Understanding Safety Sign Types, Regulations and Applications

Most people nowadays recognize that the safety sign boards are for warning or guidance purposes. But when it comes to facilities and workplaces, it’s important to understand the specific types of safety signs, color coding, and rules defined by OSHA and ANSI. 

In this guide, we will talk about safety sign types, their regulations, applications, and much more. So you know exactly what each sign means, where to use (based on use case) and what are the consequences of neglecting safety signs.

What are Safety Signs?

Safety signs (often known as safety sign boards) are attractive, colorful, visual signs that communicate a workplace’s rules, safety instructions, hazard warnings, and mandatory actions. Their purpose is to warn, guide, inform or enforce any rules to people that can’t be handled any other way.

Apart from that, they are also used to guide people about certain directions, in a specific area or site. Safety signs come in different standard colors, symbols, fonts, and text that makes them even more eye-catching, quickly grab people’s attention and communicate a clear message.

Why Use Safety Symbols?

Well, there are a number of reasons why you should use safety signs at your worksites. Below, we have explained a few top reasons that these signs help:

• They work faster than words: Let’s say someone sees a red triangle with a lightning bolt. Even if they don’t read the text, they instantly instinct that there’s an electric hazard. That’s how symbols save time and deliver the message right away.
• They break language barriers: Sometimes workers at your facility speak different languages. Here, instead of writing instructions in five languages, you can place a safety symbol. Such as a “gas mask icon”, and everyone will know there’s a breathing hazard ahead.
• They help in emergencies: During emergencies, no one has time to stop and read signs. But if they spot a bold “Exit” arrow or a fire extinguisher icon, they’ll immediately know where to go.
• They prevent accidents: At your worksite, you can mark risky spots with symbols to alert or restrict your workers. For example, a forklift zone with a warning icon tells staff to stay cautious and avoid entering blindly.
• They keep you stay compliant: In many industries, placement of safety symbols are required by law. If you ignore them or place incorrect ones, you could face heavy fines or even get shut down.

Purpose and Importance of Safety Signs at the Workplace

The primary purpose of safety signs is simply to guide, warn, or restrict your workers and faculty about potential hazards in certain areas to prevent them from injury. 

But when it comes to importance, most facilities understand the essential need of safety signs at worksites, but lack understanding of their importance. Below, we’ve explained a few crucial reasons why safety signs are important at workplaces:

Deliver Safety Messages Instantly

In high-risk industries, facilities provide workers extensive training on what practices to follow before entering the site. But sometimes facilities have employees with different first languages. Although safety signs are not a replacement for training, in such instances, safety signs deliver clear communication via visual safety signs. That is often missed while training and verbal sessions (due to noise or language barrier).

Highlight the Right Way to Work and What to Avoid

Some facilities think safety signs provide guidance about potential hazards. But in reality, they do a lot more than that. Safety signs guide workers and provide directions on how to do things safely. For example, signs like “Wear Safety Goggles,” “Wear Gloves,” or “Use Ladder” tell your workers the correct method to follow. Some facilities even place custom-made safety signs at worksites because safety officers can’t be everywhere and every time available at the site. 

Help You Stay Compliant with the Law

One big reason you should place safety signs at your workplace is that these are legal requirements. According to several safety and health organizations, several mandated industries are required to place proper safety signs on areas where there’s a potential risk or people need guidance. If you ignore it, you fail to comply with law and end up facing penalties or even lawsuits. 

A Safer Environment Means Fewer Costs and More Trust

When you properly place safety signs at your workplace, you prevent accidents. That way, you also prevent medical costs, downtime, and insurance claims. On top of that, workers feel safer and perform more productively. Importantly, your clients and partners see you as a responsible business considering safety for everyone. All of this leads to smoother operations and a stronger reputation.

Improve Emergency Response Time (Often Ignored)

Even in the case of an emergency like a fire breaks out, in such circumstances, everyone panics and no one knows where the exit is. But when you place safety signs like “Exit This Way” or “Fire Extinguisher” at exit doors, this helps people act quickly in critical situations.

What are they Made Of?

