Any worksite should be well equipped with “Work Safety Signs” to protect the place & its employees from sudden & potential risks. Each sign belonging to the category of “Work Safety” has a unique message or purpose to convey to the employees as well as the common passerby. 

These mandatory “Work Safety Signs” not only minimize the possibility of severe accidents but also fabricate a healthy work atmosphere at the site. In this article, you can learn about each minute detail of a “Work Safety Sign”  such as, “the significance of the safety signs, the rules & parameters that a safety sign should comply with and the purpose these signs indicate etc.” 

What are the key intents of installing “Work Safety Signs” at an industrial location? 

The practical consideration behind the role of “Work Safety Signs” is beyond the primary purpose of making the employees & worksites safe. Here are the significant motives behind implementing certified safety signs in different industries. 

• Creating a regular safe environment for the public & employees
• Mandatory according to the law determined for industrial areas
• Easy education to the new employees at the worksite 
• Reduction in chances of severe accidents 
• Secured worksite 

How do the “Work Safety Signs” fulfill the above-listed purposes at an industry or other worksites? 

1. Ensuring The Daily Safety Of The Workplace – 

It is essential to make the employees feel safe in a highly risk-prone work site.  The presence of “Work Safety Signs” at any convenient & right location reminds the workers regularly about the hazardous place and essential precautions. 

These signs enable the employees to find the best possible solution in a daunting situation. Paving the way for the clients by providing them right directions, easy use of equipment and keeping them away from prohibited areas etc, makes them feel valued at the workplace. 

2. An unavoidable legal requirement at worksite –

When it comes to the legal requirement of work safety signs, the kind of business or worksite does not matter. According to Health & Safety Regulations 1996, each worksite must be well equipped with the basic to advanced signage. In the case of neglecting the work safety signs, the authority of the industrial area or any other worksite will be answerable to the legal departments that are liable for the safety of employees & public. 

3. Smooth guidance to the new employees – 

Safety signs often act as a silent communicator to the employees and especially to the new joiners. By installing clear and adequate work safety signs at required spots of the entire site the management of the workplace not only saves the employees from hazards but also saves plenty of time and effort that may be consumed in directing the workers. 

Therefore it is essential to invest in installing enough and worthy work safety signs at the worksite to enhance its overall efficiency & safety standards. 

4. Reduction in severe accidents – 

The supreme aim behind facilitating the whole work area with meaningful “Work Safety Signs” is to prevent acute accidents that can cause deaths or severe injuries to the workers as well as to the passersby. Worksites like industrial areas, construction sites, marine businesses like seafood industries, etc always remain surrounded by the public also. 

Hence the significance of the “work safety signs” is not limited to the interior areas of a workplace but the outdoor spots that are accessible by the public should also be equipped with signage. For the outdoor areas close to a worksite, only durable, waterproof and visible safety signs should be placed. 

5. Safety of the worksite – 

Along with the safety of the employees working at the site, it is crucial to secure the premises as well from any damage or collapse. These signs also indicate the restriction of public entry from specific areas of the worksite that are designed to be accessed only by the employees or authoritative people. 

Which “Work Safety Signs” belong to the basic requirement of a worksite? 

Depending on the nature of materials produced at a commercial workplace or the risk associated with the construction site, the “work safety signs” should be picked and placed. Based on such requirements, the safety signs can be classified into 5 primary categories. 

Take a quick view of them. 

• Signs that indicate “Danger” – According to the OSHA and ANSI safety guidelines, all the worksites that pose higher chances of sudden occurrence of death causing accidents in the absence of proper precautions, must fit safety signs indicating “Danger” in big volumes. These signs are printed in vibrant colors like Red, Black and White etc.

• Signs that indicate “cautiousness” – Usually places like loading and unloading areas, ramps, stairs and wet areas etc are equipped with “Cautious Signs”. These locations can cause moderate injuries to the employees if there is no indication of the nature of the location through an appropriate “Work Safety Sign”.

• Signs that indicate “warning” – There is a difference between the Warning signs and Danger signs. The safety signs that demonstrate a place or equipment prone to highly hazardous traits can be considered warning signs. These signs include black graphics on a bright orange background.

• Signs that indicate ” notice or instruction” – These safety signs guide the workers regarding safe passage, how to handle equipment or machinery and the procedure of producing the required material etc. Such indicators boost the efficiency of workers and enable the worksite to achieve desirable outcomes. One can find these safety signs or instructions written in white color on a blue or black background. 

• Signs that indicate a specific “Condition” – These safety signs represent the safety tool kits, green areas (safe areas), safe exits and safe passages if the worksite confronts a hazardous situation. One can view them on a green or black background and the signs or main text should be given in bold black color. 

How can you highlight the “Work Safety Signs” and the purpose of installing them at the worksite? 

1. The work safety signs are only useful for the employees if they are easily visible from all the angles at worksite. 
2. Placing them at a redundant location will not benefit the employees. 
3. Regular guidance and sessions for updating the workers are mandatory at the worksite. 
4. The instructions or signs should be bold and large enough so that workers can easily understand them. 
5. The signs must comply with the protocols determined by the OSHA and ANSI authorities that are liable for the safety of employees, workplaces and common people.