Safety Signs & Symbols
Within the United States, standard safety signs are posted to warn of specific conditions and potential hazards. The symbols used on the signs are uniform so that every sign in every workplace throughout the U.S. looks the same. The safety signs and symbols standards are set by OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Act. OSHA was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Nixon on December 29, 1970. OSHA mandates that the responsibility of ensuring safety standards is to be shared equally by employers and employees.
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Signs and Symbols
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Requirements regarding safety signs and symbols appear in many subsections of the OSHA statute. Safety signs are defined as a document or "surface" prepared for the purpose of warning workers or members of the public who might be exposed to problems or hazards. The signs may provide a warning of safety dangers or instructions for responding to hazards that are present. OSHA lays out rules for the kinds of symbols and signs that need to be posted at the workplace and also the design and color for these signs.
Types
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Many different types of safety signs are mandated by OSHA. Some of the most commonly used signs warn of danger or warn people to exercise caution.
Danger signs are posted only where an immediate hazard exists. An immediate hazard means there is imminent risk of harm as a result of the situation or environment. All safety signs that warn of danger must use the same symbol: there must be red in the upper panel, a black outline on the borders and a white lower panel for extra information about the type of danger.
Caution signs are displayed in areas or places where there is an imminent or potential danger. They are designed to alert people of the need to be careful to minimize or avoid these dangers and hazards. The main panel of these caution signs has to be in yellow and should be accompanied by black upper panels; the word "caution" must be in yellow, and additional wording must be in black.
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Posting Requirements
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Posting requirements vary according to the nature of the sign and the situation it warns of. For example, when a building is under construction, the signs relating to construction, described in OSHA Section 1926, need to be hung in conspicuous locations until the construction is finished. These signs warn that construction is under way and use a standard "hat" symbol if a hard hat is required to ensure safety in the construction zone.
Time Frame
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If signs warn of hazards or possible accidents at the workplace, they have to be in place for as long as the hazard is present or as long as the potential for accidents exists. General signs about workplace accidents and OSHA regulations often must be in place for the duration of the existence of the company, because there is always some potential for workplace accidents.
Reasons for Safety Symbols
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The reason for providing prominent symbols and signs at the workplace is to ensure that anyone and everyone who is near a hazard can be sufficiently alerted to danger. The standard and uniform nature of the signs ensures that people from different states or locations, or people who are unable to fully read and understand written warnings, will still be aware of potential dangers.
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