Here are the materials that leading safety signs platform Jackwin uses to manufacture ISO, OSHA, and ANSI-compliant safety signs or safety signage boards.

• Vinyl Signs:

Vinyl safety signs are made of soft vinyl sheet. They are tear-resistant, good for indoor and temporary use. In addition, our team can customize them for you with your brand colors, logos, messages and size requirements. 

• PVC Safety Signs:

We manufacture them with PVC sheets. They are cost-effective, lightweight, water-resistant, and flexible. Plus, they are easy to mount or move around. You can use Jackwin’s PVC safety in both indoor and outdoor environments. 

• Corrugated Plastic Signs:

We made these safety signs with polypropylene sheets. These signs are budget-friendly, lightweight, weather-resistant, and customizable. Commonly used in temporary or short-term projects. Such as constructions, road-repair or warehouse projects.

• Aluminum Safety Signs:

Our aluminum safety signs are made with 6061 aluminum sheets. They vary from 0.8mm-3mm in thickness. They are rust-proof, weather-resistant, lightweight, high-in-strength, durable and have a long lifespan. They are widely used for outdoor and road applications.

Key Types of Safety Signs (with Examples)

There are several types of safety signs based on OSHA and ANSI-compliant safety sign categorizations. Below, we’ve explained a few key types of safety signs from both standards:

Warning Safety Signs

As the name suggests, warning safety signs or symbols are used to communicate an alert or warning. Where they’re placed, in such sites, potential dangers are not apparent to people. That’s why these signs are used to alert people (in advance) so they proceed with caution to avoid a hazard from happening. These signs commonly come in yellow/amber with black text or symbols.

Examples Include:

• Slippery Surface
• High Voltage
• Forklift Operating Area
• Asbestos Hazard

Prohibition Safety Signs

The prohibition safety signs (often called as Do Not sign) are signage that forbid people from doing certain actions at/ or around a site. Basically, these signs’ purpose is to guide people to avoid a certain action or behavior that could cause a potential hazard to an area or the individual itself. These signs are often designed in a circular shape with red and white, with a bold slash symbol (in a 45-degree angle).

Examples Include:

• No Smoking
• No Entry
• No Photography
• Do Not Use Mobile Phones

Emergency Information Signs

Emergency safety signs are the most common and widely used sign type. Typically, these signs tell individuals about directions or instructions in case of an emergency. They provide guidance of escape routes, emergency exits or direct towards rescue tools. These signs generally feature a square or rectangular shape with white pictograms and blue background.

Examples Include:

• Emergency Exit
• First Aid Station
• Emergency Shower
• Assembly Point

Mandatory Signs

Mandatory safety signs, as the name suggests, are signs that provide direct instructions or actions that must be followed to comply with the law or business rules. Their purpose is to enforce a mandatory action on people to protect them from potential danger that could happen. Looks-wise, these signs are in a circular shape with usually white graphics and a blue background.

Examples Include:

• Wear a Safety Helmet
• Eye Protection Must Be Worn
• Use Handrails
• Wear a High-Visibility Jacket

First Aid Signs

These signs are generally immediate go-to signs that provide directions to people and tell them from where to get first-aid when someone’s injured or not feeling well. These signs basically guide and help you locate medical tools immediately. First aid safety signs usually come in green color with white symbols.

Examples Include:

• First Aid Kit
• Defibrillator (AED) 
• Eyewash Station
• Infirmary

Construction Safety Signs

Construction safety signs are designed for use at construction sites. They provide warning, alert, or safety instructions to workers, drivers, and pedestrians to keep them safe. At construction sites, usually a mix of warning, mandatory, and prohibition signs are used (where needed).

Examples include:

• Hard Hat Area
• Men at Work
• Falling Debris
• Caution: Uneven Surface

Safety Signs Color Codes and Shapes

One of the most fascinating aspects of safety signs is their color coding and shapes. Because instructions or rules on signage can fail to deliver a message (due to language barrier) but color coding and shapes cannot. As each color and shape signals a certain sign category.

