User safety
- Products are designed to minimize potential risks to children and the elderly.
- Products are designed to minimize the consequences of misuse by children and the elderly.
Key indicators
- User safety audit of product components.
- Compliance with applicable national and/or international safety standards.
Notes and exceptions
- Minimize small parts that pose a choking risk to children.
- Restrict access to potentially toxic substances (such as disinfectants) by children.
- Clearly differentiate safe water outlet from untreated water outlet.
- Consider self-closing taps that cannot be left open.
Supporting evidence
- Gipson K. Instability and Tip Over of Appliances, Furniture and Televisions: Estimated Injuries and Reported Fatalities. Bethesda, MD: US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Directorate for Epidemiology, Division of Hazard Analysis; 2008. Available at: http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia08/os/tipover.pdf (479 KD PDF).
- PATH. Extended User Testing of Household Water Treatment and Storage Products in Andhra Pradesh, India: Final Study Report. Seattle, WA: PATH: 2010. Available at: http://www.path.org/publications/detail.php?i=1841. Accessed April 4, 2011.
- Full list of supporting evidence and additional materials.
Children are eager users of HWTS devices. Photo: PATH.