Risk beliefs for prohibition symbols before and after consequences

The present research examined the connoted hazard level of symbols with two types of prohibition symbols shown with depicted image either before or after injury consequences. One common international symbol for prohibition is a circle with a slash which is intended to show that a depicted event should not be performed (e.g., putting hands near moving gears). Another prohibition symbol, a red circle without the slash is sometimes used to indicate prohibition but also as a restriction with respect to some activity. In the present research, eight base symbols were shown to 96 participants who evaluated them according to two hazard perception scales. The results showed the symbols depicting after consequences events produced significantly higher ratings than images of before consequences events. Symbols with circle-slash were rated somewhat higher than those with the circle only, but significantly different for only some of the base symbols. Having both the prohibition circle-slash and consequences tended to produce the highest ratings. Implications of these results are discussed.