Cognitive Aspects of Hazard Warning Labels

Trends in Federally Mandated Warning Labels for Consumer Products

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193120104501105 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 45 (11) ◽

pp. 838-842 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Frederick J. Diedrich ◽

Christine T. Wood ◽

Thomas J. Ayres

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Safety Information ◽

The United States ◽

Consumer Products ◽

Early Years ◽

Warning Labels ◽

Labeling Requirements ◽

Hazard Warning

Consumer products currently sold in the United States often come with extensive safety information, but the presentation of large amounts of such material was not always the case. We reviewed federally mandated hazard labeling as it evolved during the 20th century by documenting changes in labeling requirements for home-use products prescribed by federal statutes. Our review indicated that during the course of the 20th century, there was a dramatic change in the presence, prevalence and specificity of hazard warning requirements. In the early years, Congress concentrated on truth in labeling of contents and quality. This labeling identified hazardous agents in some products. However, as the century progressed, Congress gradually added requirements that could include descriptions of the mechanisms, consequences, and means for avoidance of such hazards. Moreover, the 1960's and especially the 1970's brought a dramatic expansion in the number and types of products required to bear hazard labels.

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The Effects of Product, Signal Word, and Color on Warning Labels: Differences in Perceived Hazard

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193120204600611 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 46 (6) ◽

pp. 735-739

Author(s):

N. Clayton Silver ◽

Kelly L. Drake ◽

Zahra B. Niaghi ◽

Aubrey C. Brim ◽

Otto Pedraza

Keyword(s):

Significant Interaction ◽

Consumer Products ◽

Product Type ◽

Warning Labels ◽

Dark Background ◽

Muriatic Acid ◽

Hazard Level ◽

Hazard Warning

Signal words, such as DANGER, WARNING, and CAUTION are often used on consumer products to connote various levels of hazard. Each of these signal words is usually printed in a color (e.g., white on a dark background) in order to potentially increase saliency or aesthetics. Hence, there is a potentially significant interaction of signal word, color, and product type on perceived hazard. Warning labels for muriatic acid, Xtra-Clean All Purpose Cleaner, and Crayola Crayons were factorially combined with signal word (DEADLY, DANGER, WARNING, CAUTION, and NOTE) and color of signal word (orange, blue, red, black) for a total of 60 conditions. A sample of 124 undergraduates rated each product warning on understandability, likelihood of compliance, carefulness, and attention-gettingness. Results indicated that muriatic acid had significantly higher hazard ratings than either the cleaner or crayons. Black connoted the highest level of hazard followed by blue, red, and orange. Furthermore, the order of perceived hazard from highest to lowest for signal word was DEADLY, DANGER, WARNING, CAUTION, and NOTE. Moreover, there appears to be an averaging effect in which muriatic acid with the signal word NOTE printed in orange produced the same connoted hazard level as the package of crayons with the signal word CAUTION printed in red. Implications for warning design are discussed.

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