ABSTRACT
On-product warnings should communicate safety-critical information in an attention-grabbing and clear manner so that users can avoid hazardous situations. Warnings alert people to hazards—things that can cause harm. Hazards include moving gears, a hot surface, the shallow depth of a pool that is unsuitable for diving, a spinning propeller, or an alligator. The chapter addresses the value of on-product warnings—a subset of the many different types of warnings people encounter in society. Common warning label elements include a signal word, an illustration, and a concise description of the hazard, the potential harm, and the means of avoidance. These elements may be placed in many possible formats designed to facilitate readability. A warning might be prohibitive, which means it directs people to avoid doing something. In the case of a product liability lawsuit, a product manufacturer must be able to demonstrate that it applied state-of-the art design practices when developing and validating on-product warnings.
