ABSTRACT
Warnings have two main purposes. First, they are a method for communicating important safety or safety-related information to a target audience who can then make better, more informed decisions regarding safety issues. Second, warnings are ultimately intended to reduce or prevent health problems, workplace accidents, personal injury, and property damage. Warnings can be in the form of signs, labels, product inserts and manuals, tags, audio-and videotapes, face-to-face verbal statements, and so forth. Printed warnings are generally text and graphics. Auditory warnings may be verbal or nonverbal. In this chapter, we will describe factors generally applicable to all types of warnings, although examples are geared mostly toward visual warnings associated with products.
