Industry Updates, Regulations, Safety

What Signage Do You Need for Your Site?

Posted on by Christine Cascio
27
Mar

One of the most essential aspects of a construction site is the proper safety signage. Signage is quintessential to operating a safe construction site. Signage is used for highlighting the dangers and hazards one will come across while on the jobsite, keeping workers aware of their surroundings to prevent potential accidents.

OSHA’s guideline for safety signage is highlighted in 1910.145. Under this rule, safety signs must be utilized that identify hazards and outline design requirements, as well as when these signs should be posted. These design elements are expanded upon in the ANSI Z535 standard, which utilizes alert symbols and pictograms to communicate hazards.

The ANSI Standard

The ANSI Z535 standard dictates every aspect of sign design, with the six following standards:

When using safety signs, it is important to use the most updated version of the Z535 safety sign standard. The last update to the standard was 2011. Replacing ANSI signs is voluntary but recommended to avoid confusion.\

Jobsite Awareness

OSHA’s recommendation for safety signs are for the worker to be aware of their own work environment. Every worker on the construction site must be alert and be aware of the signs posted. These signs include:

  • Admittance
  • Fire Safety
  • General Safety
  • Notices
  • Non-Hazard
  • Traffic Signs

Many signs exist mainly to identify the construction site’s surroundings for the worker and the pedestrians that may surround the site. In New York City, millions of pedestrians walk past construction sites, so traffic signs and warning signs are beneficial to their awareness of the site they’re walking past on their daily commute.

Severity Classification

OSHA and ANSI have established three primary severity classifications for safety signs. The following types of signs are found on construction sites, ranked by severity of the hazard:

  • Caution: These signs indicate that potential hazards may exist; if not avoided, they may result in minor or moderate injuries. Caution signs use a yellow background.
  • Warning: Warning signs describe a hazard that could result in death or serious injury if not avoided. Warning signs have an orange background.
  • Danger: Danger signs indicate that death or serious injury will occur if the immediate hazard is not avoided. Danger signs use a red background.

The signs listed above should be placed where the environment poses a potential hazard.

Safety Supplies Unlimited Provides Signage

Safety Supplies Unlimited offers a wide variety of signage for your construction sites. Our signs meet ANSI standards, and are ready to be transported and delivered onto your sites to keep it compliant and safe for your workers and the public. The use of signage on sites is one of the main ways to keep workers aware of the various hazards they come across on the jobsite. More for information on our signage products, as well as our other safety equipment, contact us today