April Safety Newsletter
Why Are Safety Signs Important?
Keeping workers safe is an employer’s obligation as well as having a visual communication strategy, namely safety signs. Safety signs play a large part in keeping facilities compliant and employees knowledgeable. It is critical for workers to understand the types of hazards in the workplace, the level of risk the hazard presents and what precautions to take. Safety signs also encompass NOTICE signs as well as Safety Instruction signs to keep workers well-informed. These types of signs will alert workers of where first aid kits are, locations of emergency eyewash stations etc., and & provide information in a clear and concise manner.
Safety Signs – Types & Meanings
Danger signs indicate an immediate hazard which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. Danger signs should be limited to the most extreme situations and signify special precautions are necessary.
Warning signs represent a hazard level between caution and danger. “Warning” indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
Caution sign indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury. Caution signs are used in areas where potential injury or equipment damage is possible, or to caution against unsafe practices. Caution signs should only be used if there is a risk of personal injury.
Notice signs provide general information that is important or relevant to a building, an area, a machine, or equipment. Notice signs address practices not related to personal injury.
General Safety signs are used to provide notices of general practice and rules relating to health, first aid, medical equipment, sanitation, housekeeping, and suggestions relative to general safety measures.
Fire Safety signs are used to indicate the location of emergency fire-fighting equipment. Unlike other signs, they do not require a header.
Admittance signs bridges all of the above categories. Admittance messages may be included on a sign with any header. You might decide to put “Unauthorized Personnel, Keep Out” on a danger, warning, caution, or notice sign.
Safety Symbols – Signs and labels may include safety symbols, often called pictograms pictorials, or glyphs. Safety symbols can portray required actions, consequences, explicit direction, or the effects of interaction with certain chemicals, machines, and other hazards.
