ANSI Z535

This article introduces ANSI Z535.7, a new standard released in late 2024 addressing product safety information in electronic media. It complements existing ANSI standards by providing guidelines for digital formats, helping manufacturers create consistent safety messaging across both physical and electronic platforms.

Safety labels work best not as standalone signage, but as a coordinated system. See the three levels of that system, and why getting it right can mean the difference between an accident and a dismissed lawsuit.

Well-designed safety symbols look simple, but getting there is anything but. This column examines how ISO's graphical symbol standards guide the redesign of shipboard safety icons, from assembly points to radiotelephone markers, and why engineers should build on established symbol elements rather than start from scratch.

An alligator attack on a Florida golf course might seem like an unlikely compliance lesson — but it perfectly illustrates why engineers must look beyond their own products to spot foreseeable risks. Your warning labels may be overdue for a reality check.