According to OSHA, more than 6 million people work at roughly 250,000 construction sites throughout the United States on any given day. These employees routinely face numerous hazards, including heights, electrocution, falling objects, and more.
It's important for employers to warn workers about these hazards and encourage safe practices at all times. One easy, efficient way to improve safety is to post construction labels and signage around the job site.
Here's a look at what OSHA recommends for safety signage, various types of signs and labels, and how to keep workers safe.
First things first: You should know which hazards are present on your jobsite so you can help workers avoid, mitigate, or otherwise plan for those hazards. Here's a quick breakdown of common construction site hazards so you can better prepare potentially life-saving visual communication.
OSHA's standard for construction signs, signals, and barricades-29 CFR 1926.200-explains the agency's requirements for safety signage. It explains that signs should be visible whenever work is performed; it also includes requirements for "Danger" signs, "Caution" signs, and other important visual communication around a job site.
Broadly speaking, OSHA suggests that construction labels and signage should conform to the ANSI Z535 standard. The standard dictates all aspects of sign design, including:
ANSI updates the standard every five years, most recently in 2017, and employers should abide by the new standard whenever possible. Updating old ANSI signs can minimize confusion.
Here are the types of visual communication singled out in OSHA's standard for construction signs, signals, and barricades -and how they should look.
Use "Danger" signs when immediate hazards exist and have the following characteristics:
OSHA also allows for "Danger" signs that follow the ANSI Z53.1-1968 standard (which lacks the triangular safety symbol, but includes the word "DANGER" set against a red oval); however, this standard is not up to date, and employers should conform to the current ANSI Z535 standard whenever possible.
OSHA's standard for construction signs, signals, and barricades outlines requirements for "Danger" and "Caution" signs. However, the standard does not include a provision for "Warning" signs, typically used in general industry for hazards that may result in death or serious injury.
"Caution" signs should be used to warn about potential hazards and to warn against unsafe practices. They should feature the following characteristics:
OSHA allows for "Caution" signs that follow the ANSI Z53.1-1967 standard; however, this standard is outdated, and employers should conform to the current ANSI Z535 standard, whenever possible.
OSHA maintains in 29 CFR 1926.200(d) that "Exit" signs and labels should have the following attributes:
Safety instruction signs and labels typically communicate general instructions and suggestions for keeping the workplace safe. These signs might remind employees to use proper lifting techniques, encourage best practices around machinery with moving parts, and ask workers to put tools away when done.
OSHA, in 29 CFR 1926.200(e), outlines the following requirements for safety instruction signs and labels:
Directional signs are useful for helping employees find their way around a jobsite. OSHA, in 29 CFR 1926.200(f), lays out the following requirements for directional signs and labels:
Duralabel free Best Practice Guide to OSHA Safety Signs covers best practices for labeling in accordance with OSHA and ANSI requirements and standards. The guide breaks down relevant requirements, provides an outline for how (and where) to post signs, and offers resources for getting started. Download it today.