Subpart J
This standard covers safety signs and symbols used to warn workers or the public of specific hazards, but it does not apply to street/highway/railroad signs, plant bulletin boards, or safety posters. See Scope in 1910.145(a).
All new signs and any replacements of old signs must meet the specifications in this standard. Employers must ensure that newly installed signs and replacement signs comply with 1910.145(a)(2).
A "Danger" sign indicates immediate danger that could result in death or serious injury, and employees must be instructed that danger signs mean special precautions are necessary. See Danger signs in 1910.145(c)(1)(ii).
"Caution" signs should be used only to warn of potential hazards or unsafe practices, and employees should be taught that caution signs indicate possible hazards requiring proper precautions. See 1910.145(c)(2)(i)-(ii).
"Danger" signs must use the colors red, black, and white as specified by the referenced ANSI color tables incorporated by reference in 1910.6. See Color requirements for danger signs in 1910.145(d)(2) and the ANSI incorporation in 1910.6.
"Caution" signs must have a yellow background with a black panel and yellow letters on the panel; any letters on the yellow background must be black. See Caution sign colors in 1910.145(d)(4).
"Safety instruction" signs must have a white background with a green panel and white letters on the panel; any letters on the white background must be black. See Safety instruction sign colors in 1910.145(d)(6).
The slow-moving vehicle emblem must be a fluorescent yellow‑orange triangle with a dark red reflective border, used only to identify vehicles that by design move 25 mph or less on public roads, and the emblem's pattern, dimensions, and backing must not be altered for advertising or other markings. See Slow‑moving vehicle emblem in 1910.145(d)(10).
Sign wording should be concise, easy to read, contain sufficient information to be understood, use positive rather than negative phrasing, and be accurate in fact. See Nature of wording in 1910.145(e)(2).
A biological hazard sign must be used to mark equipment, containers, rooms, materials, experimental animals, or combinations thereof that contain or are contaminated with viable infectious agents presenting a risk to humans. See Biological hazard signs in 1910.145(e)(4).
Paragraph (f) applies to all accident prevention tags used to identify hazardous conditions and provide messages to employees, but it does not apply to construction or agriculture. See Scope and application in 1910.145(f)(1)(i)-(ii).
Tags must be used until the identified hazard is eliminated or the hazardous operation is completed, and they are not required where signs, guarding, or other positive means of protection are being used. See Use of tags in 1910.145(f)(3).
Every tag must contain a signal word and a major message; the signal word must be either "Danger," "Caution," or "Biological Hazard"/"BIOHAZARD"/biological hazard symbol, and the major message must indicate the specific hazardous condition or instruction. See General tag criteria in 1910.145(f)(4)(i).
The tag's signal word must be readable at a minimum distance of five feet (1.52 m), or a greater distance if the hazard warrants it. See Readability requirement in 1910.145(f)(4)(ii).
Employers must ensure the tag's signal word and major message are understandable to all employees who may be exposed to the hazard and must inform all employees of the meaning of the various tags and any special precautions necessary. See Understandability and employee information in 1910.145(f)(4)(iv)-(v).
Tags must be affixed as close as safely possible to the hazard by a positive means such as string, wire, or adhesive that prevents their loss or unintentional removal. See Attachment requirement in 1910.145(f)(4)(vi).
Use "Danger" tags only for major hazards where immediate danger could cause death or serious injury, use "Caution" tags for minor hazards or unsafe practices that present lesser risk, and you may use "Warning" tags for hazards between "Caution" and "Danger" if they meet the general tag criteria. See Danger, Caution, and Warning tags in 1910.145(f)(5)-(7).
Biological hazard tags must identify the actual or potential presence of biological hazards on equipment, containers, rooms, experimental animals, or materials, and the symbol design must conform to the configuration shown in [1910.145(f)(8)(ii)]. See Biological hazard tags and symbol in 1910.145(f)(8)(i)-(ii).
Yes, employers may use other tags in addition to those required by paragraph (f) provided those additional tags do not reduce the visibility or impact of the required tag's signal word and major message. See Other tags in 1910.145(f)(9).
All signs must have rounded or blunt corners and be free from sharp edges, burrs, splinters, or other sharp projections; bolt heads or fasteners must not create hazards. See Design features in 1910.145(d)(1).
OSHA defines a "sign" as a surface prepared to warn or give safety instructions to workers or the public; it specifically excludes news releases, safety posters, and employee educational bulletins. See Definition of sign in 1910.145(b).
The major message may be presented as pictographs, written text, or both, and employers must ensure the message is understandable to all employees—use pictographs, plain language, translations, or training as needed. See Major message formats in 1910.145(f)(4)(iii) and the requirement that messages be understandable in 1910.145(f)(4)(iv).
All replacements and new signs must comply with the standard, but the rule requires that when signs are replaced they meet the specifications—there is not an explicit immediate-removal rule for existing signs, so employers should plan to replace nonconforming signs with compliant ones as they are renewed or when safety requires. See Replacement requirement in 1910.145(a)(2).
Yes, an employer may use a "Warning" tag to represent a hazard level between "Caution" and "Danger" instead of a required "Caution" tag provided the "Warning" tag has the signal word "Warning," an appropriate major message, and otherwise meets the general tag criteria in paragraph (f)(4). See 1910.145(f)(7).
Tags alone cannot replace proper energy isolation when the Lockout/Tagout standard requires isolation; temporary use of tags or removal of LOTO devices for testing or repositioning is allowed only under controlled procedures that protect employees. See the OSHA clarification of temporary re‑energization steps in the Minor servicing exception letter of interpretation (Oct. 21, 2024) and the general tag criteria in 1910.145(f)(4).