Comprehension of hazard communication: Effects of pictograms on safety data sheets and labels

Boelhouwer, Eric J.; Davis, Jerry; Franco‐Watkins, Ana M.; Dorris, Nathan T.; Lungu, Claudiu T.

doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2013.06.001

Cited by 42 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…A dificuldade em interpretar corretamente os pictogramas de perigo já foi relatada em pesquisas anteriores com estudantes 10,11,13 e com trabalhadores e consumidores em geral. [22][23][24] A frequência relativa de respostas corretas para os pictogramas que representam perigos físicos (inflamável: P1; corrosivo: P5; oxidante: P6 -Tabela 2) foi maior do que para os pictogramas que representam perigos à saúde (tóxico agudo severo: P2; tóxico agudo prejudicial: P4; tóxico crônico: P7 -Tabela 2), como mostra a Figura 2.…”

Section: Resultsunclassified

“…Além disso, um mesmo pictograma do GHS abrange diferentes tipos de danos à saúde, o que pode contribuir para a dificuldade de interpretação desses pictogramas. Boelhouwer et al, 23 em estudo que avaliou a importância da inclusão dos pictogramas do GHS nos rótulos e fichas de segurança para a compreensão dos perigos de produtos químicos, sugerem que o baixo índice de reconhecimento do pictograma que representa os perigos crônicos à saúde do GHS (P7, Tabela 2) pode estar relacionado à polissemia do símbolo empregado para identificar diversos danos: sensibilizante respiratório, mutagênico, carcinogênico, tóxico ao sistema reprodutivo, tóxico à órgãos específicos e perigosos por aspiração. 23 O anexo 6 do GHS fornece orientações para a aplicação de testes de compreensibilidade dos elementos de comunicação de perigos que utiliza, dentre eles os pictogramas de perigo.…”

Section: Resultsunclassified

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Pictogramas do GHS e sua aplicação como ferramenta de comunicação de perigos para estudantes de graduação

Uema

Ribeiro

2017

Quim. Nova

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GHS PICTOGRAMS AS HAZARD COMMUNICATION TOOL FOR UNDEGRADUATE STUDENTS.Regularly, teaching laboratories use chemicals hazardous to health. Students must be aware of such hazards, to safely perform didactic experiments. The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is a hazard communication tool designed to harmonize the classification with a standardized labeling system worldwide. This work aimed at investigating whether undergraduate students correctly identify the hazards associated with a series of chemicals handled during practical laboratory classes. A questionnaire was administered to the students using the hazard classification established by the GHS as reference. They had to match each chemical with one or more pictograms and hazard classes. Statistical tests were performed to correlate the association between right answers and background items, such as having contact with chemicals during earlier classes, having contact with chemical labels at work or having received training courses in hazard communication. The overall assessment showed that students do not recognize GHS pictograms, especially those representing health hazards and thus, they were not aware of the hazards they were exposed to. Many are the reasons for that. At last, strategies to embed health and safety practices into formal education are needed to strengthen the prevention culture in such a learning environment.Keywords: hazard communication; GHS, pictograms; undergraduate students. INTRODUÇÃOAs ferramentas de comunicação exercem papel de fundamental importância no processo de reconhecimento e identificação de perigos decorrentes da exposição aos agentes químicos, uma vez que são geralmente a fonte mais direta de informação. 1-3 Nesse contexto, entende-se por ferramenta de comunicação um conjunto padronizado de símbolos, palavras e frases capazes de fornecer de maneira simples, clara e objetiva as informações relativas aos perigos dos produtos químicos.O Sistema Globalmente Harmonizado de Classificação e Rotulagem de Produtos Químicos (GHS) é uma abordagem que traz orientações para a comunicação de perigos dos produtos químicos, entre outras. 4 Em linhas gerais, o GHS conceitua os perigos físicos, à saúde e ao meio ambiente, e estabelece critérios uniformes para a classificação e a comunicação da informação sobre os mesmos por meio de palavras de advertência, frases de perigo, frases de precaução e pictogramas padronizados, a serem utilizados mundialmente nos rótulos e nas fichas de informação de segurança de produtos químicos (FISPQs).As palavras de sinalização indicam o grau de severidade do perigo e alertam o usuário sobre os danos potenciais provenientes da exposição ao produto químico. A palavra perigo (em inglês, danger) indica maiores níveis de severidade e a palavra cuidado/atenção (em inglês, warning), níveis menores de severidade.As frases de perigo descrevem a natureza do perigo como, por exemplo, "líquido e vapor altamente inflamável". São representadas por um código iniciado pela letra "H...

