2021 Annual Virtual Meeting and Training Symposium

As product safety professionals we sometimes make assumptions about the efficacy and appropriateness of consumer product safety warnings and safety information. While there are long-established principles applicable to warnings, generally, and specific legal requirements for warnings on certain product categories, emerging technologies leading to the development of novel cutting-edge products can raise questions as to the appropriate means to communicate safety information and instructions for use, and whether consumers will be able to understand how to safely use these new products and minimize injury risk. This presentation will explore prior research and methods to scientifically and objectively study and evaluate consumer attention to and comprehension of specific product warnings and safety information. The presentation will include interactive participation with the audience, allowing them to "vote" on, react to and interpret myriad product warnings and safety information, and to compare their own impressions with the findings of systematic and published research.