Question

what responsibility do manufacturers have in the design and use of harmful products?

Answer 1

Manufacturers of the products carry a great deal of responsibilities and should not merely rely on caveat emptor. Whenever a manufacturer should make sure that he should go by Caveat Vendor. Following are the responsibilities of manufacturers in the design and use of harmful products:

• Minimize the risk: The manufacturer of the harmful products should make sure to minimize the risk of the product, if not eliminating it. He should place the product in such a container that will not openly expose the consumers towards the risk.
• Eliminating the design defect: Products mainly pose risk when the design of the product puts the customers in an awkward situation that may eventually become hazardous.
• Adequate Communication: The risk should be as such that it becomes a recognized risk not the one which manufacturers feel is implied by the nature of the product. Information should be clear about the harmful nature of the product and how to eliminate the risk altogether by providing safety precautions in the package. Information should not be vague but concise and clear.
• Duty of care: A manufacturer has to make sure that he acts as a prudent and reasonable person under every circumstance before the eyes of consumers.
• Establish an identity: A consumer in order to feel secure about the product should know that someone is taking ownership of it. Mere manufacturing of the product and then going anonymous is a punishable offense.

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