The way I would apply it would be first to apply any specific safety messages that the end product standard states. If you need a safety message that is not defined by the end product standard, than the signal word you choose should follow their definitions and matched up with your risk assessment. For example, you could create a matrix with likelihood of harm across the top of the matrix and severity of injury along the left side of the matrix and then you fill in the matrix with the signal words. After doing all that you would still explain it in your user manual.
I’m not familiar with end product standards allowing modification of the signal words. You may want to share examples of this. Nick From: Greg McClure [mailto:gmccl...@lexmark.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 9:40 AM To: EMC-PSTC@LISTSERV.IEEE.ORG Subject: [PSES] Signal words, definition and usage Looking for input from the group. The definition of the signal words per ISO 3864-2 and ANSI Z535.6 are: DANGER - signal word used to indicate an imminently hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury WARNING - signal word used to indicate a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury CAUTION - signal word used to indicate a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury NOTICE - indicates information considered important, but not hazard-related (e.g. messages related to property damage). The safety alert symbol shall not be used with this signal word. When a signal word is used for messages relating to property damage, NOTICE is the choice of signal word. [This definition is from ANSI Z535.6, NOTICE does not appear in ISO 3864-2] The signal words are to be used to identify safety messages and property damage messages. In another context, some of the signal words have been used to warn of data loss or damage, which I suppose is a form of property damage. Many standards allow the use/definition of the signal words to be modified, provided they are defined in the documentation provided with the product. In many cases we have seen the severity associated with the words Warning and Caution reversed, or even the mention of injury deleted such that Warning is associated with equipment or property damage only and Caution is used to refer to potential injury. Has anyone had an experience with any agency or test house where the use of signal words was challenged, or any case where the definition had to be defended when it was not strictly in line with the standards? Gregory H. McClure Lexmark Product Safety 859 232 3240<tel:859%20232%203240> office 859 232 6882<tel:859%20232%206882> fax - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <emc-p...@ieee.org<mailto:emc-p...@ieee.org>> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe)<http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html> List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <sdoug...@ieee.org<mailto:sdoug...@ieee.org>> Mike Cantwell <mcantw...@ieee.org<mailto:mcantw...@ieee.org>> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher <j.bac...@ieee.org<mailto:j.bac...@ieee.org>> David Heald <dhe...@gmail.com<mailto:dhe...@gmail.com>> - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <emc-p...@ieee.org> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <sdoug...@ieee.org> Mike Cantwell <mcantw...@ieee.org> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <j.bac...@ieee.org> David Heald: <dhe...@gmail.com>
