Safety signs on agricultural machinery: Pictorials do not always successfully convey their messages to target users. (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caffaro, Federica; Mirisola, Alberto; Cavallo, Eugenio
• Is Part Of: Applied ergonomics. Volume 58(2016)
• Page Start: 156
• Page End: 166
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: Agriculture -- Pictorial comprehension -- Safety; Human engineering -- Periodicals; 620.82
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2016.06.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-6870

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigated the extent to which a sample of Italian users comprehended safety pictorials used on agricultural machinery. A questionnaire with 12 safety pictorials was administered to 248 users of agricultural machinery. For each of the pictorials, the participants were asked to select the most appropriate description of four written choices. The investigated safety pictorials were, in general, not well comprehended. Two different classes of participants were identified, each with a different level of comprehension. The participants with better comprehension were characterized by the regular use of agricultural machinery and frequent previous exposure to pictorials. The need for training courses focusing on safety pictorials and their meanings, as well as the need for improvement to the pictorials themselves to make them more easily comprehended, is discussed. Highlights: Comprehension of safety pictorials used on agricultural machinery is investigated. The safety pictorials are generally not well comprehended. Two classes of users with different pictorials comprehension are identified. Regular use of machinery and frequent exposure to pictorials enhance comprehension.