Understanding safety messages
Three types of safety messages are defined according to the severity of the possible hazard each type of message addresses.
This section explains the meaning of the safety alert symbol
and specific words that are used in this
Guide
to bring your attention to safety information.
Safety messages are identified by a label that includes the safety alert symbol and the word DANGER, WARNING, or
CAUTION, as shown below. The safety alert symbol alerts you to a potential personal injury hazard. To avoid possible
injury or death, read and comply with all safety messages that are designated by this symbol.
These words indicate the severity of the potential hazard, as follows:
DANGER indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
will
result in death or serious injury.
WARNING indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could
result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in
minor or moderate
injury.
The NOTICE label is used for advisory messages
not
related to personal injury. Failure to heed a NOTICE message
could result in damage to the product or could cause it not to work properly. In some cases failure to heed a NOTICE
message could result in damage to other property.
A notice is not a safety message but is defined here along with safety messages because notices use a label that looks
similar to the safety message labels.
Additional safety symbols
In addition to the generic safety alert symbol
, other symbols may be used with safety messages to indicate
the type of hazard.
This document uses this symbol
to indicate a safety message that concerns a potential electric shock hazard.
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