I've seen the sticky thread here, Dangerous Eyepiece Filter?, so I understand all the reasons why Solar Filter EP's are a bad thing when used improperly, and that for safety reasons they should be legislated against in Australia.
But I can't find the legislation. Can anyone steer me towards the relevant Australian federal (or states of NSW and QLD) legislation? Acts and sections, hyperlinks if possible?
No, I haven't got any kind of legal background so I wasn't aware of AustLII. Seems like the place to look, though. I've been limited to the normal search engines like Googs and Yah so far.
This question came about because the sticky thread fired a few neurons regarding my recent search for a new scope. I'd come across one place in NSW apparently selling solar filter EP's as part of two scope packages and another place in QLD apparently selling them as stand alone items. I wanted to know the ins-and-outs of it all before I approached them about it.
This happens occassionly. I dont think the people who are selling these
probably do not know the dangers of this style of filter or even know it is
illegal to sell such things in Australia. So be careful how you approach them.
I am trying to be careful to determine the legality/illegality of them first - I don't want 1,000 angry IIS members harassing them if solar eyepiece filters are in fact *not* illegal in Australia. So far all I've got is a few people in the sticky thread saying that they are, but I can't find any evidence to prove it. I think that they should be, purely from a safety aspect, but thoughts and laws don't always coincide.
Once I've determined that they are illegal, I'll approach the places privately. If still no joy then I'll report them to the relevant Consumer Affairs, name them on IIS and let the angry hordes loose.
Actually I was more wanting to see what it is you are talking about. Noticing
your in your signature "Astronomy noob to the max" and wondered if you
knew what your were actually looking at. However that being said, I'm more
in fear of the original distributor (if this is infact the same) has repackaged
and flogging it another way. If so, then this distributor is in big trouble.
If your not going to tell us who it is at least show the avertising picture
you can rant onto the the seller all you like it will be the distributor that
needs the slapping. That's why I said be careful how you approach them.
THIS has been an issue here before. And I dont remember any member
being apart of angry hordes. It was dealt with by one person
Often you find that Sun filter is listed on the box/adverts or in the instructions but there is none in the box. Newts at Dick Smith are sold like that. I expect they remove the Sun filter not out of informed concern for the consumer but because they are illegal.
I'm not going to be thanking you, snowyskiesau, for bypassing my intent by naming one of the sites.
You have proven, however, how easy it can be to find information on the internet. There are plenty of references around regarding the ban of the "Autotrend sun filter" for cars, for example, including Customs (Prohibited Imports) Amendment Regulations 1999 (No. 8) and the Product Safety Policy Review, but I can't find a mention of solar/sun filters for eyepieces and telescopes except for the apparently-rejected/revoked piece of the NSW Fair Trading Act, 1987 you found via AustLII.
I've been searching for legislation banning solar/sun eyepiece filters for several days now, using regular search engines as well as the more-specialized ones like AustLII and FRLII. If this legislation exists it doesn't want to be found. At the moment I'm believing that it doesn't exist - please, somebody, prove me wrong!
I don't understand the need to keep the dealer's identity secret. If they were actually selling these filters knowing they are dangerous they need to cop some flak. If it's just a misunderstanding, all good and well.
they sure are dangerous tony, but i havent yet found a legal document stating they are illegal and I have been searching. there is an australian standard dealing with lenses and filters but i havent read it yet all the way thru and so couldnt say for sure that it pertains directly to solar filters. this is not to say that nothing exists, i am not an expert.
I certainly wouldnt like to be taken to court for defamation should the seller catch wind of people slamming his/her otherwise good name on a public forum.
without proof one could probably find themseles in this situation and it would be linked to this forum... i am sure we dont want that unless we have our facts absolutely straight hey.
there is of course the chance that they would do nothing at all or even never find the posts relating to them
Nowhere on those ads does it say that the sun filter is eyepiece-end (ie 1.25" or 2") . You could infer it maybe due to the way the ads are worded, but I'd be wary of inferring anything written on one of these boxes.
Eye Safety During Solar Eclipses
B. Ralph Chou, MSc, OD
Associate Professor, School of Optometry, University of Waterloo
Solar filters designed to thread into eyepieces that are often provided with inexpensive telescopes are also unsafe. These glass filters can crack unexpectedly from overheating when the telescope is pointed at the Sun, and retinal damage can occur faster than the observer can move the eye from the eyepiece.
It is never safe to look at a partial or annular eclipse, or the partial phases of a total solar eclipse, without the proper equipment and techniques. Even when 99% of the Sun's surface (the photosphere) is obscured during the partial phases of a solar eclipse, the remaining crescent Sun is still intense enough to cause a retinal burn, even though illumination levels are comparable to twilight [Chou, 1981, 1996; Marsh, 1982]. Failure to use proper observing methods may result in permanent eye damage or severe visual loss. This can have important adverse effects on career choices and earning potential, since it has been shown that most individuals who sustain eclipse-related eye injuries are children and young adults [Penner and McNair, 1966; Chou and Krailo, 1981].
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, "Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices," ACGIH, Cincinnati, 1996, p.100.
