Instructions are one of the basic items that users expect to get when they purchase a product, and yet these important documents are often poorly written, badly translated, and incomplete. Key product features are badly described, and information on features, settings and hazards may be absent. All of this despite the fact that the minimum requirements…
Read MoreDo-It-Yourself Safety Labels, Signs and Tags
One of the great challenges that all product designers face is the sourcing of appropriate product safety labels. There are many sources for off-the-shelf labels including some of the biggest names in marking and labelling, but until now, none have offered a way for product manufacturers to develop standards-compliant hazard warning signs and labels themselves. If…
Read MoreSafety Label Format Solutions for Solving Complex Messaging Challenges
Safety Label Messaging Basics Safety label design follows three principles: Identify the hazard Identify the likely degree of injury that could occur Instruct the reader about ways to avoid injury Designing warnings seems a simple task. However, users may not be English speaking or literate. Depending on the jurisdictions where your product will be marketed, like…
Recent Changes to the Product Safety Label Standard ISO 3864 – 2
The Importance of Best Practice Product Safety Label Standards Product safety labels serve an important role. They protect both users and manufacturers. Manufacturers are concerned with building products and protecting themselves from liability lawsuits. Users are concerned abut buying safe products. Manufacturers are also concerned with meeting the legal requirements for product labelling in the markets…
Machinery Safety Labels: 3 Top Tools for Effective Warnings
Machinery Safety Labels The third level of the Hierarchy of Controls is Information for Use. Safety Labels are a key part of the Information for Use provided by machine builders to users and are often the only information that many users get to see. This makes the design and placement of the safety labels critical to…
Read MoreCSA Z432 Third Edition Open for Public Review!
CSA Z432, Safeguarding of Machinery, is the basic standard for Canada when it comes to most types of machinery. Only Power Presses and Press Brakes, and Industrial Robots are covered separately in their own standards. CSA Z432 provides guidance on important topics, like: Risk Assessment Risk reduction through the Hierarchy of Controls Guard design requirements…
Read MoreTranslation Bafflement
I’ve been noticing a trend with some of my clients that I am having a really hard time understanding – maybe a reader can help me get this… A basic requirement in the EU is that manuals and other information a manufacturer provides to their customer be provided in the official language of the country where the product is being…
Read MoreThe Third Level of the Hierarchy: Information for Use
I’ve written about the Hierarchy of Controls in past posts, but I’ve focused on the ‘engineering’ side of the control equation: Physical changes to machine design to eliminate hazards, and mechanical or electrical control systems that can reduce risk. The first two levels of the Hierarchy, Elimination/Substitution and Engineering Controls, are typically more challenging to…
Read More