Attention-getters: Warning, caution, danger...

[Johnson, Tom]

Eric is right, but there's more.

This comes from the ANSI standard Z535.4-1991. I haven't checked for a few years to see if it has been updated.

Signal word panels
Danger - White "DANGER" on red background
Warning - Black "WARNING" on orange background
Caution - Black "CAUTION" on a yellow background.

The exclamation mark is the same color as the background and the solid portion of the triangle is the same color as the signal word lettering. The triangle's base must align with the base of the letters and the triangle must be as tall as, or taller than, the signal word lettering.

To make one small correction to Eric's post. For cautions and warnings, the triangle would be black. 

If I'm reading the standard correctly, the standard applies to safety labels/signs on the equipment. I don't know of a standard for warnings and such in documentation.


Tom Johnson
Technical Writer
tjohnson at starcutter.com 

-----Original Message-----
Eric Dunn wrote

Careful about the graphics. AFAIK, lightning bolts should be used only for 
electrical dangers.

I believe the ISO standards for the graphics are variations on the 
exclamation:
Note - Blue circle
Caution - Yellow triangle
Warning - Orange triangle
Danger - Red triangle

What to do for black and white is another issue.

But don't trust me, find a copy of the applicable standards. If not 
following specific standards, just define the usage at the beginning of 
the manuals and remain consistent.

The link that has been provided on-list before 
(http://www.cptec.org/symbols.html) has a wealth of different specific and 
generic graphics.

Eric L. Dunn
Senior Technical Writer

"Surag R" <suragtechwriter at gmail.com> wrote on 08/28/2006 01:02:27 PM:
> + a checkmark in a rounded box - icon for Note
> + an exclamation mark in a rounded box - icon for Caution 
> + a thunder bolt in a rounded box - icon for Warning
> + a thunder bolt in a triangle - icon for danger.
> 
> Cheers,
> Surag