Signal Word Glossary
The words and standards on our signs, and what each one means. The signal word tells the reader how bad the hazard is before they read another word.
DANGER
A hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. Red header, white letters. Reserved for the most extreme hazards. All DANGER signs.
WARNING
A hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury. Orange header, black letters.
CAUTION
A hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury. Yellow header, black letters.
NOTICE
Information that does not relate to personal injury: property damage, security, hygiene, housekeeping. Blue header, white letters.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS and safety green
Safety-related instructions and the location of safety equipment: first aid, eyewash, emergency shut-off. Green header, white letters.
ANSI Z535
The American National Standards Institute series that defines safety colors (Z535.1), facility safety signs (Z535.2), and product safety labels (Z535.4). It is the format OSHA references and the one trained readers recognize.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145
OSHA's specification for accident prevention signs and tags in general industry. It sets the color scheme for danger, caution, and safety instruction signs.
Permit-required confined space (PRCS)
Under OSHA 1910.146, a confined space with a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment risk, converging walls, or another serious hazard. Employers must post danger signs or otherwise inform workers that the space exists and requires a permit to enter. Guide.
Lockout/tagout (LOTO)
OSHA 1910.147, the control of hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance. LOTO signs mark equipment that must be isolated and locked before work begins. Guide.
Arc flash boundary
Under NFPA 70E, the distance from exposed energized conductors at which a person could receive a second-degree burn during an arc flash. Signs and labels mark the boundary and the PPE required inside it. Guide.
HazCom and GHS
OSHA 1910.1200, the Hazard Communication Standard, aligned with the Globally Harmonized System. It governs chemical labeling and hazard communication in storage and dosing areas. Guide.
Regulated area
An area demarcated under an OSHA substance-specific standard, such as respirable crystalline silica (1910.1053), where exposure may exceed the limit. The standard dictates the sign's exact wording. Regulated area signs.
NEC Article 555
The National Electrical Code article for marinas, boatyards, and docks. It requires permanent signs warning of potential shock hazard where electrical current may be present in the water. Guide.
NFPA 855
The standard for installation of stationary energy storage systems, including the signage required at battery energy storage enclosures. Guide.
ANSI Z136.1
The standard for safe use of lasers. It defines laser classes 1 through 4 and the signage for laser controlled areas. Guide.
Non-ferromagnetic
Not attracted by a magnet. Aluminum is non-ferromagnetic, which is why it is used for signage in MRI suites, where a steel sign could become a projectile. Guide.
811 and the tolerance zone
811 is the national call-before-you-dig number. The tolerance zone is the band on either side of a marked utility line where mechanized digging is restricted. Its width varies by state. Guide.