Effectiveness of glue odour as a warning signal

This study evaluated glue warnings provided to undergraduates. Experiment I tested four warning conditions: (1) no warning, (2) a strong odour (naphthalene and camphor added to the glue), (3) warning text, and (4) warning text and odour. Subjects performed three different tasks: (1) to glue plastic objects representing departments in a factory onto a floor layout plan, (2) to write instructions on how to perform this task, and (3) to rate the glue on its safety, among other factors. Only 1 of the 38 subjects complied with the warning by attempting to ventilate the work area. However, the glue was rated as less safe when it contained an odour and the odour was noticed by 85% of the subjects. In experiment 2, the warning text and odour plus warning text conditions were further evaluated in an experiment modified to increase both subject authority and the odour level. Although rated propensity to comply increased, none of the 23 subjects actually complied.

[1]  M. Wogalter,et al.  Behavioural compliance to voice and print warnings , 1991 .

[2]  Michael J. Kahn.  Human Awakening and Subsequent Identification of Fire-Related Cues , 1983 .

[3]  P. Slovic.  Perception of risk. , 1987, Science.

[4]  Mark R. Lehto,et al.  Models of the warning process: important implications towards effectiveness , 1993 .

[5]  W S Cain,et al.  Smell of danger: an analysis of LP-gas odorization. , 1985, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[6]  Michael S. Wogalter,et al.  Warning Compliance: Behavioral Effects of Cost and Consensus , 1988 .

[7]  H. Ismaila,et al.  Odorization of Inert Gas for Occupational Safety: Psychophysical Considerations , 1987 .

[8]  Jens Rasmussen,et al.  Skills, rules, and knowledge; signals, signs, and symbols, and other distinctions in human performance models , 1983, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics.

[9]  J. Paul Frantz.  Effect of Location and Procedural Explicitness on User Processing of and Compliance with Product Warnings , 1994 .

[10]  Keyla Friedmann,et al.  The effect of adding symbols to written warning labels on user behavior and recall , 1988 .

[11]  Thomas A. Dingus,et al.  Warning variables affecting personal protective equipment use , 1993 .

[12]  Timothy P. Rhoades,et al.  A Task-Analytic Approach to the Temporal and Spatial Placement of Product Warnings , 1993 .

[13]  Michael S. Wogalter,et al.  Effects of Cost and Social Influence on Warning Compliance , 1989 .

[14]  T. Engen.  Odor sensation and memory , 1991 .