The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	Tactile hazardous material information system (THMIS)
Author:	Ruiz, Alejandro
View Online:	njit-etd2000-041 (xi, 97 pages ~ 7.6 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Occupational Safety and Health Engineering
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Jeng, One-Jang (Committee chair) Sengupta, Arijit K. (Committee member) Van Houten, Norman J. (Committee member)
Date:	2000-05
Keywords:	Hazardous Material Information System (HMIS) Tactile Hazardous Material Information System (THMIS) Tactile Patterns Labeling Systems
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	In today's work environment, many dangers exist around that can harm workers who are not aware of the hazards in their environment. If these workers happen to be visually impaired, then identifying those hazards with the present labeling systems would be difficult. The Hazardous Material Information System (HMIS) was chosen to be adapted with tactile patterns and numbers. The tactile patterns and numbers would not change the layout and intent of the HMIS, but enhance its effectiveness. Five tactile patterns and five tactile numbers were designed to be recognizable and simple. The patterns and numbers were tested and observed to learn if they could be recognized without being mistaken for another pattern. Twenty subjects volunteered, 14 males and 6 females, to participate in the experiment. The twenty subjects were provided two different sizes of the patterns making a total of 2000 observations. The three most recognizable tactile patterns were chosen out of the five and assigned a color consistent with the HMIS.