Warnings and Hazard Communications

Caution! Warnings as a Useless Countermeasure to Reduce Overconfidence? An Experimental Evaluation in Light of Enhanced and Dynamic Warning Designs

“…This leads to a rejection of Hypothesis 2 (EW better than UW) and the assessment that the statement "[u]nfortunately, even if a warning label or sign has all these elements, it still might not be heeded" (Rogers et al, 2000, p. 103) holds true in the EW condition. It is important to note that, contrary to recommendations by one group of researchers in human factors and ergonomics (Wogalter et al, 1987;Wogalter, 2006;Wogalter et al, 2012), this result supports the deviating view that actual behavior is relatively unaffected by changes in the warning format (Shaver et al, 2006;Young et al, 2002). Neither weak nor enhanced static warnings seem strong enough to affect the individual information processing or mapping of confidence to the response scale and thus overconfidence levels.…”

“…These core elements are often (but not limited to): signal word (e.g. "warning" or "caution"), information about the hazard, consequences of the hazard, and instructions on how to avoid the hazard (Wogalter, 2006;Wogalter et al, 1987;Wogalter, Laughery, & Mayhorn, 2012). The consideration of these four elements addresses some of the relevant warning variables of the warning process model such as signal word, color, layout, explicitness, and statement of hazard.…”

Effort in Human Factors Performance and Decision Making

“…The effort costs of the lower limb (a "sure thing" to prevent the accident) are typically referred to as the "cost of compliance." This cost may be a physical effort, such as locating or donning a safety device; a cognitive effort, such as reading through poorly written (but essential) safety and warning instructions (Wogalter, 2012); or even a "hedonic effort" of tolerating the discomfort of some safety constraints (poorly fitting safety glasses).…”

Behavioral Compliance to In-Manual and On-Product Warnings

“…In addition, the presence of the ANSI onproduct warning resulted in the highest levels of compliance within the shorter manual exposure condition. These additive effects support the importance of on-product warnings as a primary method for exposing users to safety-related information and the suggestion that on-product warnings can be useful even for known hazards (Wogalter & Laughery, 2006).…”

“…Warnings have several established purposes (e.g., Wogalter & Laughery, 2006). First, warnings are a means for conveying important safety-related information to users, allowing them to make well-informed decisions regarding product usage.…”