Realizing that the earlier radiation warning label was not very familiar with the public, the United Nations have released a new logo intended at striking terror into the hearts of all who see it. The other intention of new logo is to reduce needless deaths and serious injuries from accidental exposure to large radioactive sources such as food irradiation and cancer therapy equipment. The new label includes skull and crossbones, a running person and radiating ionizing waves, all on a deep red triangle, joined other more common warning symbols. The new symbol is aimed at alerting anyone, anywhere, to the potential dangers of being close to a large source of ionizing radiation and will supplement the decades-old three-cornered trefoil, which looks like an electric fan and has no intuitive meaning, and little recognition beyond those educated to its significance. The symbol is the result of a five-year project conducted in 11 countries and was tested with different population groups -- mixed ages, varying educational backgrounds, male and female -- to ensure that its message of "danger - stay away" was crystal clear and understood by all. The symbol, intended for IAEA Category 1, 2 and 3 sources defined as capable of death or serious injury, including food irradiators, teletherapy machines for cancer treatment and industrial radiography units, will be placed on the device housing the source as a warning not to dismantle it or get any closer.

Developed by human factor experts, graphic artists, and radiation protection experts, it was tested on 1,650 people in various countries.
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