ABSTRACT
Consumer's perceived level of hazard associated with usage scenarios of several common consumer products was examined. The research was conducted in conjunction with several forensic cases the lead author investigated. The cases involved residential fires caused by the malfunction of a candle, toaster, and battery charger. In each case the manufacturer-defendant argued the user was misusing the product at the time of the fire. This study sought to determine the perceived level of hazard associate with different uses of the incident products compared to other similar consumer products. Results indicate that although hazard perceptions varied, for the three consumer products of interest, the respondents did not perceive their use as dangerous but, on the contrary, relatively safe compared to similar types of products. Implications for consumer product manufacturers are discussed.
