Abstract
Warnings with pictorial symbols are often used because symbols tend to be attention getting. If a text message included in a warning detains readers in a hazardous location, this text message may keep readers in harm's way. Therefore, warnings comprised only of pictorials may be the best solution in some situations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a pictorial as the sole source of warning information. Eighty-five participants were asked about their comprehension of a warning symbol, both without and with contextual information. Results indicated that 96% of participants over 16 years old were able to comprehend the warning, which exceeds the ANSI standard of an 85% symbol comprehension rate.
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