Warning Labels Referring to Electronic Information - Combination Safety Symbol, URL, and QR Code as Supplemental Directive

Abstract

As safety information and product manuals continue to move online, and as smartphone ownership and use approach market saturation, establishing clear, simple methods for linking users to online information becomes more important. This may be particularly helpful for technical products requiring online access for use or for globalized on-product labels that minimize text. This practice-oriented paper reports on one approach to provide access to information online via a combination of the standardized ISO “Refer to instruction manual/booklet” symbol, a URL, and a QR code. Findings support the understandability and usefulness of this approach. A version including a safety alert symbol within the QR was also tested and is not currently recommended due to potential confusion. Examples and practitioner takeaways are included.