Safety Signs 101: Understanding the Basics
Improper hazard communication including failure to properly follow safety sign regulations is one of the top 10 workplace violations cited by OSHA and contributes to thousands of workplace accidents each year. OSHA standard 1926.200 indicates that appropriate signage must be visible when performing work in at-risk areas. OSHA regulation 1910.145 tackles the specifications for accident prevention signs and tags. It discusses the different categories, colors, wording, and tags of signs.
Regularly checking the accuracy and visibility of safety signage at your facility is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent workplace injury. In fact, studies indicate that well-placed safety signs can minimize workplace accidents by up to 80%. This article will review standard 1910.145 to help you stay in compliance.
Categories and Colors
Danger Signs
Danger signs indicate immediate danger and that special precautions are necessary. The colors of the sign are red, black, and white. The image below is outside a construction site where there is a danger of falling objects. Therefore, as a safety precaution, hard hats must be worn in that area.
Caution Signs
Caution signs warn against potential hazards as well as against unsafe practices. The sign should be yellow with black lettering. The example below is of the wet floor sign we often see placed on freshly mopped floors of businesses.
Safety Instruction Signs
Safety instruction signs are used where there is a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measures. The background should be white with a green panel and white letters. Any letters used on the white background should be black. You’ll often see the green signs around eyewash stations, safety showers, and exits.
Slow Moving Vehicles
If you have ever traveled in the Midwest during planting or harvest season, there is a good chance you have gotten stuck driving behind farming equipment. You might have noticed a triangle emblem on the back. Vehicles with a speed of 25 mph or less on public roads are considered slow-moving and are therefore required to display the triangle emblem. To make the sign visible both during the day and at night, the emblem is fluorescent yellow-orange with a dark red reflective border.
Wording
The wording of all signs follows the same general rules. If there is text, it must be clear, simple to read, and easily understood. The language must also be accurate and make a positive suggestion. The word "biological hazard" or "biohazard" must only be used to refer to infectious pathogens that are a danger or potential risk to human health.
Accident Prevention Tags
A tag is a label typically made of cardstock, paper, pasteboard, plastic, or other material that is used to classify a hazardous condition. Tags consist of a signal word and a major message. A signal word is intended to catch the pedestrian’s attention and should be able to be read from at least five feet away. Signal words include "Danger," "Caution," "Biological Hazard," "BIOHAZARD," or the biological hazard symbol (see below). You might also see “Warning” which can be used if the hazard level is between “Caution” and “Danger.” A major message identifies the hazardous condition or instruction for the employee and can be in the form of written text, pictographs, or both. Examples are “High Voltage” or “Do Not Use.” A pictograph uses pictures to represent a hazardous condition. With the help of tags, hazardous situations can be recognized and a warning to workers can be issued.
Conclusion
While this is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the regulations relating to safety signs, it is a good basic introduction to the OSHA standards for signs. For more information, the ANSI standards Z53.1-1967 and Z535.1-2006 provide additional details on the regulations as referenced in the OSHA standard. If you would like to learn more about sign regulations, additional OSHA regulations regarding signs are referenced below.
1910.146 (c) – requiring signs for confined spaces
1910.335 (b) – electrical hazard signs
1910.37 (b) – signs for exits
1915.16 – employee comprehension of signs and labels
