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| ANSI
Z535 and the OSHA §1910.14 Specifications for Accident Prevention
Safety Signs
require the use of safety signs to
indicate specific hazards that, without identification, may lead to accidental
injury to workers and/or the public, or lead to property damage. Keep
signs simple and concise, but also make sure they communicate sufficient
information so that the message is clear. OSHA compliant safety labels should be designed to the same standards as safety signs. For example, they should use the same colors as signs. Be consistent in your design so that your labels look like your signs. Variations in design can result in confusion and result in more time needed to read and understand the label. Consistent design of labels and signs, the colors used, how safety symbols are used, and what the header looks like all help communicate critical information quickly
Types & Meanings
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. Signs and
labels may include more than one pictorial to show a sequence of events for one
hazard. Safety symbols should be consistent, readable, and easily understood.
They usually consist of a black image on a white background. Surround Shapes - You may consider using a surround shape. However, a surround shape will decrease the available space for a symbol. Surround shapes should not be used if they detract from the major message. HAZARD ALERTING - You can use this surround shape to highlight a hazardous condition. The symbol should be drawn within a black equilateral triangle and can include a yellow background.MANDATORY ACTION - This type of symbol conveys actions that must be taken to avoid hazards. This symbol consists of a white image within a solid blue or black circle.PROHIBITION - For actions that should not be taken, this surround shape is required. It consists of a red or black circle with a diagonal slash at 45° from the upper-left to the lower-right.
INFORMATION - The square (or rectangular) surround shape is typically used to convey equipment location, places of exit, and permitted actions.Safety Symbols When appropriate, you may use a graphic representation that
conveys your message without using words. The safety symbol should “describe the
type of hazard, or evasive/avoidance actions to be taken” ANSI Z535.2-2007
(8.1.2). Safety symbols should effectively communicate the message, be easily
understood, and be visible from a safe distance. Message Panel - The message panel describes a hazard, indicates how to avoid it, and advises workers of the consequences of not avoiding the hazard. Always follow these basic guidelines:• Use left-aligned text • Use sentence-style capitalization • Use sans-serif fonts (such as Helvetica) • Avoid prepositional phrases • Write in “headline style” • Use active voice When determining the order of the message content, consider the target audience’s prior knowledge of the hazard and the necessary reaction time required to avoid dangerous consequences. Also, make sure that the most urgent message is the most prominent. OSHA 1910.145(e)(2) states: “The wording of any sign should be easily read and concise. The sign should contain sufficient information to be easily understood. The wording should make a positive, rather than negative suggestion and should be accurate in fact.” Employee Training Employers are required to conduct training to ensure workers understand the various types and meanings of signs in their facilities. The best time to train is during new hire safety orientation and during annual safety refreshers. Showing and explaining safety signs and their meanings in company newsletter and on employee bulletin boards will also help improve employees’ awareness of hazard signs. Effective employee training includes showing every type of sign, tag and label used. You should also provide an explanation of each purpose, meaning and what you expect employees to do when they encounter specific signs, labels or tags. Take special care to fully show and explain your hazard communication - chemical safety labeling program, which is also required by OSHA. Sign Placement Place hazard signs as close to the hazard as possible to create a definite link between the message and the hazard. Placing a group of hazard signs on a door, entryway or wall is asking for confusion. Let’s take a look at a typical plant maintenance shop. Every bench mounted tool should have hazard signs posted that require the use of eye protection and any other operation hazard that is applicable to the specific tool. These signs should be placed so that they are highly visible to the tool operator. How you treat your signs sends a message Over time signs become faded, damaged and totally useless for the intended hazard message. Outdated, faded or damaged signs send a negative message about your emphasis on safety. To show employees that the hazard sign messages are important, replace them (the signs not the employees) as soon as they have any wear or damage. Have replacement signs available - stock enough replacement signs so there is no wait when a sign needs to be replaced. Sign Language Barrier Being able to employ a diverse language workforce is essential in some industries. Using pictogram type safety signs to convey a hazard message can break reading or language barriers. To ensure that non-English speaking employees understand, some companies are employing translators to accompany trainers on facility tours with new employees to explain specific signs and their meanings. The food industry, which employees many non-English speaking Hispanic workers has seen the importance of bilingual signs. While bilingual signs are helpful, experience has shown that, as an example, not all "Hispanic" peoples speak or read the Spanish language the same - many words have entirely different meanings to various groups of peoples classified as "Hispanic". The same is true for many other ethnic groups. Temporary Signs Certain operations may require the use of temporary visual warning. One of the most familiar is the "wet floor" sign placed by custodians. Others include those placed at boundaries of electrical work areas, confined space entry operations, temporary containment for asbestos removal or chemical spill cleanup. OSHA also requires that if work exposes energized or moving parts that are normally protected, danger signs must be displayed and barricades erected, to warn other people in the area. Information Signs Beyond the typical "Notice" signs, there is sometimes the need for more detailed information signs that provide complex instructions. Generally, these are in the form of Posted Operating Instructions for equipment or processes that require specific step-by-step procedures to ensure safe operation. Plastic laminated paper instruction can be used in areas that are clean and dry, however, photoengraved metal signs will last longer, especially in areas that have wet or dirty operations. Exit Signs OSHA requires that Exits be marked by a readily visible sign with plainly legible letters not less than 6 inches high and illuminated on the surface to at least a value of 5 foot-candles. Most "glow in the dark" signs do not meet this lighting requirement. Access to exits must also be marked by signs showing the direction (arrows) of the exit or way to reach it. Additionally, any door, passage, or stairway which is neither an exit nor a way of exit access, and which may be mistaken for an exit, must be identified by a sign reading "Not an Exit" or by a sign indicating its actual use, such as "To Basement," "Storeroom," "Linen Closet," or the like. Chemical Hazards In the workplace, OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard requires that each container of hazardous chemicals is labeled, tagged or marked. The identity of the hazardous chemical and appropriate hazard warnings, words, pictures, symbols must provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemical. Signs, placards, process sheets, batch tickets, operating procedures, or other written materials may be substituted for labels on individual stationary process containers, as long as this method identifies the containers to which it is applies and provides the same information required on labels. Small, portable containers, intended only for the immediate use of an employee and not for storage, do not require labels. Existing labels on containers, provided by the manufacturer, may not be removed or defaced unless the container is immediately marked with the required information. Employee protection in public work areas Before work is begun in the vicinity of vehicular or pedestrian traffic which may endanger employees, warning signs and/or flags or other traffic control devices must be placed conspicuously to alert and channel approaching traffic. At night, warning lights must be prominently displayed. Aisles And Passageways Welding & Brazing CAUTION Brazing (welding) filler metals containing cadmium in significant amounts must have the following notice on tags, boxes, or other containers WARNING Brazing and gas welding fluxes containing fluorine compounds shall have a cautionary wording to indicate that they contain fluorine compounds. One cautionary wording recommended by the American Welding Society for brazing and gas welding fluxes reads as follows: CAUTION Permit-Required Confined Spaces Lockout/Tagout Fixed Extinguishing Systems Ladders Flammable Liquids No Smoking Signs Emergency Respirators Other Required Signs Signs, Tags & Labels
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