Every day, American workers service high-powered equipment, build and fix roads, and manufacture the goods we use on a regular basis.
They shouldn't put themselves at risk when doing so, but nearly 3 million employees are injured on the job each year. Work safety has improved in recent years, yet further action must be taken to ensure workers can enjoy a workplace free from hazards.
Safety signs can play a vital role in ensuring a safe workplace. Employers who implement effective, clear visual communication may enjoy fewer accidents and injuries, increased efficiency, and safe behavior throughout their facility.
How can employers realize these benefits and comply with federal standards for visual communication? Here are five ways to meet OSHA requirements for safety signage.
29 CFR 1910.145, OSHA's guideline for signs and tags that identify hazards, outlines design requirements and specifies when safety signs must be used. These design elements are expanded upon in the ANSI Z535 standard, which utilizes alert symbols and pictograms to communicate hazards.
The ANSI Z535 standard dictates every aspect of sign design, including:
Duralabel has produced an infographic that broadly covers OSHA safety signs and the ANSI Z535 design standard.
ANSI last updated the Z535 safety sign standard in 2017; employers should use the latest standard when printing new labels. Replacing old ANSI signs is voluntary for now, but employers should consider updating to minimize confusion.
OSHA and ANSI have established three primary severity classifications for safety signs. They are danger signs, warning signs, and caution signs; each relates directly to the severity of hazards present (or potentially present).
Biological hazards are grouped into another hazard classification. These signs alert employees to the presence-or potential presence-of biohazards (including materials, equipment, containers, and rooms) where workers may be at risk of exposure.
Learn more about OSHA and ANSI standards, sign classifications, safety symbols and more with Duralabel' free Best Practice Guide to OSHA Safety Signs.
Safety signs and labels should be posted whenever hazards may be present throughout a facility. Yet other types of signs can help employees stay safe and productive without pointing out specific hazards. They include:
It can be tough to know when and where signs should be placed throughout a facility. For quick reference, here is a quick primer on sign placement.
29 CFR 1910.145(f)(3) is OSHA's rule for when and where signs should be placed within a facility. The standard points out that labels, tags, and signs:
"Shall be used as a means to prevent accidental injury or illness to employees who are exposed to hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions, equipment or operations which are out of the ordinary, unexpected or not readily apparent. Tags shall be used until such time as the identified hazard is eliminated or the hazardous operation is completed."
Once you've determined that safety signage is necessary, 29 CFR 1910.145(f)(4)(vi) states that signs must be placed "as close as safely possible" to the nearby hazard.
Not sure which sign to place near a hazard? Here's a quick breakdown:
29 CFR 1910.145(f)(4) requires the sign's signal word-"Danger," "Caution," etc.-to be readable from at least five feet away.
Broadly speaking, signs should be placed such that workers are aware of the hazard and able to respond appropriately before being exposed to it.
Safety signs should have rounded or blunt corners, and have no sharp edges, burrs, or splinters. Similarly, a sign that warns pedestrians to look out for forklift traffic at an intersection should not block their view of incoming forklifts.
Take the first step toward developing strong custom visual communication with DuraLabel industrial label and sign printers by Duralabel. Our printers accommodate various supplies, sizes, and types of signs, ensuring you're able to create the right signage for your facility.
Use your printer with more than 50 labeling supplies suited to a variety of application-specific uses. The right choice of materials will work on abrasive and uneven surfaces, remain bright in low-light areas, resist saltwater exposure, stay strong in greasy environments, or retain effectiveness in refrigerated settings.
Complement your custom signs with our selection of pre-made safety signs, available in various materials and sizes. Need more help? Download our free guide on OSHA signs.