Overview—The Need For an Information System

Failure to fulfill a duty to warn can have significant consequences for the manufacturer in terms of civil penalty payments, damaged commercial reputation, and adverse publicity in general. The number of issues the manufacturer must consider dictates that he establish some sort of routine-a hazard communications system, which assures that he obtain appropriate information on a continuing basis. 

Establishing such a routine is not a simple task. If ever there were a corporate activity which involved a multidisciplinary communications challenge it is hazard communications. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that each of the following areas of expertise are likely to be involved in a manufacturer s assessment of his common law responsibility to warn of the risks his products may pose. The potential reasons for their involvement, suggested below, are merely illustrative. 

Advertising Claims made in all media and by all methods will have to be designed and reviewed to be sure they are not inconsistent with product risks and to be sure they do not, implicitly or explicitly, give false assurances regarding a product. Representations by salesmen and other manufacturers representatives should be previewed and directed to assure consistency with and appropriateness with warnings of risks. 

Business and management Executive decisions will be required to establish a corporate hazard communication system, to allocate the money and manpower resources necessary to maintain the system and to resolve conflicts 

Customer relations Real world feed back on how a product does or does not function can be obtained from customer communications, as can new product uses which the manufacturer did not anticipate. Both types of information may be important in updating a hazard communication system. 

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