Connoted Hazard and Perceived Conspicuity of Warning Configurations

Abstract

The effects of various elements comprising warning signs and labels on connoted hazard and perceived conspicuity were examined. The warning elements that were orthogonally manipulated included signal word, color, print/background color reversal, panel size, font size, and letter case. The component manipulations combined to produce 98 different warning configurations. The results confirmed some aspects of published standards in terms of color usage within the signal word panel. For example, in accordance with ANSI guidelines, signal words printed in white on a red background conveyed a higher level of hazard than any other ANSI signal word and background color style. Several significant interactions were found, supporting the notion that warning components need to be evaluated in combination with other components. Implications for the design of warnings are discussed.