A Perceptual Analysis of Standard Safety, Fluorescent, and Neon Colors. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zielinska, Olga A.; Wogalter, Michael S.; Mayhorn, Christopher B.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ... Annual Meeting. Volume 58:Part 1(2014)
• Page Start: 1879
• Page End: 1883
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Human engineering -- Congresses; 620.8205
• DOI: 10.1177/1541931214581393
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1541-9312

Abstract

Twenty-six standard safety colors specified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), International Standards Organization (ISO), and the Federal Highway Association (FHWA) were compared to seven fluorescent and neon colors on perceived hazard and perceived importance. Results indicated that the fluorescent orange, ANSI red, fluorescent yellow, FHWA red, fluorescent yellow green, and ISO red were the highest rated colors on perceived hazard. ANSI red, FHWA red, ISO red, fluorescent orange, fluorescent yellow, and fluorescent yellow green were rated the highest on perceived importance. The implications of these findings and the potential use of fluorescent colors in product warnings are discussed.