Workplace Safety Signs and Posters

FAQs

Why do I need safety signs for the workplace?

You need safety signs for many reasons. One reason is that in many spaces, it is a legal requirement. A second reason is that if you don’t have safety signs, it can be a liability. And a third reason is that it makes your space safer for you, your workers, and the public.

What are the mandatory safety signs for my workplace?

According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), most workplaces, regardless of industry, must have the following three safety signs throughout the workspace: Danger, Warning, and Safety Instruction signs.

Does OSHA have specific requirements?

Yes. When it comes to safety signs, there are specific OSHA requirements that also apply to construction safety signs. OSHA requires that all safety signs use specific colors, words, symbols, and have rounded corners. They should be placed in areas that are visible to everyone and readable from at least five feet away.

Signal words must be clear and simple enough to understand (Danger, Warning, and Caution). No sign can contain pictograms only. If a pictogram is included in a sign, it must be placed before the signal word. For colors, danger signs should only have red, black, and white colors. Safety instruction signs should have a white background with black text and green panels with white text. Caution signs should have a yellow background with black letters, and black panels with yellow letters.

What are ANSI standards for workplace safety signs?

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) consists of a series of standards for safety signage, including:   

1. Headers and words (Safety, Caution, Danger, etc.). 

2. Symbols to communicate specific dangers, prohibitions, and mandatory alerts. 

3. Text specifying the type of alert. 

4. Colors that specify the level of danger: Red (danger), orange (warning), yellow (caution), blue (notice), and green (safety instructions).

What kind of workplace safety and industrial signs do you offer?

At Square Signs, we offer several ready-made safety sign templates. These include but are not limited to: Road Work Ahead Signs, Caution Signs, Eye Protection Safety Signs, Warning Signs, No Smoking Signs, Danger Signs, and more.

What types of warehouse safety signs are the most effective?

Effective warehouse safety signs are placed in eye-level spacing, are visible, and use universally recognized symbols. These signs include hazard warnings, prohibition signs, emergency/first aid signs, instructions, and fire safety signs.

Which materials will work longer?

Metal signs like aluminum and dibond are rust and bend-resistant. PVC and styrene are waterproof. These features allow them to last for years.

Where should I place safety signs in my workplace?

You should place your safety signs on walls near machinery, emergency routes, high traffic areas, and any zone that contains biohazard materials.

Will these signs help provide machine safety?

Yes, because caution and warning signs can influence behaviors that lead to best practices.

Can I customize the sign based on my needs?

Yes. Square Signs offers a free design tool in which you can make your sign unique. However, you will still need to follow OSHA safety sign color requirements.

How do I choose material for my workplace safety signs?

To choose the right material for your workplace safety signs, you will want to know where you are going to place them and what kind of environment they will be in. Safety signs are typically made from aluminum, dibond, PVC, styrene, and paper.

What are the main differences between OSHA and ANSI safety signs?

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal agency that monitors and enforces workplace safety. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, nonprofit organization that oversees and coordinates the standards set forth by the U.S. federal government.

Since OSHA has adopted the practices developed by ANSI, the differences might seem confusing at first. The biggest difference is in the design. ANSI headers are color-coded, contain symbols, and upper/lower case letters that are left-justified.