Alerting, guiding, protecting – safety signs have always been present, regardless of the industry. They are there to warn of potential hazards and provide valuable safety information, thereby reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.

Safety signage in the workplace isn’t about compliance; it’s about saving lives. When employees immediately recognize hazards, whether from symbols, colors, or placement. Workplaces get safer and more efficient.

In this article, learn more about safety signage in the workplace. Also, learn about the significance of global workplace safety standards and compliance with key organizations, including OSHA, ISO, and ANSI.

What is Workplace Signage?

Safety signs aren’t just regulatory checkboxes; they are lifesaving tools. Studies show that clear visual indications reduce workplace accidents by up to 80% by:

• Alerting employees to immediate dangers (e.g., chemical spills, electrical hazards)
• Guiding safe behavior (e.g., “Wear PPE in this Area”)
• Ensuring compliance with OSHA and other standards

Workplace signage encompasses safety signage, industrial, and general facility signage strategically positioned within a facility to provide information and awareness, such as hazard warnings, directions, and required actions for employees, contractors, and visitors.

Without proper signage, businesses are at risk of penalties, lawsuits, and most critically put employees at harm. 

However, not all signs have the same meaning. Understanding the differences between safety, industrial, and general facility signage ensures proper usage and adherence to laws. These are the differences between the three: 

• Safety Signage

Safety signage is crucial for informing employees about potential hazards, providing emergency information, and ensuring compliance with workplace safety regulations. Ensuring compliance and efficiency, these signs must adhere to exact OSHA, ANSI, and ISO standards. 

Examples: “No Smoking”, “No Entry”

This form of signage is required in high-risk locations such as factories, construction sites, laboratories, and warehouses, where unambiguous hazard notification is critical to worker safety, according to OSHA. 

• Industrial Signage

The main purpose of industrial signage is to label equipment, outline processes, and communicate operational instructions within industrial settings.

Examples: “Loading Zone ”, “Keep Clear”

It is usually made for certain machinery, pipelines, or workflow directions to ensure smooth operations. They are built from robust materials such as metal, reflective vinyl, or laminated plastic that can withstand chemicals, weather, and heavy use.

• General Facility Signage

General facility signage acts as a welcoming guide for any building, providing clear wayfinding, branding, and administrative information.

Examples: “Restrooms → ”, “Visitor Parking” 

Unlike safety signs, these are more concerned with aesthetics and usability. Made of lighter materials such as acrylic, foam board, or vinyl, they combine functionality and design. Perfect for corporate offices, hospitals, retail stores, and schools. Their primary function is to improve navigation and operational efficiency.

Types of Safety Signs in the Workplace

Safety signage is required in all facilities, from manufacturing plants to warehouses and construction sites, to signal hazards and ensure regulatory compliance. Each sign type uses a distinct color, symbol, and wording to convey a clear safety message. 

The following are the main types of safety signs, according to OSHA, ANSI, and ISO standards.

• Danger Sign (Red)

Danger signs warn people about serious threats that could cause death or significant injury. 

These signs have a red background with white or black text, displaying the word “DANGER” clearly.

Some of its examples are “Danger: Do Not Enter” and “Danger: High Voltage.”

• Warning Sign (Orange)

It is a sign that warns that a moderate risk could lead to serious harm or health issues.

It comes with an orange background with black letters and is often located near machines, hot surfaces, or maintenance areas.

Some of its examples are “Warning: Authorized Personnel Only” and “Warning: Hot Surface.” 

• Caution Sign (Yellow)

Caution signs indicate possible hazards or unsafe actions that could result in minor to major injuries. They have a yellow background with black text and symbols. 

These are typically found in hallways, warehouses, and other areas where people frequently move around. These signs help prevent accidents before they happen.

Some of its examples are “Caution: Slippery When Wet” and “Caution: Open Door Slowly.”

• Mandatory Instruction Signs (Blue)

Mandatory signs inform people what they must do to stay safe. 

