Safety signage is often posted to make everyone aware of a hazard, but when signage is overwhelming, unclear, vague, improperly placed or poorly maintained, its true purpose can become minimized or defeated.
OSHA
requires specific types of signs:
DANGER
signs indicate an immediate hazard that could cause death or severe injury, and the worker must take precautions to avoid the hazard. These signs are red with white letters.
WARNING
signs indicate that the hazard could result in serious injury or death. The sign must be orange with black letters.
CAUTION
signs indicate that a hazard may result in minor to moderate injuries and to warn against unsafe actions. The sign must be yellow with black letters.
NOTICE
signs provide general information. These signs are blue with white letters. Green signs with white letters are used for general safety messages.
Changing behavior
According to “Industrial Safety and Hygiene News,” some people view signage as “due diligence” and post signs everywhere, but having too many signs in a workplace is overwhelming and can be counterproductive. Employees could ignore signage for more severe hazards, ignore all of the signage because it’s just too much to take in at one time, or not really see a specific sign because something else caught their attention.
