TY - CHAP
T1 - The Effects of Background Color of Safety Symbols on Perception of the Symbols
AU - Or, Calvin K. L.
AU - Chan, Alan H. S.
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - This present study investigated the effects of the background color of safety symbols on the way people perceive hazard and risk and consequent compliance to the symbols. Thirty-one Hong Kong Chinese rated perceived hazardousness, perceived severity of injury, immediacy of consequences, and likelihood of compliance for 21 safety symbols with various background colors and symbol types. A color was not tested if it was the same as the color of the symbol. This study showed that background color significantly influenced perception of the symbols. For hazard warning symbols (black background was not tested) and mandatory action symbols (blue background was not tested), red produced the highest levels of perceived hazard, injury severity, consequence immediacy, and compliance. For prohibition types of symbols (red background was not tested), hazard, severity, consequence immediacy, and compliance levels were perceived to be higher for black than for other background colors.
AB - This present study investigated the effects of the background color of safety symbols on the way people perceive hazard and risk and consequent compliance to the symbols. Thirty-one Hong Kong Chinese rated perceived hazardousness, perceived severity of injury, immediacy of consequences, and likelihood of compliance for 21 safety symbols with various background colors and symbol types. A color was not tested if it was the same as the color of the symbol. This study showed that background color significantly influenced perception of the symbols. For hazard warning symbols (black background was not tested) and mandatory action symbols (blue background was not tested), red produced the highest levels of perceived hazard, injury severity, consequence immediacy, and compliance. For prohibition types of symbols (red background was not tested), hazard, severity, consequence immediacy, and compliance levels were perceived to be higher for black than for other background colors.
KW - Background color
KW - Hazard and risk perception
KW - Safety symbol
KW - Behavioral compliance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84947198708&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84947198708&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1201/EBK1439834992
DO - 10.1201/EBK1439834992
M3 - RGC 12 - Chapter in an edited book (Author)
SN - 9781439834992
SN - 9780367383862
T3 - Advances in Human Factors and Ergonomics Series
SP - 1028
EP - 1035
BT - Advances in Human Factors, Ergonomics, and Safety in Manufacturing and Service Industries
A2 - Karwowski, Waldemar
A2 - Salvendy, Gavriel
PB - CRC Press
ER -