Oxinium implants are composed of a zirconium alloy with a hard ceramic surface formed by oxidization of the outer layer. This material has been shown to be an effective bearing surface for total joint arthroplasty and an alternative material for use in patients with metal hypersensitivity. Reports exist of metallosis due to unintended wear of Oxinium components from multiple mechanisms including polyethylene liner dissociation and joint instability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis special issue of Applied Ergonomics concerns the topic of warnings, safety communications designed to decrease harm to people and property. The field has evolved over time, and with it there has been advancement in knowledge and application. The current special issue contains 14 articles that reflect three distinguishable areas within the warnings literature where such changes are taking place in the laboratories and workplaces of our international colleagues: (1) multimodality of warning delivery, (2) emerging application areas, and (3) new methodology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA scenario of an automotive accident caused by tire failure is given followed by a human factors analysis of the information available to consumers on tire aging. Consumers have not been told that the age of the tire is a safety concern. It is not easy to decode the date of manufacture on tires.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: We describe a major factor in research in warnings - namely, forensics.
Background: During the past three decades, much of the empirical warnings research has been published in human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) literature. A major impetus to that research has been concurrent activity by HF/E professionals participating as expert witnesses in product liability and personal injury cases in which there is a claim of failure to adequately warn about associated hazards.