Oregon Pesticide Practice Test

If the label states, "If swallowed, call a doctor," what kind of statement is this?

1. Advisory

2. Mandatory

3. Optional

4. Warning

The correct answer is: Mandatory

The statement "If swallowed, call a doctor" is classified as mandatory because it conveys a critical action that must be taken in response to a specific hazard posed by the product. This type of statement is intended to ensure safety by requiring users to take prompt action should an ingestion occur. Mandatory statements are often included on pesticide labels to highlight essential health and safety precautions, which are designed to protect both the user and the environment from potential harm. Labels that include such statements typically adhere to regulatory requirements that dictate the necessary information to be communicated for safe usage of the product. In contrast, advisory statements may provide useful information but do not compel action in a life-threatening situation, while optional statements offer additional, non-mandatory guidance. Warnings are typically used to denote serious risks or hazards, but in this case, the explicit directive to call a doctor after ingestion emphasizes the need for immediate action, aligning it with the definition of a mandatory statement.