You can see it with a blue background with white text or pictures, and it is often placed near machines or areas that need safety gear. These signs help workers follow safety rules.

Some of its examples are “Wear Eye Protection” and “No PPE work.” 

• Emergency Information Signs (Green)

These signs are usually directed towards safety devices, exits, and emergency facilities.

They use a green background with white writing or symbols. These signs are essential for emergency preparedness. It should always be readily visible, unobstructed, and well-maintained to guide staff during emergencies.

Some of its examples are “Emergency Exit” and “Hand Sanitising Station.” 

•  Prohibition Signs (Red Slash Symbol)

Prohibition signs indicate what actions are not allowed for safety reasons. 

They typically feature a black image inside a red circle with a slash, on a white background. These signs help prevent risky behavior, especially in dangerous or restricted areas.

Some of its examples are “No Open Flames” and “Do not Enter.” 

Learn Signage Symbols Now

Signage symbols are essential in every industry. They provide rapid, universal communication, particularly in contexts with multilingual teams or high-risk assignments. 

These symbols in the workplace improve visual communication by making safety messages clear at a glance, without relying too heavily on text.

Standards such as ISO 7010 and ANSI Z535 draft the correct use of symbols, ensuring consistency and compliance with legal requirements. 

• ISO 7010: It standardizes graphical safety symbols for global recognition, thereby minimizing language barriers. 
• ANSI Z535: It focuses on U.S. safety signage, combining symbols with signal words and color codes to convey the severity of hazards.

Example: A flame symbol indicates the presence of flammable items, whereas a green cross signifies first aid. 

These are frequently seen on industrial signs, safety signage, safety labels, and posters.

Standardized signage and symbols improve danger communication and support the OSHA signage regulations under 29 CFR 1910.145. It also guarantees that all necessary warning signs are evident, recognized, and meet global safety standards.

Industrial Signs: Your Key Applications

Industrial signage is crucial in high-risk areas such as warehouses, factories, and construction sites. These signs enhance workplace visual communication, influence employee behavior, and support compliance with OSHA signage regulations under 29 CFR 1910.145.

Where Is Industrial Signage Used?

• Warehouses, Factories, and Construction Sites

• Warehouse – Signage in warehouses helps to indicate storage spaces, forklift lanes, emergency exits, and prohibited zones, lowering the risk of accidents in high-traffic areas. 
• Factories – Signs are implemented in factories to designate hazardous equipment, remind workers of personal protective equipment (PPE) needs, and enforce safe operating standards.
• Construction Sites – Signs on construction sites are important for communicating fall dangers, electrical hazards, and site entry limitations to ensure worker and visitor safety.

• Traffic and Floor Signs

Traffic signs and floor markings are used to direct pedestrian and vehicle traffic within industrial buildings, reducing collisions and increasing efficiency. These signs often contain arrows, speed limits, “Yield to Forklifts,” or “Walkway Only” markings. They must be strong enough to resist massive foot and equipment traffic.

• Equipment Safety Labels

Equipment safety labels are placed directly on machinery to warn of potential harm, such as moving parts, high voltage, or hot surfaces. 

These labels also indicate essential activities, such as “Lockout/Tagout Before Servicing,” which are necessary for operator safety and ensuring compliance with industrial signage standards, including ANSI Z535.4.

Signage Rules: Where Are They Defined?

Understanding where signage standards are developed is critical to ensuring compliance and improving hazard communication in any workplace or facility. 

Whether you are an EHS manager, a safety compliance professional, or a business owner, utilizing proper safety signage in the workplace is not only a best practice but also a legal requirement.

These guidelines outline the appearance, placement, and content requirements of signs.

The main regulatory sources are OSHA 1910.145, ANSI Z535 series, and ISO 7010 international standard. Each contributes significantly to the overall structure of workplace visual communication.

OSHA 

Known as the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, OSHA sets guidelines for ensuring safe working conditions. These laws apply to all general industry workplaces and establish the requirements for danger, warning, caution, and safety instruction signs. 

OSHA ensures that signs are visible, understandable, and properly used to reduce injuries at work.

