More Warning Labels
Published in Jokes
In 1997, Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch (M-LAW) began a contest to expose how frivolous lawsuits, and a concern about potential frivolous lawsuits, have led to a new cultural phenomenon: the wacky warning label.
You have probably heard about the lawsuit over a spilled cup of coffee. However, there are many other silly lawsuits involving products that have received far less attention. For example, did you know a man received $50,000 when he sued a small company that makes basketball nets because he claimed the company was responsible when he caught his teeth in a net while dunking a ball? People who make products hear about these outrageous lawsuits, and they often decide to slap common sense warnings on their product... "just in case."
Over the years, M-LAW has received hundreds of warning labels from people around the world. M-LAW verifies the authenticity of each label and selects the "Top 5" for each year.
Following is a list of some of the best labels from the first five contests:
A warning on an electric router made for carpenters cautions: "This product not intended for use as a dental drill."
A warning label found on a baby stroller cautions the user to "Remove child before folding"
A prescription of sleeping pills says, "Warning: May cause drowsiness
A sticker on a toilet at a public facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan actually warns: "Recycled flush water unsafe for drinking."
A massage chair warns: "DO NOT use massage chair without clothing... and, Never force any body part into the backrest area while the rollers are moving."
A snowblower warns: "Do not use snowthrower on roof.²"
A dishwasher carries this warning: "Do not allow children to play in the dishwasher."
A CD player carries this unusual warning: "Do not use the Ultradisc2000 as a projectile in a catapult."
An "Aim-n-Flame" fireplace lighter cautions, "Do not use near fire, flame or sparks"
A label on a hand-held massager advises consumers not to use "while sleeping or unconscious"
A container of underarm deodorant says, "Caution: Do not spray in eyes"
A cartridge for a laser printer warns, "Do not eat toner"
A household iron warns users: "Never iron clothes while they are being worn"
A label with a hair dryer reads, "Never use hair dryer while sleeping"
A 13-inch wheel on a wheelbarrow warns: "Not intended for highway use"
A cardboard car sunshield that keeps sun off the dashboard warns, "Do not drive with sunshield in place"
A Bathroom Heater says: "This product is not to be used in bathrooms"
A can of self-defense pepper spray warns users: "May irritate eyes"
A warning on a pair of shin guards manufactured for bicyclists says: "Shin pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover."
A popular manufactured fireplace log warns: "Caution - Risk of Fire"
A box of birthday cake candles says: "DO NOT use soft wax as ear plugs or for any other function that involves insertion into a body cavity.