OSHA Regulations and Standards
Understanding and accessing OSHA’s laws, regulations, and standards for occupational safety and health is crucial for employers. Safety signs, as guided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), can warn about hazards, set clear expectations, and promote mindful employee behavior.
The general duty clause under OSHA guidelines requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards. Signs, tags, and labels are one of the many ways employers make workplaces safer for their employees.
Learn about safety signage rules and ways to comply with OSHA guidelines.
Signage Requirements for All Employers Under OSHA Guidelines
Whether your business is in an office or a manufacturing facility, OSHA guidelines mandate the display of the “Job Safety and Health: It’s the Law!” poster. Hang the sign in an unobstructed location where all employees can easily read it, such as a breakroom. If you have a multilingual staff, the poster must be in a language they can understand.
OSHA offers free copies of the poster, including multiple translations, on its website.
Signal Words Under OSHA Guidelines Instantly Indicate the Severity of a Hazard
OSHA guidelines use classifications, or “signal words,” to indicate the severity of a hazard. These are intended to capture the employee’s immediate attention. Signal words are included on a chemical’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and label but may also appear on signs. You can only use one signal word per SDS, label, or sign under OSHA guidelines. They include the following classifications:
- Danger indicates the most serious hazards. They mean serious injury or death is almost certain if you don’t avoid the hazard. Take precautions and follow the safeguards on the sign. The sign must include “DANGER” in white letters on a red background according to OSHA guidelines.
- Caution indicates a minor nonimmediate injury is possible if you don’t avoid the hazard. The sign should be yellow or predominantly yellow and include “CAUTION” as per OSHA guidelines.
- Warning indicates a serious injury could occur if you don’t avoid the hazard. Warning indicates a hazard level that falls between danger and caution. The sign should be orange or predominantly orange and include “WARNING,” following OSHA guidelines.
- Biological hazard (aka biohazard) indicates a risk or potential risk to the well-being of humans. According to OSHA guidelines, the sign should be predominantly fluorescent orange or orange-red with lettering and symbols in a contrasting color and include “BIOHAZARD.” Red bags or red containers may be substituted for labels under the guidelines provided by OSHA.
Safety symbols must precede the signal words and lettering on the signs, as per OSHA guidelines.
OSHA Guidelines on Signal Words, Colors, and Symbols Used on Signs
Most signs, following OSHA guidelines, describe a hazard and ways to avoid the hazard. A single symbol or word rarely does both. OSHA has established guidelines for several signs, using words and symbols to communicate specific hazards under these guidelines.
- Biological hazard (biohazard) signs are fluorescent orange or orange-red, aligning with OSHA guidelines. They identify equipment, containers, rooms, materials, experimental animals, or combinations of these that contain (or are contaminated with) viable hazardous agents. According to OSHA guidelines, biological hazards or biohazards include “only those infectious agents presenting a risk or potential risk to the well-being of man.” More about biohazards can be found at OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard.
- Caution signs, as defined in OSHA guidelines, are on a yellow background with black lettering. They indicate a potentially hazardous situation that may result in a minor injury or caution against unsafe work practices. They warn against hazards capable of resulting in severe, but not irreversible, injury or damage. Caution signs may also alert against unsafe practices that could cause property damage.
- Danger signs are red, black, and white, following the OSHA guidelines. Danger signs have the signal word “DANGER” in white letters at the top on a rectangular safety red background. They indicate immediate and grave danger, usually requiring special safety precautions. They also indicate hazards capable of producing irreversible injury or property damage and a prohibition against the activity.
- Emergency instruction signs, in accordance with OSHA guidelines, are white with a green upper panel with white lettering. Instructive text on the lower panel is in black lettering. They instruct employees on an emergency process (like first aid). They look similar toposters.
- Exit signs, following OSHA guidelines, are red or green. They show the location of the nearest exit using an arrow. An arrow should not be used if the exit path continues straight ahead. Exit signs with a symbol of a person and an arrow pointing toward the exit should make the person and the arrow face the same direction.
- Fire and emergency signs, as per OSHA guidelines, have a signal word in white on a red background. They point to fire extinguishing equipment, fire escapes and exits, gas shut-off valves, sprinkler drains, and lifesaving equipment, like defibrillators.
- Informational signs, aligned with OSHA guidelines, display “NOTICE” in white on a blue background in the upper panel. They provide general information to avoid confusion or misunderstanding. The lower panel is white with additional wording or symbols in blue or black. Alternatively, the entire sign may be white letters on a blue background.
- Safety instruction signs, as recommended in OSHA guidelines, are on a white background with a green panel and white lettering. They provide notices about health, first aid, medical equipment, sanitation, housekeeping, and general safety. OSHA notes that any lettering on the white background should be black.
- Slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblems, in compliance with OSHA guidelines, are fluorescent yellow-orange triangles with dark red reflective borders. They identify vehicles that move slowly (25 mph or less) on public roads. Emblems are not clearance markers for wide machinery, nor do they replace required lighting or markings on SMVs. They should be highly visible and reflective for day or nighttime use.
The materials used to manufacture safety signs matter
According to OSHA guidelines, all signs must have rounded or blunt corners and avoid:
- Burrs
- Projections that create hazards
- Sharp edges
- Splinters
The fastening devices for hanging signs (like bolts, nails, or screws) aren’t hazardous unless they protrude, creating a physical hazard for employees.
Rules related to sign visibility and distance
OSHA guidelines stipulate that signs must be visible and readable to ensure safety.
- Signs, signals, and barricades must remain visible while work is being performed, removedor covered only when the associated hazard no longer exists.
- The signal word on a sign (e.g., “DANGER” or “CAUTION”) must be readable from at least 5 feet away. If the hazard is more than 5 feet from the sign, it should be readable from a distance that provides sufficient warning.
- Signs must be illuminated if the area lacks sufficient lighting to read them easily.
Select signs based on the job hazards in your business
Your signage needs will vary based on workplace hazards and the types of jobs your employees perform. Conduct a hazard analysis and consult OSHA guidelines before purchasing signs, deferring always to OSHA’s standards on accident prevention signage and tags, as well as its signs, signals, and barricades standards. In the absence of specific OSHA guidelines, use the following:
- American National Standards Institute — OSHA standard 1910.6 mandates accident prevention signs and physical hazard markings to meet or exceed the standards cited in subparts 1910.6(e)(59), (66), and (67).
- Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways — Per OSHA 1926.6, flaggers must utilize the signals and wear the safety garments described in Part 6 of the Manual for Temporary Traffic Control.
Stay in compliance and model safety
Adhering to compliance is crucial, but safety signs also demonstrate your commitment to your employees’ well-being. Model safe behaviors by:
- Performing job hazard assessments annually
- Investigating all safety incidents and near-misses
- Maintaining vigilance about safety protocols
- Rewarding safe behaviors
- Encouraging employees to report hazards, including missing signs and tags
- Ensuring a workplace free from fear and retaliation
A safe workplace enhances morale, reduces turnover, and helps control workers’ compensationrates. Refer to OSHA guidelines for environmental control specifications for more detailed information on accident prevention signs and tags. Be a safety role model and engage your employees with effective safety signage.
