[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1910.145]
[Page 459-462]
TITLE 29--LABOR
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR
PART 1910_OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS--Table of Contents
Subpart J_General Environmental Controls
Sec. 1910.145 Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags.
(a) Scope. (1) These specifications apply to the design,
application, and use of signs or symbols (as included in paragraphs (c)
through (e) of this section) intended to indicate and, insofar as
possible, to define specific hazards of a nature such that failure to
designate them may lead to accidental injury to workers or the public,
or both, or to property damage. These specifications are intended to
cover all safety signs except those designed for streets, highways,
railroads, and marine regulations. These specifications do not apply to
plant bulletin boards or to safety posters.
(2) All new signs and replacements of old signs shall be in
accordance with these specifications.
(b) Definitions. As used in this section, the word sign refers to a
surface on prepared for the warning of, or safety instructions of,
industrial workers or members of the public who may be exposed to
hazards. Excluded from this definition, however, are news releases,
displays commonly known as safety posters, and bulletins used for
employee education.
(c) Classification of signs according to use--(1) Danger signs. (i)
There shall be no variation in the type of design of signs posted to
warn of specific dangers and radiation hazards.
(ii) All employees shall be instructed that danger signs indicate
immediate danger and that special precautions are necessary.
(2) Caution signs. (i) Caution signs shall be used only to warn
against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices.
(ii) All employees shall be instructed that caution signs indicate a
possible hazard against which proper precaution should be taken.
(3) Safety instruction signs. Safety instruction signs shall be used
where there is a need for general instructions and suggestions relative
to safety measures.
(d) Sign design--(1) Design features. All signs shall be furnished
with rounded or blunt corners and shall be free from sharp edges, burrs,
splinters, or other sharp projections. The ends or heads of bolts or
other fastening devices shall be located in such a way that they do not
constitute a hazard.
(2) Danger signs. The colors red, black, and white shall be those of
opaque glossy samples as specified in Table 1 of Fundamental
Specification of Safety Colors for CIE Standard Source ``C'', American
National Standard Z53.1-1967, which is incorporated by reference as
specified in Sec. 1910.6.
(3) [Reserved]
(4) Caution signs. Standard color of the background shall be yellow;
and the panel, black 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 Table 1 of American National Standard
Z53.1-1967.
(5) [Reserved]
(6) Safety instruction signs. Standard color of the background shall
be white; and the panel, green 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 Table 1 of American National
Standard, Z53.1-1967.
(7)-(9) [Reserved]
(10) Slow-moving vehicle emblem. This emblem (see fig. J-7) consists
of a fluorescent yellow-orange triangle with a dark red reflective
border. The yellow-orange fluorescent triangle is a highly visible color
for daylight exposure. The reflective border defines the shape of the
fluorescent color in daylight and creates a hollow red triangle in the
path of motor vehicle headlights at night. The emblem is intended as a
unique identification for, and it 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
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clearance marker for wide machinery nor is it intended to replace
required lighting or marking of slow-moving vehicles. Neither the color
film pattern and its dimensions nor the backing shall be altered to
permit use of advertising or other markings. The material, location,
mounting, etc., of the emblem shall 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), which are
incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC27OC91.028
Figure J-7--Slow-Moving Vehicle Emblem
Note: All dimensions are in inches.
(e) Sign wordings.
(1) [Reserved]
(2) Nature of wording. The wording of any sign should be easily read
and concise. The sign should contain sufficient information to be easily
understood. The wording should make a positive, rather than negative
suggestion and should be accurate in fact.
(3) [Reserved]
(4) Biological hazard signs. The biological hazard warning shall be
used to signify the actual or potential presence of a biohazard and to
identify equipment, containers, rooms, materials, experimental animals,
or combinations thereof, which contain, or are contaminated with, viable
hazardous agents. For the purpose of this subparagraph the term
``biological hazard,'' or ``biohazard,'' shall include only those
infectious agents presenting a risk or potential risk to the well-being
of man.
(f) Accident prevention tags--(1) Scope and application. (i) This
paragraph (f) applies to all accident prevention tags used to identify
hazardous conditions and provide a message to employees with respect to
hazardous conditions as set forth in paragraph (f)(3) of this section,
or to meet the specific tagging requirements of other OSHA standards.
(ii) This paragraph (f) does not apply to construction, maritime or
agriculture.
(2) Definitions. Biological hazard or BIOHAZARD means those
infectious agents presenting a risk of death, injury or illness to
employees.
Major message means that portion of a tag's inscription that is more
specific than the signal word and that indicates the specific hazardous
condition or the instruction to be communicated to the employee.
Examples include: ``High Voltage,'' ``Close Clearance,'' ``Do Not
Start,'' or ``Do Not Use'' or a corresponding pictograph used with a
written text or alone.
Pictograph means a pictorial representation used to identify a
hazardous condition or to convey a safety instruction.
Signal word means that portion of a tag's inscription that contains
the word or words that are intended to capture the employee's immediate
attention.
Tag means a device usually made of card, paper, pasteboard, plastic
or other material used to identify a hazardous condition.
