• Accident prevention tags are a temporary way to mark unexpected or not readily apparent hazards and potential hazards.
• Both OSHA and ANSI have standards that relate to accident prevention tags.

A tag is a device usually made of cardstock, paper, pasteboard, plastic, or other material used to identify certain types of hazardous conditions.

Purpose

Accident prevention tags are used to prevent accidental injury or illness to employees who are exposed to hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions, equipment, or operations that are out of the ordinary, unexpected, or not readily apparent. They are meant to be temporary and must be used until the identified hazard is eliminated or the hazardous operation is completed.

According to 29 CFR 1926.200 for construction, accident prevention tags must be used as a temporary means of warning employees of an existing hazard, such as defective tools or equipment. They must not be used to substitute for accident prevention signs.

Related regulations and standards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has regulations that relate to accident prevention tags:

• 29 CFR 1910.145 — Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags.
• 29 CFR 1910.147 — The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).
• 29 CFR 1926.200 — Accident prevention signs and tags.
• 29 CFR 1926.417 — Lockout and tagging of circuits.

In general industry, when tagout is used to comply with 1910.147, not only will the employer need to meet the tag specifications of that regulation, but the employer will also need to meet the tag specifications of 1910.145. Refer to the Lockout/Tagout subject for more information about tagout.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) also has standards that relate to accident prevention tags:

• ANSI Z35.2-1968 — Specifications for Accident Prevention Tags.
• ANSI Z535.5-2011 — American National Standard for Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes (for Temporary Hazards).
• ANSI Z535.5-2017 — American National Standard for Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes (for Temporary Hazards).
• ANSI Z535.5-2022 — American National Standard for Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes (for Temporary Hazards).

Note that for construction, OSHA 29 CFR 1926.200 explains that ANSI Z35.2-1968 and ANSI Z535.5-2011 contain rules in addition to those specifically prescribed by 1926.200. Employers in construction must follow either ANSI Z35.2-1968 or ANSI Z535.5-2011, with respect to such additional rules, OSHA says.

Employee training in tags

According to 1910.145, employees in general industry and shipyards must be informed about the following:

• The meaning of the various tags used throughout the workplace, and
• What special precautions are necessary.

According to 1926.21, construction employees must be instructed about the following:

• Recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions, and
• Regulations applicable to their work environment to control or eliminate hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.