Here’s the safety signs color coding and shapes requirements according to local and international standards (ISO, ANSI, OSHA) that are used in public places:

Color	Shape	Meaning/ Purpose	Common Examples
Red	Circle (Prohibition) / Rectangle (Fire)	Prohibition (Stop, Danger, Fire Equipment)	“No Entry,” “Fire Extinguisher”
Yellow	Triangle	Warning (Caution, Hazard)	“Slippery Floor,” “High Voltage”
Blue	Circle	Mandatory Action (Must Follow)	“Wear PPE,” “Ear Protection Required”
Green	Rectangle/Square	Emergency/Safety (Safe Condition)	“Emergency Exit,” “First Aid”
Orange	Rectangle	Warning (Machine/Equipment Hazard)	“Moving Parts,” “Risk of Crushing”
Black/White	Varied (Symbol/Text)	General Information (Guidance)	“Directions,” “Instructions”

Common Symbol with Names and Meaning

After color coding and shapes, symbols are another exciting aspect of safety signs. They break language barriers and effectively communicate the message to individuals (as a universal language). Let’s understand some of the most commonly used safety symbols and their meanings:

• The Flame

This flame symbol signals the warning of flammable materials that can catch fire easily. You’ll typically see them on fuel containers, gas cylinders, near high-temperature areas, or where fire substances are stored. When you see these fire signs, it tells you that do not fire, smoke, and sparks around here. 

• The Crossed Out Circle

A red circle with a slash through it; this symbol simply means “don’t do it”. It’s typically a prohibition sign that comes with a certain pictogram. That indicates that a shown action (such as smoking, using phone) are not allowed at this area.

• The Arrow

As the name suggests, arrow symbols on safety signs are simply used to show direction or direct you towards an emergency exit. Such as evacuation routes, emergency exits, or traffic flow signs, assembly/ gathering points or escape routes. Their purpose is to lead you out safely or guide you in the right direction.

• The Person Falling 

This symbol, showing a person slipping or falling, simply indicates to you that there is a potential risk of tripping and falling. You’ll mostly see them near/ around wet floors, uneven ground, or high-risk fall zones. Their purpose is to alert you about potential falling risk to prevent you from injuries and accidents.

• The Exclamation Mark

This symbol generally comes in a triangle-shaped sign that simply means that there’s a potential risk or hazard in the area. Commonly used at places where there’s a low ceiling, sharp object, chemical, or moving machine nearby. Their purpose is to alert you about certain unsafe practices so you stay alert and take extra caution. 

• The First Aid Symbol

The First Aid symbol usually comes in green background with a white cross. This symbol simply guides or directs you toward first aid or safety equipment. Such as medical kits, first aid stations, or emergency treatment spots. When there’s an injury or emergency, this symbol plays a vital role in quick access to equipment and immediate medical help.

Regulations and Standards (OSHA & ANSI Compliant)

Both OSHA (a government agency) and ANSI (a non-profit organization) work to set safety sign rules to ensure everyone’s safety in the workplace. But they both operate with different mandates. Where OSHA sets and enforces workplace safety standards, ANSI provides guidelines for protection systems and equipment. 

Therefore, it’s important for you to understand both standards and the difference between them so you can adhere to them as a professional facility. Let’s understand safety signs, OSHA vs ANSI standards, in a summarized table:

Feature	OSHA (29 CFR 1910.145)	ANSI Z535 Series (ANSI Z535.1-2022)
Regulatory vs. Voluntary	Mandatory (Legal requirement under OSHA)	Voluntary (Industry consensus standard, widely adopted)
Purpose	Defines minimum safety sign requirements for workplaces	Provides detailed design, color, and formatting guidelines for consistency
Sign Classification	Uses Danger, Warning, Caution, Notice, Safety Instructions, Emergency, First Aid	Expands to Warning/ Hazard, Prohibition, Mandatory, Information Signs
Color Standards	Basic color requirements (e.g., Danger = Red, Warning = Orange, Caution = Yellow)	More detailed color specifications (Pantone, RGB, CMYK for uniformity)
Signal Words	Requires “DANGER,” “WARNING,” “CAUTION,” etc.	Defines font style, size, and hierarchy for signal words
Symbols/Icons	Allows but does not strictly require symbols	Encourages symbols (pictograms) for better comprehension
Text Formatting	General rules (legible, visible)	Specifics on font size, contrast, and placement
Header & Message Layout	No strict layout rules	Defines header panel, message panel, and safety alert symbols
Bilingual Signs	No specific rule	Recommends dual-language signs where needed
Compliance Enforcement	Fines for non-compliance	No fines, but used as best practice (often required by OSHA via General Duty Clause)
Updates & Revisions	Rarely updated (last major update in 2013)	Regularly revised (latest: ANSI Z535-2022)

