The 'safety factor' in test equipment

The safety of their product has become the object of serious attention by instrument manufacturers. Among the reasons for this increased interest: the greater use of instruments by nontechnical and unskilled persons; the possibility of lawsuits for liability resulting from injuries and accidents due to unsafe instruments; increasing sales of instruments to overseas markets (some manufacturers report that more than half of their total sales are to overseas customers) where conformity to an internationally acceptable safety standard is important; and gentle prodding by local governments and the Federal government through the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) for safety certification.