Kasutusohutus

Kasutusohutus is an Estonian term literally meaning "safety of use" or "safety in use." It denotes the set of measures, design principles and legal requirements intended to ensure that products, equipment, services and built environments can be used without causing unacceptable risk to people, property or the environment during their normal life-cycle and foreseeable misuse.

The concept covers technical design (hazard elimination, guarding, fail-safe features), human factors and ergonomics, clear instructions and labeling, maintenance and inspection regimes, and emergency procedures. It applies across sectors: consumer goods, machinery, electrical and electronic devices, buildings, transport systems, software and workplace equipment.

Implementation relies on risk assessment, conformity with applicable standards and regulations, testing and certification, and provision of user information. Key principles include anticipating likely misuse, minimizing residual risks, enabling safe maintenance and repair, and considering vulnerable users.

Responsibilities typically rest with manufacturers, importers, distributors, employers and service providers, while end users are expected to follow instructions and report hazards. Enforcement is carried out through market surveillance, compliance audits and liability frameworks that may require corrective action, recalls or compensation. Kasutusohutus intersects with product safety law, occupational safety, consumer protection and standardization, and is a core element of public safety policy and quality assurance.