Impact of - IDL-BNC @ IDRC - International Development Research ...

An international survey was carried out by field staff of the FAO, extension
services, industry, and other organizations, using a questionnaire and
interview procedure. The length of the interview ranged from 40 mm to over
2 h in one case. Of the 3 000 questionnaires distributed, about 1 000 were
returned completed from 42 countries (Table 1).
The questionnaires were analyzed according to such factors as age, educational
background, literacy, and occupation (Table 2). The most surprising
finding was that only 80% of those interviewed understood the meaning of
the skull-and-crossbones symbol, which has been in use for more than 50
years. It was reassuring, therefore, to find a high level of spontaneous understanding
of the proposed pictograms; immediate understanding of the symbols
ranged from 60% to 85% (Fig. 3). The most difficult concept to convey
without explanation was the linkage of advice pictograms to activity pictograms.
Ot those interviewed, 90% considered pictograms a useful way to
provide safety instructions on labels.
Both the International Association of Agrochemical Manufacturers and the
FAO began promoting the use of the recommended pictograms in 1988. A
survey of 96 countries in 1990 revealed that 69% were using them (Table 3).
It is reassuring to observe the high level of use in Africa and the Middle East
and, to a lesser degree, in the Far East and Latin America, although an
impediment to early use in some countries has been the need to change
national legislation. Use of pictograms has been rejected in the USA, Canada,
and many European countries, where they are thought to be for developing
countries only. However, these countries have both illiterate and immigrant
STORAGE
Plctogram
ACTIVITY
Plctograina
ADVICE
Plotogram.
WARNING
Plctogran,.
Keep locked
away and
Out of reach
of children
Handling
liquid
Wear
010008
Wear
boots
Dangeroun/
hernrful to
Hpndlinq
dry
Wear eye
protection
Wreer
protection
and mouth
Dangerous/
harmful to
fish - do not
lakoe, ricars,
ponds or
162
LI
Apphcation
Wash eher
Wear
respirator
Fig. 3. Pictograms preferred by the majority of people surveyed.
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