Top Five Reasons to Use Danger and Warning Signs

There are danger and warning signs to indicate just about every accident waiting to happen. Even if you feel that your facility or work environment seems to pose only minor or rare injury threats, take caution and a minute to remember Life Lesson Number One:



Anything can happen. (And it probably will.)



Danger and warning signs are lifesavers when it comes to preventing mistakes—no matter how small they may seem—and can keep people safe and injury-free while on the job.



Here are five key reasons why you should use warning signs when dealing with dangerous conditions:



1) To protect yourself. There are dangers present in many facilities or work environments that pose a threat to workers. Putting up warning signs in these "Personal Protection Equipment" designated areas lets people know what they can do to protect themselves. Maybe your facility creates destructive noise levels or contains heat, chemical, or impact hazards. Warning workers of these conditions and advising them to use hearing protectors, goggles, or special footwear can prevent a major injury.

2) To protect others. Keeping workers or the general public safe from other people is another responsibility to consider. Construction site safety signs let others know to use caution around those working in high-risk areas such as highway medians or shoulders. Warning signs like these give people a heads up to be careful while maneuvering through awkward or perilous sites.

3) To inform others. By using identification signs for chemicals or other unknown but dangerous substances, you can clue workers and the public in on items that can cause potential harm. California, for example, enforces a Proposition 65 law that promotes clean drinking water and makes consumers aware of toxic substances; signs indicating that substances may cause birth defects or cancer risks keep people informed.

4) To stay safe in your environment. Posting biohazard, asbestos, or hazardous waste warning signs gives others notice to work safely around dangers in their environments. Working conditions may be risky, but workers can prevent exposure with the help of proper signage.

5) To prevent "anything" from happening. Finally, there’s always that million-to-one-chance category to worry about. Simply using danger signs to identify explosives, flammable objects, specified weight capacities, tricky conveyor belts, watch-your-step areas, or unfriendly dogs can keep your odds of strange accidents from happening down immensely.



Warning signs are available for all these concerns and more. Assessing your environment and understanding dangerous situations can help you recognize exactly which warning signs you should be using to protect your workers.