7 Hidden Benefits of Using Safety Signs 

• Reduce Accidents and Injuries

When placed at the workplace, these safety signs guide, warn, or forbid pedestrians or workers from going ahead or doing certain actions in the area. That way, individuals stay cautious at the side and avoid accidents and injuries. 

• Boosts Employee Confidence and Morale

When employees see that you value them and are taking care of their safety (through proper signage and instructions) they naturally feel more secure. And that way, when your workers feel secure, they work better, stay focused, and trust the environment they’re in.

• Improved Workplace Safety Culture

When you correctly place safety signs throughout your workplace, this shows that rules matter here. Apart from that, it shows you as a professional and creates a good impression on your clients.

• Reduces Downtime from Incidents

Every time there’s an accident, you know that operations slow down or even stop. But when you place proper safety signs at potential hazard areas, the risk of such disruptions significantly drops. That means less chaos, fewer injuries, and more productivity.

• Supports Training and Onboarding

When you onboard new employees, even if you extensively train them, they can forget some rules. Here, safety signs can be a big help to them (especially people with language barriers). Because these signs provide them clear instruction at every step visually.

• Cost-Effective Safety Benefits

You don’t have to spend thousands to make your workplace safe for everyone. Just install ready-made or custom-made safety signs that cost you around $5/ sign (basic ones). That way, you can take a big step towards protecting your people, and your budget.

• Builds a Culture of Accountability

When you consistently place safety signs at your worksite, no one can claim they “didn’t know.” These signs make everyone responsible for their own actions. This helps build a mindset of every employee that not only they follow safety rules but also expect others to do the same.

Top Applications of Safety Signs

If we talk about this, safety signs are widely used across several industries, from educational institutes, shopping malls, to construction sites. In the below section, we’ll give you 5 real-life use cases where safety signs make a big difference:

• Construction Sites

These places are full of potential hazards where a minor negligence can pose injuries or death. That’s why facilities properly placed safety signs at construction sites, whether it’s a prohibition, warning, informational or directional signs. They warn to protect both workers and the public about potential hazards. Plus, visually inform them about site rules to avoid accidents.

• Manufacturing Facilities

At manufacturing sites, you can place safety signs near heavy machines, chemicals, and moving parts. That way, when your workers come near these equipments, safety signs provides them guidance or warnings on what to do and what not. Common examples include “High Voltage”, “Do Not Operate Without Guard”, or “Wear Protective Gear”. 

• Hospitals and Labs

If we talk about health-related industries, there are several safety signs you can use. Common safety signs of example include “Biohazard”, “Radiation Area”, or “Authorized Personnel Only”. These signs forbid individuals from entering the area. Plus, restrict them from doing certain actions like smoking, shouting, etc. 

• Office Buildings and Workspaces

Unlike other more hazard-prone industries, you know that in buildings and workspaces, heavy equipment is rarely used. So in such settings, you can use emergency and first aid safety signs. These signs provide guidance to your faculty about where to go for first aid. Plus, direct them towards emergency exit gates, escape routes, or directions to safety equipment (in case of emergencies).

• Schools and Educational Institutes

Students run, play, and often don’t pay attention, so you can use safety signs like “No Entry”, “Fire Assembly Point”, or “First Aid Inside” to provide clear instructions. These signs guide or warn your students and faculty about potential hazards, safety equipment, or directions to certain areas. 

5 Mistakes Facilities Often Make While Placing Safety Signs (That You Shouldn’t Do)

According to a legal examiner’s report, on January 29, 2025, a man (named Timothy Hannold) died at a waste management facility due to a lack of safety guidelines or workplace safety practices. Such incidents are widely reported every month/ year due to improper safety sign usage or not using them at all. 

