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Product Safety: What manufacturers need to know about operator’s manuals and safety labels and their two important objectives.

This article was written by Bryant Hintz, Senior Product Safety Specialist at Sentry Insurance.

There are several activities that come together to create a manufacturer’s product safety and liability prevention program, including product design and review, engineering controls, quality assurance and control, sales literature, operator’s manuals, and safety labels—just to name a few. One of the most critical factors for manufacturers is ensuring that they provide appropriate user information to their customers.

While manufacturers have a legal duty to tell their customers how to safely use and care for their products, the underlying goal is to facilitate proper and safe behavior. As a manufacturer, you can help to protect your brand—and reputation—by managing the ways you promote your company and how you communicate safety information. This is your opportunity—and responsibility—to provide your customers with the information they need to use your equipment safely and effectively.

Now, let’s consider some of the preceding controls for your equipment before further focusing on manuals and labels. Just about every piece of farm equipment contains some level of potential hazards based on their operation. Users can be exposed to hazards both through the misuse of the product and through normal use. When addressing these hazards, it’s important to implement the most effective controls that are feasibly possible by considering this hierarchy of controls:

1. Engineer and design out the hazard
2. Incorporate guarding and shielding to isolate the user from the hazard
3. Warn customers of the hazard through safety labels that comply with consensus standards
4. Educate the user through effective, clear instructions and safety messages in operator’s manuals that comply with consensus standards
5. Use of appropriate personal protective equipment

Following feasible engineering controls, operator’s manuals and safety labels are key elements in protecting your customers’ safety and the prevention of injuries. Manuals provide critical information to users about the intended use and safe operation of your equipment. Labels alert users of specific hazards they need to be aware of regarding the products’ use and show them how to properly avoid those hazards. Overall, accomplishing the first and most important objective—to protect your customers and give them every opportunity to operate and maintain the equipment safely.

Secondly, manuals and labels help to protect your business from liability exposure. If your customers fail to follow your instructions and warnings—resulting in a physical injury—then your manuals and labels will help with your defense in the event of a product liability lawsuit. Of course, this is the second objective, and should be treated as such. Your focus is to protect your customers and prevent injuries, but if that doesn’t work, then your manuals and labels will be used to defend you.

No product manufacturer wants to see anyone getting hurt and they also don’t want to be involved in any litigation because of any product defects. Your operator’s manuals and safety labels are important. Start writing or revising yours today —you will help keep your customers safe and help keep your company out of court.

For those who are insured with Sentry and have questions about your operator’s manuals or safety labels, please reach out to Bryant Hintz, Senior Product Safety Specialist at Bryant.Hintz@Sentry.com.