Abstract
On-product warning signs and labels face a variety of potential sources of deterioration (e.g., abrasion, ultraviolet light, and exposure to chemicals). Reviews of the available literature have produced few references regarding the effects of this deterioration on the ability of warnings to communicate. The objective of this study was to provide an initial investigation into this void in the literature. Actual warnings used on forest-harvesting equipment were photographed and rated with respect to the intensity of degradation. These real-world labels were then tested for legibility and comprehensibility using a sample of undergraduate students. The results indicate that at moderate levels of label deterioration persons can often correctly comprehend the intended safety messages. With respect to a degradation intensity rating of 3 (on a 5–point scale), the number of participants that correctly identified the conceptual meaning of the warnings (82) considerably exceeded the number that correctly identified the entire set of text messages (53).
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.