That’s why in the below section, we’ve listed a few mistakes which several facilities often make. Our purpose is to make you aware of all the reasons. So you do not make the same mistakes at your workplace.

1. One most common mistake facilities make is choosing the wrong material of safety signs. That way, inappropriate signage fades or wears early and the facility needs to invest in sign replacements. Due to frequent replacements, facilities stop replacing signs that put workers’ lives in danger. So you must ensure you choose the right material for signs considering your workplace environment. 
2. Sometimes facilities place the sign too high or too low. That way, it becomes hard for people to look for signs and they proceed the wrong way. So we suggest you always place the signage where foot traffic is mostly likely to see. Such as entrances, main walkways, near walkways, restrooms, etc.
3. Another big mistake that most facilities make is continuing using faded or damaged signs. Keep in mind that when signage lose their visibility, they don’t comply with law and also can compromise your staff safety. So as per the law, you’re required to replace the faded signage immediately (no matter if they were used indoors or outdoors).
4. Even perfectly placed signage doesn’t do the job if the wrong sign is placed for the wrong hazard. Or the messaging on signage doesn’t make sense. Jackwin signage comes in different types to cater to different applications and use cases. So you can choose an appropriate one or order a custom-made sign.
5. While doing construction or site repair projects, most facilities forget to remove or update signs accordingly. That often poses confusion among individuals and they do what they shouldn’t do. So you must ensure that you regularly update the safety signs according to traffic, environmental or situation changes.

Costly Consequences of Improper Safety Signs

The National Safety Council report says that only workplace injuries have cost U.S. businesses an exclusive $176.5 billion (in 2023). This cost includes medical expenses, lost wages, and productivity losses. So overall, that’s over $1 billion/ week that businesses have spent on just injuries. If proper safety signs were used, this cost could have decreased. 

If we specifically talk about the construction industry alone then workplace injuries to workers have cost companies $11.5 billion (annually). As you can see, these high figures clearly highlight how much it costs businesses to neglect safety signs.

Apart from that, when you don’t place proper safety signage at your workplace, you go against safety compliances, which pose legal consequences. You may face lawsuits, fines, and increased insurance premiums. On top of that, your workers who suffered from injuries take 5–7 days off work, which costs you further in terms of sick pay and hiring new employees.

Our Tips for Choosing the Right Safety Signs

• Identify Hazards First

Before buying any sign, we highly suggest you walk through the site and note down potential risks there. Such as chemical areas, electrical rooms, or places with heavy equipment. Because these are the areas where you need to place signage.

• Choose the Correct Sign Type

Choose appropriate safety signs that meet hazard or environmental requirements. Purchase Warning Signs for potential risks, Mandatory Signs for rules, and Emergency Signs for exits or first aid information.

• Follow Standards (OSHA/ANSI)

Importantly, you must make sure that you buy from trusted safety sign suppliers like JACKWIN, who manufacture and supply safety signs that meet OSHA, ISO and ANSI compliance standards, because you’re not allowed to use non-compliant units (by law) in public and workspaces.

• Consider Durable Materials

Don’t go for cheap signs that easily fade, peel off or don’t withstand weather conditions.  We suggest you specially look for material, durability, and high-visibility for indoors safety signs. And for outdoor signs, consider weatherproof, UV-resistant properties.

• Purchase from a Trusted Wholesaler

Since you need to purchase safety signs in bulk for your workplace, it costs you more. Because generally, one safety sign price is around $5-$20, which further increases (based on size, material, and key features). That’s why we suggest you order safety signs in bulk from a leading wholesaler like Jackwin, which provides you with high-quality signs at a competitive wholesale rate.

To Sum Up:

We hope that now you have a clear understanding of safety sign types, their importance, and the consequences of not using safety signs at your workplace. However, choosing the right safety sign is more vital than placing the wrong one. 

So if you are looking for the right safety sign for your workplace or need assistance choosing the right safety sign for your workplace, contact our professional team today. We have a large stock available for different industries. Our team can also customize signage as per your needs.