Safety Tip of the Week – Warning: Read the Signs

Safety signs provide us with vital hazard information in several ways: through colors, words, and pictures. Signs tell us where the hazards are and how to protect ourselves against the danger. Safety signs come in all sizes, colors, and shapes. Knowing what these signs mean and following their instructions is a key to safety.

Many accidents occur simply because a worker fails to pay attention to an obvious warning sign. Others are injured because someone forgets to post a sign. A simple, commonsense approach to warning signs can prevent many accidents.

Safety Signs:

• Red stands for danger. It identifies immediate hazards that will cause serious injury or death. Red also indicates the location of fire equipment and emergency exits.
• Orange means warning. Orange signs point to hazards that could cause serious injury or even death if you fail to take safety precautions. Examples: “Warning: Construction Area” or “Warning Biohazard. “Inspect electrical decorations for damage before use.
• Yellow signals caution. Yellow is linked to physical hazards that could cause minor or moderate injury. It’s often used to mark hazards that could cause someone to slip, trip, or fall. Other examples: “Caution: Forklift Traffic. Keep Clear,” or “Caution: Keep Hands Clear.”
• Green indicates the location of safety equipment, such as eyewash stations, emergency showers and first-aid kits.
• Blue signifies general information, such as notices about safety rules and procedures. For example, “Notice: Keep Area Clean.”
• Black and White are used to give instructions for housekeeping or to mark boundaries such as traffic aisles, stairways, and directional signs.
• Special signs are used just for biological hazards and radiation hazards. The biological hazard (biohazard) sign is florescent orange or orange-red with letters or symbols in a contrasting color. The biohazard sign alerts us to the presence or potential presence of blood or other biological hazards.

AVOID MOURNING…ACKNOWLEDGE A WARNING!!