Compliance with the numerous safety standards that have been promulgated by agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can be complicated and confusing if one does not understand the philosophy used in writing these standards. This philosophy can probably be summed up in a specific section of the Occupational Safety and Health Act called the General Duty Clause, which states:
"Section 5 - Duties
(a) Each employer -
(1) shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees;..."
Recognizing that employers must have flexibility to design their own safety programs which meet the intent of the General Duty Clause all of OSHA's standard are written in what is called a "performance based" format. Using this format, the standard explains what must be accomplished but does not mandate the specific methods that must be used to meet compliance. Instead, it is left up to the employer to come up with a plan to assure the safety of the workplace. Consequently, many standards are very general in nature and safety professionals often find themselves referring to accepted industry standards when developing safe work practices for there employees. For example, nowhere in the OSHA standards does it say that remotely controlled air compressor systems display a sign warning that the compressor starts automatically. However, it is almost certain that an OSHA inspector would site a facility for not having such a sign on automatic compressors. Where is this safety precaution written? It is an industry standard that can be found in The Standard of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME B19.1-1995) which states in section 2.1.13.1 remotely controlled air compressor systems shall display a sign on the compressor exterior reading:
This standard also goes on to say that the sign should conform to yet another standard, ANSI Z535.1. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a privately funded organization that is often quoted in OSHA law whenever specific performance specifications are needed, such as specifications for safety signs.
Since OSHA standards are performance based, proper signs often become an important part of a
company's safety program. Once again, the law may not specifically state
that a particular sign is necessary but a proper sign may be part of an
accepted industry standard or may be the only way, or at least the simplest
way, that the presence of a particular hazard may be conveyed to
employees. It is for this reason that signs are so commonly used in industry
and that the choice of wording, color, and placement of signs are so
important in the workplace. The fact that ANSI has devoted a standard to the proper use of signs
warrants further discussion on the choice and use of signs in the workplace.
According to OSHA, 29CFR 1910.145 refers to a sign as a surface prepared to warn industrial workers or members of the public of hazards to which they may potentially be exposed. OSHA 29 1910.145 and ANSI Z535 require the use of safety signs to indicate and define specific hazards that without identification, may lead to accidental injury of workers and/or the general public or to property damage.
In general there are five categories of signs that may be used in the workplace:
Warning Signs
Indicate a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result
in death or injury. Warning sign headings must always be black on a safety
orange field.
Caution Signs
Indicate a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided may result in
minor or moderate injury. Caution Sign headings must always print black on a safety yellow heading.
Notice Signs
Indicate a statement of company policy related directly or indirectly to the safety of personnel or the
protection of property. Notice sign headings must always print blue on a white field.
Think/Be Careful/Safety First/and Other Safety Instruction Signs
Indicate general instructions relating to safe work practice, reminders of
proper safety procedures, and the location of safety equipment. General
safety sign headings should be printed green on white.
Color assists in orienting the viewer. Contrasting colors-for example, red on white or black on yellow aid legibility. ANSI has researched how people react to color. Here are some of ANSI's non-binding regulations.
Yellow
ANSI has designated safety yellow as the color for CAUTION when
marking physical hazards. It is often used with a band to indicate containers of dangerous materials.
In addition it is used with magenta in radiation signs. So for maximum effect of optimal visibility
under all lighting conditions solid yellow or black and yellow bands.
Orange
ANSI has designated safety orange to indicate dangerous parts of machines or energized equipment.
It's ideal for maximum visibility from long distances.
Blue
ANSI has designated safety blue as the color for informational signs not oriented toward safety.
Red
Considered the easiest color to recognize under any lighting condition red usually depicts emergency
and action, and is associated with fire, dangerous conditions, and urgency. Consequently, ANSI has
designated safety red to indicate danger and to tell readers to stop.
Green
Green is considered a peaceful color and is commonly thought to be the second easiest color to
recognize under any lighting condition. As a result, ANSI has designated green for the use in
identifying the location of first aid and other safety equipment.
As you can see, much time and thought has gone into the signs that you see everyday around campus. Signs play a major roll in protecting workers and the general public from the numerous hazards present in the workplace. They are not only necessary, but in many instances are required by law or have been incorporated into industry standards which often times are referenced in OSHA standards. Take the time to read and adhere to all signs in the workplace. Signs are valuable safety tools and ignoring their words could cost you your life! Don't become another accident statistic----Read and Obey all the signs in your workplace.
