Warning Labels - Sometimes Silly, Sometimes Deadly Serious
Posted by
Bob CarrollOctober 03, 2005 5:25 AMNot dishwasher safe-On a remote control for a TV. This product not intended for use as a dental drill-On an electric rotary tool. There are some silly warning labels. But, in the Deadly Serious category would be children's toys that warn of a choking hazard and warnings about the tipover hazard of some children's furniture.
"Not dishwasher safe." -- On a remote control for a TV. "This product not intended for use as a dental drill." -- On an electric rotary tool. Belinda from Down Under has collected some pretty silly warning labels. But, some warning labels are deadly serious.
While we can enjoy a good chuckle at the warning labels Belinda lists we need to remember that there are many that save lives and avoid needless injuries. In the Deadly Serious category I would nominate those on children's toys that warn of a choking hazard, ones that remind us not to put children in the front passenger seat where the airbag could harm or kill a small person, ones that warn of the tipover danger in some children's furniture and ones that alert users of the suicide risk of certain prescription drugs.
Belinda is not the only collector of humorous, absurd, silly or wacky warning labels. MLaw.org, for example, posts "A flushable toilet brush that warns users, 'Do not use for personal hygiene' has been identified as the nation’s wackiest warning label in an annual contest sponsored by a consumer watchdog group." (I feel I should provide a warning label for this organization: "M-LAW is a non-partisan, non-profit organization working to increase public awareness of how the litigation explosion is hurting America. M-LAW is dedicated to restoring common sense and personal responsibility to the courts.")
More from Belinda in Australia:
"Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish." -- On a bottle of shampoo for dogs.
"Recycled flush water unsafe for drinking." -- On a toilet at a public sports facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan
"Shin pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover." -- On a pair of shin guards made for bicyclists.
"Do not eat toner." -- On a toner cartridge for a laser printer.
"Eating rocks may lead to broken teeth." -- On a novelty rock garden set called "Popcorn Rock."
"Do not use orally." -- On a toilet bowl cleaning brush.
"Please keep out of children." -- On a butcher knife
"Do not recharge, put in backwards, or use." -- On a battery.
"For use on animals only." -- On an electric cattle prod.
"For use by trained personnel only." -- On a can of air freshener.
"Remember, objects in the mirror are actually behind you." -- On a motorcycle helmet-mounted rear-view mirror.
"Warning: Do not climb inside this bag and zip it up. Doing so will cause injury and death." -- A label inside a protective bag (for fragile objects), which measures 15cm by 15cm by 12cm.
"Not for weight control." -- On a pack of Breath Savers.
"Warning: has been found to cause cancer in laboratory mice." -- On a box of rat poison.
"Fragile. Do not drop." -- Posted on a Boeing 757.
"Warning: do not use if you have prostate problems." -- On a box of Midol PMS relief tablets.
"Not for human consumption." -- On a package of dice.
"May be harmful if swallowed." -- On a shipment of hammers.
"Do not dangle the mouse by its cable or throw the mouse at co-workers." -- From a manual for an SGI computer.
"Warning: Misuse may cause injury or death." -- Stamped on the metal barrel of a .22 calibre rifle.
"Do not put lit candles on phone." -- On the instructions for a cordless phone.