A simple sign can convey an important message depending on how clearly the message is seen.

Key Takeaways:

• OSHA and ANSI set the national standard for workplace signage
• Consistency and clarity are an important part of industrial safety communication with signage
• States can add an extra layer of protection from OSHA and ANSI guidelines
• Routine audits, consistent communication and message visibility are keys to preventing financial and legal penalties
• Prevailing wage laws for signage are necessary for fair pay communication, especially on publicly funded projects.

Have you given much thought to the signs that you see daily? Not the signs that you interpret as it’s time for a career change. The signs I’m referring to are the signs that you see on construction sites or industrial facilities. You probably just assumed that those “HIGH VOLTAGE” signs were placed because they made sense - which isn’t wrong - but there’s a bigger story at work.
Each of those signs came into place after years of laws, standard practices, and plenty of trial and error. Those warning signs were designed to capture your attention quickly and save time in decision making.

The Rulebook Behind Safety Signs

Industrial safety communication is not a random thing. No one decided to put any old sign where they felt like it. Safety signs fall under the regulation of two common entities. Most people are already familiar with the first organization: OSHA (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration.) The OSHA standard for signs lets companies know exactly what information to post, the way they should look and when to use them.

The other entity is ANSI (The American National Standards Institute.) ANSI is responsible for ensuring that the signs used by companies are designed well. Basically, they regulate the color coding, wording used to signal a warning, and the general layout so that signs are easily recognized.

Because they exist, companies have clear and defined instructions to deliver safety messages. Those instructions allow companies to operate with consistent and safe practices all across the country. Whether you’re working on an oil rig off the Alaskan coast or in a car factory in Detroit, when you see a “HARD HAT” sign, it represents the same consistent meaning.

Supermarkets make it easy to let you know which aisles to walk down with the recognizable “Wet Floor” sign. The moment you spot it, you instantly know to tread carefully or avoid the area altogether. Why? Because if you don’t, you’ll probably slip, fall and get seriously hurt.

The signs are there to prevent injuries and prevent financial loss. However, some companies fail to provide proper safety signage, which OSHA lists as one of the most common workplace violations during inspection.

How Federal Rules and State Rules Work

While it’s true that OSHA and ANSI set the foundational guidelines for industrial safety communication, states may add their own unique layers. For example, there are some states that require bilingual signs in the workplace. There are some others that have requirements for environmental notices to be displayed. Companies that have multiple locations across the country, may be forced to keep up with constantly changing legislation around signage.

Failure to adhere to state laws could lead to problems down the road. Literally.

For that reason, larger operations rely on tools like BillTrack50, which shows which bills could impact their business in different cities; whether that’s measures affecting equestrians in Colorado, or regulations concerning air quality in Nevada. It helps to prevent financial losses and penalties when monitored regularly.

Prevailing Labor Laws in Signage

When most people think about signage, they picture the design and safety aspects of the sign - not necessarily the labor laws associated with them. But there’s actually an important connection between both, especially if the signs are necessary for publicly funded projects.

Companies that are responsible for fabricating or installing signs on government work sites are subject to prevailing wage laws for signage. These laws are in place to make sure workers are being paid fairly and consistently with local industry standards.

The High Price of Poor Communication

Companies that fail to communicate effectively on safety matters, can find themselves facing serious and potentially harmful situations. Industrial safety communication is an area that can’t be skipped over. In 2023 alone, OSHA reported over 4,000 workplace fatalities that were tied to poor safety messaging. When safety warnings aren’t up to date, seen or written with clarity, accidents and serious injuries can be the result.

The reverse is also true for companies that take signage seriously. By performing routine audits and maintaining consistent safety practices, a company can find itself on the positive end of the spectrum. The bottom line is that workers want to feel that they matter and are respected by their employer. This creates a positive image that clients can buy into.

Reading the Signs of the Future

Technology is creating a world where industrial safety communication can evolve quickly and in ways that prevent less accidents. You may have noticed that some facilities have begun to move away from the aluminum signs in favor of digital signage. This is allowing for important messages to be delivered in real time as needed and in some cases, more advanced signs can be connected to sensors to warn of potential dangers before they happen.

The switch from aluminum and plastic signs to digital won’t happen overnight, and certain environmental conditions probably won’t allow for digital signs to completely take over. In fact, there are situations where they shouldn’t be; but perhaps the messaging will be improved.

The most important thing is that the goal remains the same as it always has with industrial safety signs: To quickly and clearly communicate information in a way that prevents accidents from occurring.

The same organizations that regulate how these signs are put together, are constantly looking for ways to improve on ways to deliver effective messaging. The signs of the future will certainly be an indication of the progression of safety messaging. 

Jordan McDowell

Writer & Content Strategist

Philadelphia, PA

Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/yellow-and-black-2-way-signage-272254/