Pointers for Effective Safety Sign and Colour Use
After determining your needs, work with your health and safety representative or committee to set standards for signs and colours to use throughout the workplace.
Ensure the signs and colours are used consistently. Research shows that companies that have implemented a uniform sign and colour system
to make hazards more visible and easy to identify have successfully lowered their injury frequency rates. Workers know that signs and colours mean the same thing even when they work in different departments or plant locations. It also enables employees to quickly locate first aid, fire fighting and other emergency equipment.
The signs and colours in your workplace should provide enough information for persons to protect their health and safety.
Signs, especially those that indicate hazards, should:
attract a person’s attention
clearly identify the nature of the hazard
specify the immediate action required
be posted in a place that provides enough time for a person to read the sign and
act accordingly
be easily recognized and understood by all employees
reflect the needs of those who have visual
limitations or who do not speak English
be sized or placed according to the importance of the message