• The employer should assess the signage in the workplace to see whether signs need to be moved, updated, replaced, or added.

Even if a facility has safety signs, it’s beneficial to conduct a workplace assessment to:

• Assess what signs are present. This includes documenting where signs are in place and looking for signage concerns, such as illegible, inaccurate, or obstructed signs; inconsistent sign formats; several signs overloading the same location; or “signs” scribbled on a piece of paper.
• Determine which signs are needed. The following should be noted if they are unmarked: hazards, hazardous areas, safety/fire equipment, exit pathways, clearances, traffic areas, and machinery. Any entrances leading to areas that require personal protective equipment (PPE) should be considered, as should changes at work, maintenance areas, or company policies that may call for a sign.

Employees may be able to point out needed safety signs in their work areas. It may also be helpful to develop a checklist for each area of the workplace to ensure the assessment doesn’t miss anything. The following list of sign types offer some ideas:

After surveying the workplace and reviewing the notes, an employer should implement a plan to correct any signage issues and meet the sign needs of the facility.