Sean, > Serious question even though this involves a non-electrical product: at > what point do warning labels undermine themselves?
This is a good question. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to answer. One of the biggest problems is that response to warning labels varies greatly depending on the viewer's age, education and cultural background. > It didn't seem to be any more carbonated than the Cokes I usually buy. I > can see the point of such labels on Champaign with the corks that often > become projectiles. But the physics of a screw-off soda bottle cap just > doesn't seem to have the same ballistic potential. (I know, I know, the > GC made them do it. But still.) Contrary to what you might think, these caps do have "ballistic potential". To read an opinion on one of these suits, follow the link below. Caution! The information at the end of this link may cause drowsiness. Do not design equipment while reading. http://www.trinity.edu/departments/business_admin/lone2.htm Roughly, the points of interest: In 1976 a witness for ALCOA testified that from 1967 to 1975, thirty four personal injury law suits were filed against ALCOA (cap blow off). One of the main points of contention during the subsequent trial (and appeals) was to determine if ALCOA had done its duty to inform the final user of the possible hazard of cap blowoff. Since ALCOA was not the actual manufacturer (manufacturing was performed based on their patented design) - could they really make sure that the final user was informed? No. But what must they do convince a jury that they tried to make sure the user was informed? One of the judges felt that if ALCOA had made a contract with the manufacturer/bottler - requiring the man. to include a (proper?) warning on the bottle - ALCOA would be performing its duty to inform. So what does this mean now? If there is an injury from blowoff, everyone pays (liability is not avoided by labelling). However, if there is a warning label, everyone probably pays less. > I was surprised to find this warning label on a 20 oz bottle of Dr. > Pepper. It seems to be unique to that brand -- Coke, Pepsi and whatnot > don't seem to carry it. Maybe it was not Dr. Pepper's desire to put the label on. Maybe the designer of the closure system required it. > ! WARNING (exclamation point is inside a triangle) > CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. CAP MAY BLOW OFF CAUSING EYE OR OTHER SERIOUS > INJURY. POINT AWAY FROM FACE AND PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WHILE OPENING. All capitals for the message is not in accordance with the relevant ANSI standard. Furthermore, a non pictorial warning is better than nothing - but not best case. Also, did the warning get your attention BEFORE you were "in range"? But I guess this is another topic. If you really want some gratuitous warnings the list below taken from http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/System/8884/more.html "Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish."-- On a bottle of shampoo for dogs. "Do not use while sleeping"--On a hair dryer "Do not light in face, nor expose face to flame"--On a lighter "Warning: May cause drowsiness"--On a bottle of Nytol brand sleeping pills "Not to be used as a personal floatation device"--On a 6X10 inch inflatable picture frame "Do not drive the cars in ocean"--In small print at the bottom of the screen, during a car commercial which showed the car in the ocean "Do not put lit candles on phone"--On the instructions for a cordless phone "Do not put in mouth"--On a box of bottle rockets "Warning: Misuse may cause injury or death"--Stampled on the metal barrel of a .22 calibre rifle from http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/System/8884/more.html Thanks, This was a real eye-opener for me! Matt > -- > Sean Oberle > Vice President of New Products > Washington Business Information, Inc. > 1117 N 19th St, Ste 200, Arlington, VA 22209 > Voice: 703/247-3429; Fax: 703/247-3421 > > > > --------- > This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. > To cancel your subscription, send mail to [email protected] > with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the > quotes). For help, send mail to [email protected], > [email protected], [email protected], or > [email protected] (the list administrators). > > > --------- This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to [email protected] with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the quotes). For help, send mail to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] (the list administrators).
