Know What Standards Apply—and Meet Them!
 
Most products are designed to meet certain standards.  These standards address design and performance issues—and also in many cases, the warnings and instructional information that must accompany the product.  Some standards have the force of law.  For example, flammable products like paint thinner must meet the requirements of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.  This law includes specific requirements for cautionary wording on the label.  Other standards are developed by industry associations or testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) and, while not legally required, may be needed to market a product effectively.  Still others are voluntary standards that apply to a wide range of products—such as ANSI Z535.4 Product Safety Signs and Labels.
 
Know what standards apply to your product.  Meeting applicable standards is the first step in making sure that your instructions and warnings are adequate.  Even if a standard is voluntary, if it is widely accepted (like ANSI Z535.4), you should meet its requirements unless you feel confident that you can articulate why your approach is better.  Meeting standards alone does not guarantee that your warnings and instructions are adequate—but failing to meet them puts you at a disadvantage from the start.  Before you launch a new product, research what standards apply, and make sure you’ve met them.