A warning label is a piece of material that is attached to a particular item, warning the user of the potential risks associated with use.
As an example, products that pose health risks such as pharmaceutical drugs and cigarettes, are required to have warning labels on the products.
Machinery and other equipment that are potentially dangerous have to be accompanied by warning labels as well.
Custom warning labels can come in all shapes and sizes, but an effective warning label should always be seen, read, and understood by the user so that he or she can proceed safely and avoid being harmed by the use of the product or equipment.
Warning labels on products can be overlooked if the message and design are not clear.
To prevent hazards at home or in the workplace, follow these guidelines in creating warning labels;
Be Specific
Bear in mind the location and product for label use. If you’re designing or printing labels for a coffee shop, the message should convey the possible risks of holding a cup of coffee with bare hands.
If you’re on a construction site, you could use safety warning labels. Tell what people should expect and avoid the use of vague language.
Highlight Signal Words
Not all dangers are the same. While some could be catastrophic, others can be considered minor hazards.
The appropriate language that informs should be used to alert the user of the risks involved. For potentially fatal consequences of a particular action, “Danger” should be used as the warning label.
Ascertain that keywords are in bold and large letters. Safety warning labels make use of words that act as headlines of your message and alert people on the severity of the hazard.
Under the signal words, give information on the possible dangers and how to mitigate them.
A “Danger” label should be implemented to warn of the risks of diving into a shallow pool, for example.
For life-threatening consequences that are not immediate, such as smoking, a warning label should read “Warning.” Otherwise, for dangers that can be considered as not life-threatening, the warning label should read “Caution.”
Print on Durable Materials
Different warning labels can be printed on white vinyl or on white sticker paper. The former is not waterproof and is ideal for indoor use.
These materials come with a matte, gloss, and high-gloss finish. White vinyl is UV-resistant and waterproof and is the ideal material to put into use if you require something for both outdoor and indoor use.
A typical label has numerous layers. All these must be compatible with one another and be mindful of the environment and exposure which can be as a result of wash-down procedures and abrasion.
Common drawbacks associated with labels include;, degrading overlaminates, fading inks, and incorrect adhesives use.
With electrical hazard labels, heat is often a concern as are corrosive chemicals – two of the main culprits behind the destruction of a label’s materials and adhesive.
To achieve your durability objectives, an understanding of environmental and surface conditions, as well as the latest high-quality material options available, is needed.
It is crucial to hire a reliable printing service for your warning labels, for more information on finding a trustworthy provider, consider consulting industry experts or conducting thorough research online.
Use Images
Pictures can convey your message at a distance. Pictograms or graphic symbols alert people right away of possible dangers even if they haven’t read the text on the warning label.
These images are usually framed inside a red border and placed against a white background. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has various pictograms for different hazards.
Take for example tobacco warnings. Cigarette packages in most countries include a health warning label that describes the risks of using the product, but the position, size and design of the warnings may vary.
In the US, health warnings with pictures have been contested through the courts by the tobacco industry.
In a new study published recently in Tobacco Control, Penn researchers found that different health warning labels that included images or Pictorial Warning Labels (PWLs) were more effective in gaining and holding the attention of smokers when the image and the text convey similar risks.
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