Design for Safety

Safety awareness started in the 1960's, when the book "Unsafe at any speed: The designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile" by Ralph Nader was published in 1965. From then onward, a lot of improvement was done. Seat-belts were introduced, airbags, smoke-alarms and many more. The standard safety regulations are set by a committee that specializes on the subject. The standards are in legislations of product design manufacture.

Over the years, seat-belts are said to have saved thousands of lives that might have been lost in collisions. Over time, many countries adapted mandatory seat-belt regulations.


The air-bag has the same concept of a seat-belt; to protect you from a collision. It is a soft pillow to land on. In the US, all car models from the year 1998 have to have air-bags, both on driver's and passenger's side.

All the toys that are for the EU market must all carry the CE conformity mark. This is the declaration from the manufacturer that the toy satisfies all safety regulations. Toys that bear the CE mark get free circulation around the European Economic Area. On the 30th June of 2009, a new toy safety directive was published. This gave customers assurance that the toys that are being sold in the EU have the highest safety regulations all around the world. (Especially those related to the use of chemical substances).

 This pond-cover is raised intentionally, so that a space is created above the pond. This allows for more visibility, allows plants to grow through and lets small creatures pass through. It is safe if kids or pets are running around the pond.

not mentioned. (2004-2014) Available: http://www.creativepondcovers.co.uk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=58. Last accessed 20th january 2014.

European Union. (1995-2014). Ensuring toy safety for consumers.Available: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/safety/index_en.htm. Last accessed 20th january 2014.