In order to attempt to minimize injuries on construction sites, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires that safety signs be posted in and around areas that are deemed hazardous and have the potential to cause bodily harm. It is important to understand the messages given to you by construction site safety signs; they are displayed to deliver a clear health and safety message. Failing to abide by a sign might mean you lose your job, or your life. Most construction site accidents occur because someone didn’t follow the safety rules or got into a hurry and took a shortcut. When accidents happen, the site comes to a standstill. Down time, alone with the medical expenses accrued from accidents are the leading
If you work on construction sites, or have just walked past one, you are likely to have seen health and safety signage. The signs are displayed everywhere, from the site hoarding and entrance points, to various locations throughout the site where you are working. Construction site safety signs are there for a reason. They deliver important bit of information to you, warning you of hazards to watch out for or requirements that you must obey.
All safety signs have to conform to the Safety Signs Regulations, or OSHA standard. Being familiar with the different types of signs is very important. Here are some the most common:
Prohibition Signs
Examples: Stop, No Entry, No Smoking
These have a red circle with a cross bar on white background. Any lettering is black.
Meaning: DO NOT. YOU MUST NOT. STOP IT IF YOU ARE.
Mandatory Signs
Examples: Hard Hats must be worn, Keep locked shut
These have a solid blue circle with a white symbol and/or lettering.
Meaning: YOU MUST DO. OBEY.
Warning Signs
Examples: Danger, High Voltage, Asbestos, Work Overhead
These have a solid yellow triangle (point up) with a black border. Any symbol or lettering is also black on yellow.
Meaning: YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED, BE CAREFUL, BE AWARE.
Safe Condition Signs
Examples: Fire Exit, First Aid
These have a solid green square or oblong. White symbol or symbol and text.
Meaning: FOLLOW THIS SIGN TO REACH SAFETY.
Fire Equipment Signs
Examples: Fire Alarm, Hydrant, and Extinguisher.
These have a solid red rectangle with white symbols and/or lettering.
Meaning: HERE IS THE FIRE EQUIPMENT.
There are also customized signs that are unique to an individual site due to specific hazards. Examples could be:
Danger Signs
These signs are familiar to almost everyone and give clear warnings that one should proceed with extreme caution while on the construction site.
Notice Signs
These signs are meant to instruct individuals to first check with the office before entering the site. This ensures that someone knows you are on the site. Usually, one has to check in and out.
Caution Signs
Caution signs are everywhere. There are too many to attempt to name as these are usually site specific and therefore have to be customized to each site.
Now you should be able to understand some common construction site safety signs, and importantly, make sure that when you see one, you can follow the health and safety message and comply with the instruction. Visit http://www.speedysigns.com/signs/safety for more information.
If you work on construction sites, or have just walked past one, you are likely to have seen health and safety signage. The signs are displayed everywhere, from the site hoarding and entrance points, to various locations throughout the site where you are working. Construction site safety signs are there for a reason. They deliver important bit of information to you, warning you of hazards to watch out for or requirements that you must obey.
All safety signs have to conform to the Safety Signs Regulations, or OSHA standard. Being familiar with the different types of signs is very important. Here are some the most common:
- Prohibition Signs
- Mandatory Signs
- Warning Signs
- Safe Condition Signs
- Fire Fighting Equipment Signs
Prohibition Signs
Examples: Stop, No Entry, No Smoking
These have a red circle with a cross bar on white background. Any lettering is black.
Meaning: DO NOT. YOU MUST NOT. STOP IT IF YOU ARE.
Mandatory Signs
Examples: Hard Hats must be worn, Keep locked shut
These have a solid blue circle with a white symbol and/or lettering.
Meaning: YOU MUST DO. OBEY.
Warning Signs
Examples: Danger, High Voltage, Asbestos, Work Overhead
These have a solid yellow triangle (point up) with a black border. Any symbol or lettering is also black on yellow.
Meaning: YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED, BE CAREFUL, BE AWARE.
Safe Condition Signs
Examples: Fire Exit, First Aid
These have a solid green square or oblong. White symbol or symbol and text.
Meaning: FOLLOW THIS SIGN TO REACH SAFETY.
Fire Equipment Signs
Examples: Fire Alarm, Hydrant, and Extinguisher.
These have a solid red rectangle with white symbols and/or lettering.
Meaning: HERE IS THE FIRE EQUIPMENT.
There are also customized signs that are unique to an individual site due to specific hazards. Examples could be:
Danger Signs
These signs are familiar to almost everyone and give clear warnings that one should proceed with extreme caution while on the construction site.
Notice Signs
These signs are meant to instruct individuals to first check with the office before entering the site. This ensures that someone knows you are on the site. Usually, one has to check in and out.
Caution Signs
Caution signs are everywhere. There are too many to attempt to name as these are usually site specific and therefore have to be customized to each site.
Now you should be able to understand some common construction site safety signs, and importantly, make sure that when you see one, you can follow the health and safety message and comply with the instruction. Visit http://www.speedysigns.com/signs/safety for more information.