Does color of warnings affect risk perception?

Colors are used with signal words in warning messages to attract attention of users and to communicate the hazards associated with a product. The signaling property of color has only recently been examined. Standards that associate colors with levels of hazards have not been based on empirical study. Four experiments reported here obtained responses relating relative risks to colors. In one experiment color of background produced a significant difference, but succeeding results suggested this was related to lack of salience of the signal words in that format. In general, the combinations of colors with signal words suggested by various standards organizations were not found to fit the population stereotype. The dominant response of red is associated with risks at all levels. The results are discussed in terms of strategies for warnings. A conclusion is that shape or other graphical configurations may serve better than color to convey level of risk. Relevance to industry Many hazardous circumstances in industry must be warned against. The form of warnings is important to gain attention. Color associated with warnings has been assumed to influence risk perception. These results suggest that without training the combinations used are not recognized. Only red is considered relevant.