Crowley-Cyr, Lynda (2018) Are warning signs effective in communicating jellyfish hazards? Journal of Health, Safety and Environment, 34 (2). pp. 181-197. ISSN 1837-9362
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Abstract
Warning signs are widely used at beach environments to improve safety by alerting visitors to dangerous jellyfish hazards. Empirical data describing beachgoers interpretation of beach warnings is scarce. This study aims to assess the visibility, interpretation and effectiveness of two warning signs in communicating jellyfish hazards to beachgoers at two beaches, one in Australia and the other in the United States. Both signs were measured against industry standards and research-based design guidelines for effective warnings. Results of the study found that while the US sign meets all such standards, Australia’s sign does not. Of the 214 beachgoers interviewed, a higher number of respondents accurately described the meaning of the US sign than the Australian sign. However, interpretation depends on visibility of the sign that was found to be better in the Australian context. Tourists in Australia were found to be least informed of the jellyfish hazard, particularly inside stinger-resistant enclosures. This study’s results suggest that the signage could be improved in both the locations.
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