7th Safety Products Student Design Challenge Under Way
Post-secondary students compete in this annual event, which is sponsored by the Safety and Protective Products Division and the Narrow Fabrics Institute of IFAI. A University of Wisconsin Stout design team placed first in the 2009 contest.
Safety products that could help workers who fall in protective harnesses from experiencing suspension trauma and could better protect seafarers are among the creations that students entered in this year's Safety Products Student Design Challenge. The 2010 Challenge is coming up soon, with a Feb. 26, 2010, deadline for statements of intent to enter.
The contest, open to post-secondary students, is sponsored by the Safety and Protective Products Division and the Narrow Fabrics Institute of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI). A University of Wisconsin Stout design team -- Deanna Badman, Laura Schannach, Amy Alderete, Stephanie Fitzgerald, and Sarah Lafata, working under the direction of Dr. Gindy Neibermyer -- placed first in the 2009 contest for designing an inflatable system that will enhance blood circulation for the lower extremities of a worker who has fallen from a height and is hanging for some time in his fall arrest harness. The inflation occurs automatically, making it useful for unconscious and conscious workers.
The students received cash prizes and an invitation to attend the IFAI Expo in San Diego.
The 2010 Challenge will be the seventh in the series, which encourages students to pursue functional designs for safety. The contest is judged by industry experts and open to post-secondary students worldwide. For design rules and more information, visit www.narrowfabrics.org and www.safetyfabrics.com.