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When you think of “danger” signs and tags, what colors come to mind? There’s a good chance you think of red, black, and white. How about a “caution” sign? Yellow and black, right? For conveying a message quickly, a sign or tag’s color is just as important as the text. Because certain colors have been associated with specific messages, using those same color schemes makes it all the more consistent and efficient. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the colors for safety signs and tags follow general schemes provided in the OSHA 29 CFR 1910 regulations.
OSHA has established requirements throughout 29 CFR 1910 regarding the color of safety signs and tags. General industry employers must follow the color schemes specified if the sign or tag requirement applies. However, where no color scheme is presented by a sign or tag requirement, the employer must follow the color codes presented at 1910.145.
In addition, where no sign or tag is specifically required by the regulations, employers must turn to 1910.145 to determine if a sign or tag is required anyway. Specifically:
Note: For general industry, ANSI Z535.2-2011, Environmental and Facility Safety Signs, is only adopted by reference for the Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills Standard at 1910.261, not 1910.145. Also, ANSI Z535.2-2011 has a slightly different and more modern color scheme for signs than federal OSHA 1910.145. On the other hand, ANSI Z535.5-2011, Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes (for Temporary Hazards), has a similar color scheme for tags as federal OSHA Appendix A to 1910.145. However, OSHA has not stated whether or not following ANSI Z535.2 or ANSI Z535.5 would be compliant with 1910.145.
It is important to note that consensus standards that are not incorporated by reference do not become an OSHA standard having the force of law. What’s more, application of a consensus standard that contradicts an OSHA standard may be a violation, unless a variance is sought. It is unclear whether OSHA would consider it a “de minimis” violation to follow ANSI Z535.2 and/or ANSI Z535.5 rather than 1910.145. Until OSHA clarifies its position on the use of ANSI Z535.2 or ANSI Z535.5 for general industry (beyond pulp, paper, and paperboard mills), employers are urged to carefully follow 1910.145 for sign or tag color coding.
Commodity | Type of marking or placard |
---|---|
Explosives, Class A, any quantity or a combination of Class A and Class B explosives | Explosives A (Red letters on white background) |
Explosives, Class B, and quantity | Explosives B (Red letters on white background) |
Oxidizing material (blasting agents, ammonium nitrate, etc.), 1,000 pounds or more gross weight | Oxidizers (Yellow letters on black background) |
Sign | Used to | Color scheme required for general industry |
---|---|---|
Danger sign | Indicate immediate danger or immediate hazard and that special precautions are necessary. | The colors red, black, and white shall be those of opaque glossy samples as specified in:
|
Caution sign | Warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices. Indicate a possible hazard against which proper precaution should be taken. | Yellow background, with a black panel with
yellow letters. Any letters used against the yellow background shall be black. The colors shall be those of opaque glossy samples as specified in:
|
Safety instruction sign | Convey general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measures. | White background, with a green panel with white letters. Any letters used against the white background shall be black. The colors shall be those of opaque glossy samples as specified in:
|
Slow-moving vehicle emblem | Used as a unique identification for, and shall be used only on, vehicles which by design move slowly (25 m.p.h. or less) on the public roads. The emblem is not a clearance marker for wide machinery nor is it intended to replace required lighting or marking of slow-moving vehicles. | This emblem consists of a fluorescent yellow-orange triangle with a dark-red reflective border. The material, location, mounting, etc., of the emblem must be in accordance with the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Emblem for Identifying Slow-Moving Vehicles, ASAE R276, 1967, or ASAE S276.2 (ANSI B114.1-1971). See Figure J-7 at 1910.145. |
Biological hazard (biohazard) sign | Signify the actual or potential presence of a biohazard and identify equipment, containers, rooms, materials, experimental animals, or combinations thereof, which contain, or are contaminated with, viable hazardous agents. | No color scheme is specified in 1910.145. However, 1910.1030 specifies that the signs required under that regulation must be fluorescent orange-red or predominantly so, with lettering and symbols in a contrasting color. |
Unless specifically stated elsewhere in 29 CFR 1910, when affixing tags in general industry, follow the OSHA-recommended color schemes at 1910.145. They are as follows:
Tag | Used | Color scheme recommended (not required) for general industry |
---|---|---|
Danger tag | In major hazard situations where an immediate hazard presents a threat of death or serious injury to employees. | Red, or predominantly red, with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color. |
Caution tag | In minor hazard situations where a non-immediate or potential hazard or unsafe practice presents a lesser threat of employee injury. | Yellow, or predominantly yellow, with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color. |
Warning tag | To represent a hazard level between “Caution” and “Danger,” instead of the required “Caution” tag. | Orange, or predominantly orange, with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color. |
Biological hazard tag | To identify the actual or potential presence of a biological hazard and to identify equipment, containers, rooms, experimental animals, or combinations thereof, that contain or are contaminated with hazardous biological agents. | Fluorescent orange or orange-red, or predominantly so, with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color. |