Safety Sign Information - The Sign Genius

Safety Symbols

ANSI Z535.2 2002 encourages the use of safety symbols whenever practical to do so. There are 4 types of safety symbols that communicate different messages: Hazard Alerting, Prohibition, Mandatory Actions, and Information.

Hazard Alert Symbol
This is the general warning symbol. It is used to alert the user to potential hazards. All safety messages that follow this symbol shall be obeyed to avoid possible harm.

Prohibition Symbol
This type of safety symbol conveys actions that should not be taken or should be stopped. For prohibition, use of the surround shape is mandatory

Mandatory Symbol
This type of safety symbol conveys actions that should be taken to avoid hazards. If a surround shape is desired, the symbol should consist of a white image within a solid safety blue circular surround shape.

Information Symbol
This type of safety symbol is generally used on General Safety or Fire Safety Signs to convey equipment location, egress, permitted actions and fire equipment location

ANSI Z535.2-2002 Message Panel Recommendations

ANSI Z535.2-2002 recommends the combination of upper and lower case sans serif text. Upper case only lettering may be used for short messages or emphasis of individual words.

Use Direct Statements:
Safety signs are intended to communicate information quickly enough to allow a person to understand it and take appropriate actions to avoid the hazard. Reaction times can be reduced by using the simplest and most direct statements possible.

Use Action Statements:
These are instructions of how to avoid hazards. The statement should be accurate, simple, direct and relevant to the hazard.

Hazard Description:
Identifies the specific hazard with clear and simple language.

Consequence Statement:
Use clear, accurate and simple language to warn persons of potential consequences if the warning is ignored.

Emergency Information:
A telephone number or other contact information should go on sign after the Action, Hazard description and consequences statements.

ANSI Z535.2-2002 Facility Safety Sign Design

Environmental & Facility Safety Signs:
These signs are usually larger because they are observed at further distances. The signs usually contain lesser amounts of information for visual clarity at a distance. Signs should be placed in a clearly visible locations and should be protected from damage and obliteration.

Safety Sign Objectives:

1. To alert persons of an existing or potential hazard.
2. To identify hazards.
3. To describe the nature of the hazard.
4. To explain the potential consequences of exposure to the potential hazard.
5. To instruct persons how to avoid the hazards.

Safety Signs in Compliance With ANSI Z535-2002 Standards

ANSI Z535.2-2002 Environmental Signs Format

Note the difference between older ANSI Safety Signs and newer ANSI safety signs.  Most people would recognize the "Danger" header on the top, and many locations still use that header, but the current ANSI standards call for the "Danger" header on the bottom below:

   

These new styles, as the illustration shows, are dramatically different than the older formats. There is a different header with the safety alert symbol, and each of the signs have a graphic symbol that closely represents the written warning in the message panel. The message panel must now contain specific information such as; identification of the hazard, ways to avoid the hazard and consequences of not avoiding the hazard.

These illustrations are from www.safetysign.com.  The specific page on their site that more detailed information can be found is here: Safety Sign ANSI Standards