ANSI Z535 

Another regulatory body is the American National Standards Institute. This nonprofit group sets frameworks for developing standards and quality assessment for designs, formatting, symbols, color codes in safety signage, and labels. 

They are frequently consulted when designing industrial signage, safety labels, and posters for modern workplaces.

ISO 7010

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO 7010) establishes rules and standards for food safety and healthcare. It provides an internationally recognized collection of safety symbols that are designed for quick, multilingual comprehension. 

These standardized symbols are used in industrial signage worldwide to provide consistent hazard communication. ISO 7010 promotes visual safety communication in varied and multilingual settings when written instructions may be inadequate.

The requirements for signs at your facility are most likely found in OSHA(1910 Subpart J), ANSI Z535, and ISO 7010 standards.

Safety Signage Best Practices

Workplace safety signage plays a vital role in hazard communication and preventing accidents. Follow these recommended practices to guarantee compliance and efficacy.

• Strategic Placement & Visibility

Strong signage design starts with how easily a text can be read and understood. Workers need to quickly comprehend what the signage is implying, even from a distance or under time pressure. 

Effective design incorporates bold headings (such as “DANGER” or “CAUTION”), large fonts, and uncluttered layouts. Icons or symbols in workplace enhance clarity, especially for multilingual teams. Also, use a shiny or high-contrast color for visibility.

• Durable Materials for Indoor/Outdoor Use

Durability is an important consideration in making safety signs effective. In industrial situations, paper signs quickly fade, rip, and fall off. Instead, utilize industrial-grade materials that can survive the environment in which they are situated.

• Employee Training

Even the most apparent sign loses its power if workers fail to comprehend it or ignore it due to excessive exposure. This is where training and frequent signage checks come in.

Train employees not just on what the signs say, but also on why they’re there and what behavior is anticipated. During onboarding, provide a walkthrough of important signs. Toolbox presentations, safety briefings, and occasional refreshers can all help to reinforce the employee’s understanding.

• Regular Audits & Updates

When it comes to workplace safety indicators, managers should begin by conducting a facility-wide communication audit. Evaluate each phase of a job hazard analysis to find any missing, out-of-date, or confusing signs.

Stop Making These Mistakes

A properly placed workplace safety sign can prevent an injury before it occurs. On the other hand, inconsistent or inaccurate signage can cause misunderstanding, resulting in accidents and penalties. 

Here are some mistakes you need to stop before an accident happens: 

• Wrong Colors & Shapes

One common mistake is using incorrect colors and shapes that do not comply with the standards of OSHA, ANSI, and ISO. The color palette is intentionally chosen to make the sign simpler to read and more visually attractive. 

Signs can be difficult to read if there is a low contrast between the writing and the backdrop, or if the colors clash.

• Don’t Let Signs Confuse People in Your Department

Signage that appears inconsistent across departments, where different areas of the facility have the same designs for varying hazards, can lead to misinterpretation, misunderstanding, and lessen the impact of the signage.

• Poor Visibility or Damaged Signs

Even the most effective safety signs might pose a risk if not properly maintained. Over time, signs may fade, get obscured, or show outdated information. When this occurs, the outcome is frequently bewilderment, noncompliance, or even catastrophic damage.

A classic example is electrical labeling. When electrical systems are improved or modified, the related risks frequently shift. An obsolete electrical safety sign may have inaccurate voltage information or PPE requirements, putting maintenance people and electricians at risk. Inaccurate labeling poses a threat to workers and violates OSHA safety sign regulations.

Bottom Line

Compliance with safety signage is more than simply a legal obligation; it’s a proactive tool that protects your employees and reduces risky situations. Signs that are properly placed, sturdy, and easily understood can help to reduce accidents, improve quick responses, and ensure that all workers are aware of the risks around them.

Don’t leave your facility’s safety to chance. Need help verifying your compliance? Contact us today for a facility signage audit or signage tools.

Ensure your compliance, and let’s work together to create a safer workplace.