OSHA Danger & Safety Signs

Each day loyal employees arrive to their jobs ready to meet new challenges and earn an honest paycheck. Unfortunately not every employee that clocks in will return home when the day ends. Every year thousands of workers are injured and killed while faithfully serving their employers and supporting their families. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commonly referred to as OSHA, is a federal US agency tasked with assuring safe and healthy working conditions to employees. Since its establishment in 1970, OSHA has set and enforced workplace standards to ensure safe working conditions for American employees.

While OSHA is responsible for establishing workplace standards, investigating complaints and training both workers and employers, we’d like to call attention to products OSHA mandates to avoid accidents and protect workers. Danger signs and caution signs play a vital role in workplace safety, communicating to employees present and potential dangers with materials and equipment they use.

Danger Signs
Workplace danger signs are used to alert an employee of a current unsafe situation. Danger signs utilize a red background at the top of the sign, use the word “DANGER”, and relay additional information about the scenario at the bottom of the sign.  Examples of Danger signs include high voltage signs, biohazard, chemical fire and poison signage.

Caution Signs
Caution signs use yellow as the predominant color, contain the word “CAUTION”, and advise employees they are at risk of injury if they are not aware of their surroundings. Common caution signs include Caution: Hot, eye protection required, men working, watch your step and hard hat area. Not adhering to these warnings increases the risk of injury in the workplace.

Other examples of workplace signs designed to promote safety include floor warning cones, storage tank collars, fire extinguisher signs, hazardous material placards and smoking policy signs. In the end, workplace safety requires both the employee and employer to be aware of potential risks, constantly follow in place safety measures and report dangerous situations. With the proper workplace safety signs, your employees will be more aware of potential dangers and chance of workplace injuries will be greatly reduced.