgeon’s gloves, condoms etc…
 Sports – cricket balls, playground surfaces etc…
Experiment
 Look at the selection of protective clothing – all the items will be
used on a construction site
 Decide what properties make these items ‘fit for purpose’ and then
label them with information:  When should they be used
 What do they protect you from
 What are they unable to protect you from
 What recommendations go along with it (i.e. not suitable at night)
 Are there any items here you would not recommend
to use, and if so why not…
 * Make your recording clear and concise!