Workplaces are safer than ever, but challenges remain: In 2014, nearly three million nonfatal workplace injuries were reported by private industry employers, and more than 4,600 workers were killed on the job.
Yet proper safety signage can have an enormous impact on curbing these troubling statistics. Effective visual communication can raise awareness of workplace hazards to reduce risks and promote safety in a simple, affordable, and efficient manner.
OSHA safety signs are required under OSHA 1910.145 wherever workplace hazards threaten worker safety. The standard defines three severity-based sign types: Danger (white on red — death or serious injury will occur), Warning (black on orange — death or serious injury could occur), and Caution (black on yellow — minor or moderate injury may occur). Design and symbol requirements are further specified by ANSI Z535. Proper safety signage is one of the most cost-effective hazard controls available — and a necessary complement to pipe markers, floor marking, and other facility labeling.
Why are OSHA safety signs required in the workplace?
Adequate safety signage has numerous benefits for facilities large and small.
- Reduce workplace accidents: With clear, specific safety signs, workers can recognize when to take certain precautions, stay out of restricted areas, wear different types of PPE, and more. Safety signs also encourage workers to watch out for hazards and minimize risks.
- Increase efficiency: Strong communication lets employees know where to go in a facility (or where not to go) and helps them understand more clearly the hazards that may be present in a quick, clear manner.
- Promote a culture of safety: Adequate signs and labels demonstrate to employees (and OSHA) your commitment to a safe work environment that recognizes hazards and accounts for risks.
When does OSHA require safety signs and labels?
In short: Use safety signs and labels whenever hazards are present-or whenever they may be present-in your facility. But which signs should you use to denote hazards?
What are the three types of OSHA safety signs?
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Sign Type
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Signal Word Color
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Hazard Severity
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When to Use
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Danger
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White on Red
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Immediate — death or serious injury will occur
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Electrical panels, confined spaces, high-voltage areas
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Warning
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Black on Orange
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Serious — death or serious injury could occur
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Chemical storage, heavy machinery zones
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Caution
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Black on Yellow
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Moderate — minor or moderate injury may occur
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Wet floors, low clearance, forklift traffic
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Notice
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White on Blue
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Non-injury
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Procedures, rules, maintenance info
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Biohazard
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Per OSHA spec
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Biological agents
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Labs, medical waste, infectious material areas
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Expert Insight: The most common compliance gap we see in facility audits isn't missing signs — it's misclassified signs. Facilities frequently use 'Caution' where 'Warning' or 'Danger' is required, which creates legal exposure during an OSHA inspection. When in doubt, classify up, not down.
A secondary hazard classification exists for biological hazards.These signs signify the actual or potential presence of biohazards and assets (containers, equipment, rooms, materials, and more) where biological hazards like potentially infectious material may pose a risk to workers.
Read more about required colors, symbols, and messages on safety signs. Duralabel has also produced an infographic that broadly outlines ANSI Z535 design standards.
Several other signs help employees stay safe without alerting them to specific hazards. They include:
- Notice: Use notice signs to provide information relevant to a building, an area, a machine, or equipment. These signs address practices and precautions unrelated to personal injuries, including procedures, instructions, maintenance information, rules, and directions.
- General safety signs: These provide notices of general facility practice, rules relating to health, first aid, medical equipment, sanitation, housekeeping, and suggested general safety measures.
- Admittance: Admittance signs don't have a defined hazard category and may use elements of other categories. They generally alert and explain the risks and consequences of entering a restricted area.
- Fire safety: Fire safety signs alert workers to the presence of emergency firefighting equipment. They should not be used for wayfinding or emergency exit applications.
Additionally, non-hazard signs communicate broad facility information, usually through simple text and clear symbols. These should never be used to describe hazards or risks, but rather to convey wayfinding directions, work procedures, general information, and more. These are not classified as safety signs but nevertheless contribute to workplace safety.
Understanding the OSHA/ANSI Safety Sign Hierarchy
Explain that the Danger → Warning → Caution hierarchy maps to a probability-and-severity matrix. "Danger" means the hazard is immediate and certain (e.g., exposed live electrical components); "Warning" means the hazard is probable but not certain (e.g., chemical exposure risk during specific operations); "Caution" means the hazard is possible but less severe (e.g., trip hazards). This graduated system ensures workers calibrate their response — when every sign says "Danger," none of them do.
Where should safety signs be placed in a facility?
If you're deciding where to put signs at certain points in your facility, consider asking the following questions:
- Are hazards present?
- OSHA requires safety signs at locations where a present (or potentially present) hazard threatens the safety of a worker
- Will the worker see the sign(s)?
- OSHA 1910.145(f)(4) maintains that the sign's signal word must be readable from at least five feet away
- Does the location give employees ample opportunity to avoid the hazard?
- Is there clear direction to safety and fire equipment?
- Is redirection necessary?
- Is maintenance performed in this area?
- Is it a high-traffic area?
Field Note: The 5-foot readability rule in OSHA 1910.145(f)(4) is a minimum. In large warehouse or manufacturing environments, signage placed at standard eye level near a doorway can be completely invisible to a forklift operator or someone wearing a full-face respirator. Consider mounting height, viewing angle, and PPE obstruction when placing signs.
How to create custom OSHA-compliant safety signs
Labeling, signage, and visual communication are vital components of a safe work environment. Customized or site-specific messages can alert workers to hazards, promote safe behavior, and reduce workplace accidents.
DuraLabel industrial label and sign printers by Duralabel can help you develop strong custom visual communication that keeps workers safe and invested in a culture of safety. DuraLabel printers can be used with more than 50 supplies suited to unique facility environments, including Ultra-Aggressive Vinyl for abrasive or uneven surfaces, Reflective or Phosphorescent material for low-light areas, Marine Label Stock that stands up to saltwater exposure, Oily Surface Supply for greasy environments, and Cold Storage Supply for refrigerated settings.
For more in-depth information, request your free Best Practice Guide to OSHA Safety Signs. The guide provides an overview on labeling in accordance with OSHA and ANSI standards, instructions for creating custom signs, and more.
Duralabel also carries a wide selection of premade safety signs, available in various materials and sizes.
Not ready to enlist our services for safety compliance? Download our free OSHA Safety Sign Guide below to conduct your own basic facility audit.
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