Symbols and Labeling

A major controversy in the held of labeling centers on the use of graphic symbols instead of, or as a complement to words in a chemical product label. Since words are themselves symbols, the real controversy is over which kind of symbol to use in a particular context. 

A s3rmbol is, however, arbitrarily related to the object or concept that it cognitively represents by convention the symbol is coded along with its refer- 

Specific s)rmbols can be public or private. The more widespread the cultural acceptance of a symbol s meaning, the more public it is since anyone who knows the coding process can understand the symbol. On the other hand, the more restricted the information about the symbol and its coding process, such as DOT symbols or electronic schematic S3rmbols, the more private they are. 

The inherent difficulty can perhaps best be appreciated with the example of acronyms. Suppose a worker sees PCB on a label. This acronym is really a very complex symbol. The person must perceive the letters PCB, presume them to be a word, perceive the whole word PCB, and then in attempting to decode this word comprehend it is not a word but a different kind of symbol, and decode this new symbol. If the workers do not have the code book for PCB they are not much better off than with an arbitrary graphic symbol. 

In this respect the recent Conservation Foundation report of the Belmont House Conference on labeling of hazardous and toxic substances in 1978 is instructive. The Labeling Committee report suggested the use of two types of graphic symbols one, generic, designed to evoke a non-specific call for attention or stop on the part of the reader and, two, a graphic symbol to inform the reader of the specific hazard. The report recommends a combination of text and symbols for the label. 

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Fig. 3 Type III and IV phase behavior illustrated in three-dimensional diagrams. Symbols and labels are the same as Fig. 2. (From Ref. l)...

Specific signs, symbols, and labels are used to warn people of possible danger from the presence of radiations in an area. These signs use magenta, purple, and black colors on a yellow background. Some typical signs are shown in Fig. 9.1. 

ANSI Z535.2, Environmental and Facility Safety Signs ANSI Z535.3, Criteria for Safety Symbols and Labels ANSI Z535.4, Product Safety Signs and Labels ANSI Z535.5 Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes... 

LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OE SAEETY SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND LABELS... 

In the next phase of the transition to lead-free technology, lead-free components assembled with Sn-Pb paste will eventually be assembled with SAC paste. Relevant test data (Ref 9, 28, 29, 31) for area array components with SAC balls is shown in Fig. 10, where cycles-to-failure for SAC paste assemblies is plotted versus cy-cles-to-failure for Sn-Pb paste assemblies. The presentation of the data is similar to that of Fig. 9 with symbols and labels identifying temperature profiles, components, and board finishes. All seven data points in Fig. 10 are close to or above the main diagonal, suggesting that during the transition from mixed assemblies (SAC balls/Sn-Pb paste) to 100% lead-free boards (SAC balls/SAC paste), reliability concerns are likely minimized. 

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