- Author
-
McKelvey, R. K.
- Title
- Facility for Experimental Analysis of Environmental and Human Factors Associated With Injury Control.
- Coporate
- Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, DC
- Report
-
DHEW Publication No. (HSM)72-10012; Laboratory Brochure ICRL-RR-71-5
1972
17 p.
- Keywords
-
injuries
|
human factors engineering
- Abstract
- The Injury Control Research Laboratory (ICRL) conducts experimental studies of a person's ability to detect and appreciate hazards in his environment and to protect himself from injury. In these studies, the performance of everyday tasks - such as operating power tools in the home workshop, driving the family car, operating home appliances, or distinguishing between harmful and harmless substances by sight, taste, or smell - is observed in laboratory and life settings that simulate or abstract the problem elements of primary concern. By systematic variation of the pertinent variables, behavioral scientists and engineers identify the factors that cause errors of perception or judgment that lead to accidents and assess the effectiveness of measures intended to control these factors. Thus, methods of anticipating hazardous situations and avoiding injuries are developed and tested by scientific procedures that permit the broad and general application of these methods in programs of injury prevention and control.