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Section: Resultsunclassified

Pictogramas do GHS e sua aplicação como ferramenta de comunicação de perigos para estudantes de graduação

Uema

Ribeiro

2017

Quim. Nova

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“…Previous studies conducted in different settings have shown that the comprehension of hazard information for chemicals is low among both consumers and workers in High Income Countries (HIC) and LMIC [ 6 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ] as most of the participants did not correctly comprehend the majority of the hazard information. In a study of 83 chemistry and biology undergraduate students at Jimma University in Ethiopia, the majority (56.8%) did not understand the hazard warning signs of laboratory chemicals [ 11 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been suggested that pictures are noticed and recalled more easily than words [ 8 , 13 , 18 , 22 ]. Pictures are described by Laughery (2006) as design factors that influence the effectiveness of hazard communication tools and will be further discussed in the section on workers but there are a couple of studies that was conducted on consumers [ 1 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the Literature on Determinants of Chemical Hazard Information Recall among Workers and Consumers

Sathar

Dalvie

Rother

2016

IJERPH

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In many low and middle income countries (LMIC), workers’ and consumers’ only access to risk and hazard information in relation to the chemicals they use or work with is on the chemical label and safety data sheet. Recall of chemical hazard information is vital in order for label warnings and precautionary information to promote effective safety behaviors. A literature review, therefore, was conducted on determinants of chemical hazard information recall among workers and consumers globally. Since comprehension and recall are closely linked, the determinants of both were reviewed. Literature was reviewed from both online and print peer reviewed journals for all study designs and countries. This review indicated that the level of education, previous training and the inclusion of pictograms on the hazard communication material are all factors that contribute to the recall of hazard information. The influence of gender and age on recall is incongruent and remains to be explored. More research is required on the demographic predictors of the recall of hazard information, the effect of design and non-design factors on recall, the effect of training on the recall among low literate populations and the examining of different regions or contexts.

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“…Mechanisms need to explain what the risk information on the label means, why safety behaviours are required and what these safety behaviours are. Boelhouwer and colleagues [80] illustrated in two US surveys that hazard and precautionary labels may improve risk communications. However, it is interesting to note that the OECD guidance document on risk communication for chemical risk management [51] does not mention labelling of products as a risk communication method.…”

Section: Labelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Read this and be safe!’ Comparison of regulatory processes for communicating risks of personal care products to European and South African consumers

Klaschka

Rother

2013

Environ Sci Eur

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Background: Most personal care products (PCPs) contain hazardous ingredients, but current legislation in the European Union (EU) and South Africa (SA) does not require these to be labelled as hazardous products. Instead, ingredients must only be listed on containers to inform consumers of potential hazards. We assessed whether current legal strategies provide the means for effective risk communication (RC) mechanisms for PCPs in order to protect consumers' health and the environment. Results and conclusions: RC strategies used in developed countries are not necessarily better compared to developing countries despite the existence of extensive legislation in the former. Socio-cultural factors, scientific literacy and language differences are key reasons why the current ingredient lists on PCP labels are not an effective RC strategy. The assumption is that consumers will interpret the risks of these ingredients by conducting a risk assessment for their personal context. Realistically, the following risk mitigation measures should be implemented in developed and developing countries to reduce the public's potential exposures to hazardous substances: substitute hazardous ingredients with less hazardous; provide accessible mechanisms for consumers to comprehend RC measures; delete the exception clause in the EU Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP); apply clear mandatory labels where PCPs health risks are clearly illustrated; and increase enforcement of legislation. The high incidence of fragrance allergies caused by PCPs is one example illustrating how current legal measures in the EU and SA fail to protect consumers and the environment from hazardous exposures. Therefore, efforts must be made to improve legally required RC measures.

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Comprehension of hazard communication: Effects of pictograms on safety data sheets and labels

Cited by 42 publications

References 13 publications

Pictogramas do GHS e sua aplicação como ferramenta de comunicação de perigos para estudantes de graduação

Pictogramas do GHS e sua aplicação como ferramenta de comunicação de perigos para estudantes de graduação

Review of the Literature on Determinants of Chemical Hazard Information Recall among Workers and Consumers

‘Read this and be safe!’ Comparison of regulatory processes for communicating risks of personal care products to European and South African consumers

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