dead man's switch
Release activates mechanism
A dead man's switch is a safety mechanism that activates when the operator becomes incapacitated—releasing a grip, failing to press a button, or otherwise stopping an action that keeps the system in check.
Trains use them to halt if the engineer collapses.
The term extends to any contingency triggered by someone's death or absence: He set up a dead man's switch to release the documents if anything happened to him.
Explosive initiation device
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- grenadeHandheld thrown explosive
- hostageCaptive held as security
- terroristViolent political intimidator
demolition · booby trap · IED · ordnance · blast · mining · controlled demolition · pressure release
Railway pulling machine
- trainRail vehicle or instruct
- engineerTechnical design professional
- operatorOne who works machinery
- throttlePower flow controller
foot pedal · alerter · conductor · cab · braking · track · signal · horn
What initiates action
- leverPivoting bar for lifting
- pedalFoot-operated lever
- buttonDisc through a hole
- gripSecure manual hold
release · actuator · interlock · sensor · circuit · spring-loaded · pressure · tension
Freedom from harm
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- redundancyNeedless duplication
- power cutLoss of electricity
- default stateInitial unchanged condition
inactivity · timeout · deactivation · unmanned · autonomous · override · circuit breaker · cutoff
Converting data into code
- cybersecurityProtection of digital systems
- dead dropSecret exchange location
- WikiLeaksTransparency organization publishing leaks
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
Collective mechanical equipment
- forkliftPowered pallet-hoisting vehicle
- chainsawMotor-driven cutting tool
- lawnmowerMachine that trims grass
- power toolMotorized handheld equipment
heavy equipment · manufacturing · conveyor · crane · OSHA · lockout-tagout · emergency stop
detonator
Explosive initiation device
terrorist · demolition · booby trap · IED · ordnance · blast · mining · controlled demolition · pressure release · tripwire
locomotive
Railway pulling machine
throttle · foot pedal · alerter · conductor · cab · braking · track · signal · horn · diesel
trigger
What initiates action
grip · release · actuator · interlock · sensor · circuit · spring-loaded · pressure · tension · toggle
safety
Freedom from harm
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- redundancyNeedless duplication
- power cutLoss of electricity
default state · inactivity · timeout · deactivation · unmanned · autonomous · override · circuit breaker · cutoff · protection
encryption
Converting data into code
- cybersecurityProtection of digital systems
- dead dropSecret exchange location
- WikiLeaksTransparency organization publishing leaks
whistleblower · contingency · cloud storage · killswitch · posthumous
machinery
Collective mechanical equipment
- forkliftPowered pallet-hoisting vehicle
- chainsawMotor-driven cutting tool
- lawnmowerMachine that trims grass
power tool · heavy equipment · manufacturing · conveyor · crane · OSHA · lockout-tagout · emergency stop
- safeguardssafeguards, safety valve, protections, defenses, emergency stop
- train controlsthrottle, brake, emergency brake, reverser, air brake
- fastenersbolt, screw, nail, nut, clip
dead man's switchfail-safe
Automatic harm prevention mechanism
kill switch · emergency stop · automatic shutoff · circuit breaker · interlock