Have you ever seen a sign on a job site and wondered, “What the hell are they getting at?” You’re not alone!
Safety signs are an essential part of communicating hazards and instructions on any job site. To keep signs consistent and effective across all job sites, OSHA regulates the colors, text and layout on safety signs. Rather than walking onto a job site and requiring a guide or training to interpret signage, these universal standards make it easier for workers to identify hazards, instructions and other important information.
What are Safety Signs Used For?
Simply put, signs on a job site are used to inform workers of hazards, rules and other critical information. Generally, these signs will be simple, clear and offer some universal symbology alongside text to get the point across.
Think of a Stop Sign – sure, it says “STOP” in big bold letters, but its octagonal shape and red color are universally recognized as a warning to halt and look around. In the event someone can’t read, the other elements of the sign provide important information that helps prevent accidents and improve safety culture.
Safety signs operate on a similar premise. Thanks to standards and regulations set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, most workers can walk onto a job site and have a basic understanding of what each sign means.
How OSHA Regulates Safety Signs
While you could design, write or draw your own sign and slap it up somewhere on your job site, this approach probably won’t win any points with an OSHA inspector. OSHA has developed standard regulations for safety signs to keep them consistent across all industries. These rules help establish clear classifications to make it easy to identify what’s going on in most situations.
Each OSHA sign uses colors, shapes, and signal words to inform workers of hazards, specific instructions, and important locations on a project. These can cover anything from fire hazards to slow-moving machinery. The signs are also required to be placed in a safe location, so they don’t cause a hazard themselves.
Additionally, other signs and information regarding Job Safety and Health are also required in all workplaces. While these posters usually don’t warn of imminent danger, they do offer important information for worker’s rights and safety regulations.
With all that aside, read on to learn more about common safety signage and what each type means on a job site.
Common Safety Sign Categories
In accordance with OSHA standards, there are three main types of safety signs. Most signs will fall under these categories, which represent escalating hazards and important information needed to navigate daily responsibilities. Let’s walk through each category, important elements you’ll see on each sign, and what they signify.
Danger: Indicates serious, immediate hazards that could cause injury or death. These signs will always include the word “DANGER” in white letters on a red background. You’ll likely see these signs in dangerous areas with high voltage, hazardous chemicals, or high-risk objects that could fall. If you see this, stay out of the area unless you have a permit to enter.
Caution: Caution signs will be yellow with “CAUTION” on a black background with additional information written below. Like Danger signs, a Caution sign warns against potential hazards and safety risks. However, the hazards usually indicate workers can enter as long as they have proper protection.
Safety Instruction: These signs will always be white with a green or blue top panel. The instruction will be at the top in bold, white lettering, while specific details will be below in black text. Instructional signs are like a jack of all trades and should be used to provide clear instructions on a job site. This is a great way to tell workers they need to wear specific PPE or stay away from a specific location, regardless of imminent danger.
What Safety Sign Colors Mean
Like a stop sign, OSHA-approved safety signs use colors in combination with text to get the point across. These colors can make it easy to identify the sign’s basic meaning without stopping and reading it. Here are the most common colors you’ll see on a safety sign, and what each color might mean.
Red: Like a stop sign, this means to stop due to danger. You’ll see this color on danger and fire signs, and signs asking you to stop and wait for assistance.
Orange: Warning signs use orange to indicate potential danger, like the presence of heavy machinery, electrical lines, or falling hazards.
Orange Red: This combination is always used to indicate a biohazard. You’ll also likely see a biohazard symbol on the sign to warn of contaminants, radiation and other harmful materials.
Yellow: This color indicates a low-level hazard or a reminder to do something. If a tool requires PPE for protection or there’s a nearby slipping hazard, you’ll likely see this sign.
Blue: Notice signs are usually blue and indicate important information unrelated to hazards. They can be used to indicate a permit zone, special instructions, and rules that need to be followed.
Green: Safety instruction signs will always use green. Signs marking the location of medical supplies and first aid will also be green.
Now that we have the basics down, let’s talk about symbols you’ll see on safety signs around a high-risk job site.
Common Safety Sign Symbols
In addition to common colors and text, safety signs may also include symbols or pictograms to identify the type of potential hazard. While these symbols aren’t required for most safety signs, they provide clear information on the job site. To maintain consistency, BSI ISO 7010 symbols are approved for use on OSHA signs. Here are a few common symbols you might see on safety signs around the workplace.
Hazards: These yellow triangles will include a pictogram specifying the present hazard. These could include images of tripping people, fire, electricity, spills, or just a simple exclamation point.
Prohibition: These pictograms must include a round white background with a red border and diagonal red line through the middle. They signify things readers should not do or items that shouldn’t be present on a job site. Common symbols include no smoking, no entry, or no electronic devices.
Mandatory Instruction: These symbols are blue circles with white pictograms, and are used as important reminders. Pictograms can be used to encourage PPE usage, respiratory protection, or hand washing.
First Aid: First aid symbols are green squares with white pictographs that indicate the presence of a first aid station and supplies. Common icons might be a person in a shower, laying on a cot, or even a person exiting an open doorway. Most symbols will also include a white first aid cross.
What Do Chemical Symbols Mean?
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals is another, related, OSHA-approved classification system specifically used for hazardous chemicals. OSHA mandates chemicals present in the workplace must be marked with a pictogram that indicates a potential hazard associated with the chemical. Here are common symbols you’ll see on packaging for these chemicals.
Corrosion: This usually looks like test tubes pouring out a dangerous substance. It usually signifies acid or other damaging chemicals.
Environment: This sign has a dead tree and fish on it and signifies a substance that could be harmful to aquatic life.
Exclamation Mark: This symbol represents substances harmful to skin, eyes and respiratory systems.
Exploding Bomb: This sign features a bomb on it and represents the presence of explosive substances.
Flames: This sign represents flammable substances, or materials that give off flammable gas.
Flammable Oxygen: If the flame is sitting on a circle, it represents oxidizing materials. These can explode if exposed to an ignition source.
Gas Cylinder: This sign has a pressurized gas cylinder and warns that the gases within could explode.
Health Hazard: This sign looks like a silhouette of a person with a white blob on the chest. It warns about carcinogens and other hazardous substances.
Skull and Crossbones: This symbol represents extremely hazardous chemicals. This can include poisons and other substances that cause illness or even death.
Understanding safety sign standards and symbols is essential to keeping everyone working safely on a job site. By following safety signs, frontline workers can stay productive and reduce potential accidents, injuries and illnesses while on the job.
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