Overview
In an effort to decrease the number of accidents and
injuries in the workplace, OSHA developed two standards on safety
color-coding and specifications for accident prevention signs and tags. A
sign refers to a surface on prepared for the warning of, or safety
instructions of, industrial workers or members of the public who may be
exposed to hazards. The information is located in 29 CFR 1910.144 and
1910.145.
What must I know?
There are a few different
means of designating signs and tags. Color and shape work well for the
purpose of communicating required information. The American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) has developed the following color scheme:
Safety colors:
- Red - Fire, danger, or stop
- Orange - Warning
- Yellow - Caution
- Green - Safety
- Blue - Notice
Shapes:
- Triangle - Hazard alerts
- Circle - Mandatory actions
- Square/rectangle - Information
- Circle with slash - Prohibited activity
According
to the National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association/American National
Standards Institute (NEMA/ANSI), the lettering must be in upper case
block letter, and large enough that a person with normal vision can read
it. The labels on piping also play a vital role in informing employees
and emergency personnel what is contained in the pipes in your
workplace. These labels are color-coded and include the substance name.
Labels on piping:
- Yellow - Flammable
- Green - Liquid, non-flammable
- Blue - Gaseous
- Red - Fire quenching material
Adequate
lighting should be available for signs so that the message is readable.
Your employer strives to maintain the safest workplace possible, and
the communication of hazards plays an important role. Knowing the
difference between red and green may sound simple, but it could save a
life.
This information was provided by: Assurance Agency
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