(3) Use. Tags shall be used as a means to prevent accidental injury
or illness to employees who are exposed to hazardous or potentially
hazardous conditions, equipment or operations which are out of the
ordinary, unexpected or not readily apparent. Tags shall be used until
such time as the identified hazard is eliminated or the hazardous
operation is completed. Tags need not be used where signs, guarding or
other positive means of protection are being used.
(4) General tag criteria. All required tags shall meet the following
criteria:
(i) Tags shall contain a signal word and a major message.
(A) The signal word shall be either ``Danger,'' ``Caution,'' or
``Biological
[[Page 461]]
Hazard,'' ``BIOHAZARD,'' or the biological hazard symbol.
(B) The major message shall indicate the specific hazardous
condition or the instruction to be communicated to the employee.
(ii) The signal word shall be readable at a minimum distance of five
feet (1.52 m) or such greater distance as warranted by the hazard.
(iii) The tag's major message shall be presented in either
pictographs, written text or both.
(iv) The signal word and the major message shall be understandable
to all employees who may be exposed to the identified hazard.
(v) All employees shall be informed as to the meaning of the various
tags used throughout the workplace and what special precautions are
necessary.
(vi) Tags shall be affixed as close as safely possible to their
respective hazards by a positive means such as string, wire, or adhesive
that prevents their loss or unintentional removal.
(5) Danger tags. Danger tags shall be used in major hazard
situations where an immediate hazard presents a threat of death or
serious injury to employees. Danger tags shall be used only in these
situations.
(6) Caution tags. Caution tags shall be used in minor hazard
situations where a non-immediate or potential hazard or unsafe practice
presents a lesser threat of employee injury. Caution tags shall be used
only in these situations.
(7) Warning tags. Warning tags may be used to represent a hazard
level between ``Caution'' and ``Danger,'' instead of the required
``Caution'' tag, provided that they have a signal word of ``Warning,''
an appropriate major message, and otherwise meet the general tag
criteria of paragraph (f)(4) of this section.
(8) Biological hazard tags. (i) Biological hazard tags shall be used
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.
(ii) The symbol design for biological hazard tags shall conform to
the design shown below:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC27OC91.086
Biological Hazard Symbol Configuration
(9) Other tags. Other tags may be used in addition to those required
by this paragraph (f), or in other situations where this paragraph (f)
does not require tags, provided that they do not detract from the impact
or visibility of the signal word and major message of any required tag.
Appendixes to Sec. 1910.145(f), Accident Prevention Tags
Appendix A to Sec. 1910.145(f)--Recommended Color Coding
While the standard does not specifically mandate colors to be used
on accident prevention tags, the following color scheme is recommended
by OSHA for meeting the requirements of this section:
``DANGER''--Red, or predominantly red, with lettering or symbols in
a contrasting color.
``CAUTION''--Yellow, or predominantly yellow, with lettering or
symbols in a contrasting color.
``WARNING''--Orange, or predominantly orange, with lettering or
symbols in a contrasting color.
``BIOLOGICAL HAZARD''--Fluorescent orange or orange-red, or
predominantly so, with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color.
Appendix B to Sec. 1910.145(f)--References for Further Information
The following references provide information which can be helpful in
understanding
[[Page 462]]
the requirements contained in various sections of the standard:
1. Bresnahan, Thomas F., and Bryk, Joseph, ``The Hazard Association
Values of Accident Prevention Signs'', Journal of American Society of
Safety Engineers; January 1975.
2. Dreyfuss, H., Symbol Sourcebook, McGraw Hill; New York, NY, 1972.
3. Glass, R.A. and others, Some Criteria for Colors and Signs in
Workplaces, National Bureau of Standards, Washington DC, 1983.
4. Graphic Symbols for Public Areas and Occupational Environments,
Treasury Board of Canada, Ottawa, Canada, July 1980.
5. Howett, G.L., Size of Letters Required for Visibility as a
Function of Viewing Distance and Observer Acuity, National Bureau of
Standards, Washington DC, July 1983.
6. Lerner, N.D. and Collins, B.L., The Assessment of Safety Symbol
Understandability by Different Testing Methods, National Bureau of
Standards, Washington DC, 1980.
7. Lerner, N.D. and Collins, B.L., Workplace Safety Symbols,
National Bureau of Standards, Washington DC, 1980.
8. Modley, R. and Meyers, W.R., Handbook of Pictorial Symbols, Dover
Publication, New York, NY, 1976.
9. Product Safety Signs and Labels, FMC Corporation, Santa Clara,
CA, 1978.
10. Safety Color Coding for Marking Physical Hazards, Z53.1,
American National Standards Institute, New York, NY, 1979.
11. Signs and Symbols for the Occupational Environment, Can. 3-Z-
321-77, Canadian Standards Association, Ottawa, September 1977.
12. Symbols for Industrial Safety, National Bureau of Standards,
Washington DC, April 1982.
13. Symbol Signs, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington DC,
November 1974.
[39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 43 FR 49749, Oct. 24, 1978;
43 FR 51759, Nov. 7, 1978; 49 FR 5322, Feb. 10, 1984; 51 FR 33260, Sept.
19, 1986; 61 FR 9239, Mar. 7, 1996]
