Remembering to be afraid: applications of theories of memory to the science of safety communication

Abstract

Since it is not always possible to design-out hazards, safety communications take on the critical roles of warning about potential hazards, informing how to avoid injury, and revealing the possible consequences of failing to take appropriate action. Failures to adequately communicate, comprehend, or remember safety information may result in serious injury or death. While one goal of safety communications is to persuade, the focus here is on their role as reminders of hazards. It is suggested that psychological research in the area of memory can provide pointers as to how to improve a warning's ability to communicate safety information such that it is adequately understood and remembered. Towards this end, selected psychological theories and findings in the area of memory and their application to the study of warning processing are reviewed. Based on the studies reviewed, recommendations are made for improving memory for warning information and areas for future research are suggested. It is concluded that increased communication and collaboration among researchers from different disciplines, as well as professionals in the field, will more rapidly advance the science of safety communication.

Keywords:

• Warnings
• Safety
• Memory
• Psychology

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Blair Brewster for providing me with a source of safety symbols for my research and Michelle Robertson and Bill Shaw for providing comments on an earlier version of this manuscript. Requests for reprints should be sent to Mary Lesch, Liberty Mutual Research Center for Safety and Health, 71 Frankland Road, Hopkinton, MA 01748.

Notes

Email: [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

M. F. Lesch *

Email: [email protected]