Socio-economic analysis of U.K. home accidents

Abstract

Drowning is the third commonest cause of accidental death of children in the UK and many children drown in domestic swimming pools. Concern has been raised about the design and safety of the covers used on domestic swimming pools since the majority of drowning and near-drowning incidents occur in pools with covers on. Swimming pool covers are a diverse range of products and fulfil a number of functions. This diversity in their design and the associated hazards necessitated a multidisciplinary approach to their evaluation. A study of the epidemiology of drownings was carried out in order to specify the risks of swimming pool covers, together with a study of the market and a survey of pool owners and their attitudes to safety. The risks of swimming pool covers were then evaluated by engineering, materials and ergonomics testing which included simulation of both the user and the products. This study is an example of the need for a mix of test methods and types of simulations in order to provide an overall statement of the safety of some consumer products. Results showed that the floating, heat retaining covers used on the majority of UK domestic pools possibly add to the intrinsic risks of a swimming pool. Winter debris covers, although appearing to seal the pool and considered by the majority of owners to make pools safer, were shown to allow children relatively easy access under the cover.     

The Global Financial Architecture: Twenty‐First Century Solutions*

Twentieth‐century global financial architectural solutions are outdated and have been found wanting. They are fundamentally structural solutions and continuing to rely on them would be to run the risk of repeating our mistakes. We must look to twenty‐first century solutions. Solutions created post‐1945 need replacing with networked solutions, reflecting what we see in the Internet and its development. These are not fanciful notions but concepts that have already been successfully modelled, albeit in a relatively narrow sphere. What we need is a mechanism by which global financial standards can be implemented in every jurisdiction around the world. This paper proceeds from the premise that the nexus between investor confidence and financial market stability is a crucial one, and one that a regulatory approach can impact. It discusses the international regulatory environment and the role of key players in the emerging global financial architecture, in particular the International Organization of Securities Commissions ( IOSCO ). It also examines the potential that mutual recognition offers for the trans‐Tasman market.