Warning Labels

Warning labels ensure that customers consume food and other edible items properly. They also prevent accidents from using equipment in facilities and label hazardous areas in places like factories or hospitals. Print warning labels for the front, side, and back areas of your container. Choose from four standard shapes or order in a custom size to fit your specifications.  

Print chemical warning labels or hazard labels that are vibrant and easy to read. Add a protective coating that elevates the shine or adds an elegant touch to your label design. All available materials come with a self-adhesive that sticks to almost any surface. Waterproof options include vinyl for singles (formerly known as cut-to-size) labels and BOPP for rolls.

How to Choose the Best Specs for Your Warning Labels  

Ask yourself a few of these questions while selecting the features for your labels. 

Do you need singles or roll warning label? 

Singles come in individual pieces, perfect for those applying the labels by hand. Recommended for orders in manageable quantities from 100 to 250. 

Order roll labels if you’re applying them with an automatic dispenser. You’ll need several rolls to label hundreds to thousands of items. The dispenser will save you time, while the rolls make application continuous. 

How much space do I need for the label? 

Measure the area on which you will apply the health and safety warning label. From there, you can determine the best size. Apart from the container, you also need to ensure there’s enough space for the following elements: 

• Statement of danger or a warning against the item’s effects. For example, lung cancer is the statement indicated in cigarettes. 
• Consequences from being exposed to this danger such as lung cancer from smoking regularly or getting burned from placing your hand on a stovetop. 
• Signal word indicating the severity of the danger. There are two kinds of hazards: major and minor. Use the correct language so that consumers are informed of the correct risk level. For example, “danger” is used to warn against poison and hazardous chemicals. 
• Instructions that prevent exposure to danger. Some common examples are “do not enter” and “no diving” for a pool.  

What elements will my label be exposed to? 

Will the label only be displayed indoors and away from elements like water or heat? You can print the design on 70 lb. or white premium sticker paper. 

For labels that are exposed outdoors or to water, print in waterproof 4 mil. white vinyl high gloss UV or BOPP.  

How to Design Your Warning Labels on Products

Write the hazard as simple as possible. Do not use adverbs or write the warning longer than necessary. It should be concise and easy to understand in one read. Keep the focus on the signal word so that the label gets straight to the point. For example, just write “Danger, 230 volts.” Avoid writing something like “Going in is dangerous.” 

Add the following parts to the word message panel.  

• The nature of the hazard. 
• How to avoid the hazard. 
• The consequence of not avoiding the hazard. 

Use the applicable pictogram. This symbol communicates the danger even to those who can’t read English. The pictogram visually indicates the danger or how to avoid it.  

Note: You can modify formats for special warnings such as multilingual ones, multiple hazards, multiple symbol panels, and two-panel labels that have no symbol. 

Warning Labels FAQs 

How do you write a warning label? 

Keep these writing tips in mind while creating safety and warning labels: 

• Give details and be specific. Your warning should indicate the risk and what they should do to avoid the injury.  
• Save yourself the legal trouble and make sure the warning is easy to understand. It should also be printed on an area that the consumer easily sees. If you have a multilingual audience, print it in different languages. Places like San Francisco print their warnings in Chinese, Spanish, and Tagalog (Filipino). In Los Angeles, signs are commonly printed in Spanish and English. 
• Don’t be afraid to make assumptions. You can add something like “Do not put a person in this washer” or “For external use only” for products like alcohol. However, be sure to balance the warning. Assume first that the consumer will use your item for its intended purpose. If they buy a kitchen knife, then you don’t need to add “Don’t use for juggling” to your warning label.  

What?are the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards for warning labels?? 

The ANSI requires that safety labels are printed with UV resistant inks and laminated with clear polyester. This ensures that the warning is protected from chemicals, heat, and abrasion. We recommend the 4 mil. white vinyl high-gloss (UV) for this purpose. 

What materials will my warning labels stick to?? 

All our materials come with a self-adhesive that sticks to almost any surface. The 4 mil. white vinyl in high-gloss UV is recommended for its compliance to ANSI standards and its ability to resist moisture and fading. 

What criteria should I follow for labeling equipment? 

Warning labels are also required on the equipment your maintenance staff handles daily. Here are the criteria for installing labels on equipment: 

• The label is immediately visible to the audience such as the staff who are directly exposed to the hazard. 
• The label must warn the personnel or viewer in advance so they can take appropriate action and precautions. 
• The label’s permanent fixture on the equipment. Make sure the label is applied properly and does not fall off. 
• Apply the label on or adjacent to the area where the hazard is located or present. 
• The surface applied on is clean. It should have no moisture, grease, dust, or dirt. Paint must be dry before application.