References for further information

The Appendix B list in 1910.145(f) provides specific books, standards, and reports you can consult for designing and selecting workplace safety signs and labels.

• Appendix B names references on symbol design, color coding, letter size and visibility, and testing methods (for example, Howett’s study on letter size and Lerner & Collins’ work on symbol understandability).
• Use these references to interpret and apply the requirements in 1910.145, but remember the appendix is guidance, not a substitute for the regulatory text.

Consult the American National Standards Institute reference listed in Appendix B: Safety Color Coding for Marking Physical Hazards, Z53.1 (1979) as a starting point, which discusses color coding conventions used to mark hazards. See 1910.145AppB for this citation.

• Use this reference to help choose consistent colors for warnings and hazard markings, while ensuring your signs meet the regulatory requirements in 1910.145.

Appendix B cites several pictorial-symbol references you can consult, including Symbol Sourcebook by Dreyfuss, Handbook of Pictorial Symbols by Modley & Meyers, and documents from the National Bureau of Standards on workplace safety symbols. See 1910.145AppB.

• These resources are useful for selecting or adapting well‑known pictograms that improve worker comprehension while complying with 1910.145.

Appendix B lists Howett, G.L., Size of Letters Required for Visibility as a Function of Viewing Distance and Observer Acuity (National Bureau of Standards, 1983) as the reference to use for letter-size and legibility guidance; you can find that citation in 1910.145AppB.

• Use Howett’s findings to choose letter heights appropriate for expected viewing distances and worker visual acuity while ensuring compliance with the sign requirements in 1910.145.

Appendix B specifically lists Lerner and Collins’ work—The Assessment of Safety Symbol Understandability by Different Testing Methods and Workplace Safety Symbols—as resources on symbol-testing methods; see 1910.145AppB.

• These studies explain test methods you can use to validate that chosen symbols communicate the intended message to your workforce, supporting compliance with 1910.145.

Yes. Appendix B cites government collections such as Graphic Symbols for Public Areas and Occupational Environments (Treasury Board of Canada, 1980) and Symbol Signs (U.S. Department of Transportation, 1974); these appear in 1910.145AppB.

• These government symbol sets can be useful when you need standardized pictograms for public-facing or occupational signage; always confirm the signs meet the regulatory expectations in 1910.145.

Appendix B lists Handbook of Pictorial Symbols by Modley & Meyers (Dover, 1976) as a compact, practical collection of pictorial symbols; find this citation in 1910.145AppB.

• That handbook is a helpful quick-reference for choosing established symbols, but you should verify symbol appropriateness against the goals in 1910.145.

Appendix B lists Bresnahan and Bryk’s article, “The Hazard Association Values of Accident Prevention Signs” (Journal of the American Society of Safety Engineers, January 1975), as a study on how well different signs convey hazard; see 1910.145AppB.

• Use this research to help select sign formats and symbols that convey the required level of hazard information consistent with 1910.145.

No—Appendix B is an informative list of references to help you understand and apply the requirements; it does not impose new regulatory obligations. See 1910.145AppB and the regulatory text in 1910.145 for mandatory requirements.

• Use Appendix B resources to aid compliance, but always ensure your signs meet the mandatory elements stated in 1910.145.

Yes—Appendix B includes Canadian and other international symbol sources (for example, the Treasury Board of Canada and Canadian Standards Association items) that can be used as guidance; see 1910.145AppB.

• When using international symbols, verify they convey the intended meaning to your workforce and that the final sign meets the regulatory requirements of 1910.145.

Appendix B lists multiple workplace-focused references, including Lerner & Collins’ Workplace Safety Symbols and the National Bureau of Standards reports on symbols and criteria; see 1910.145AppB.

• These materials focus on symbol design and understandability in occupational settings and can guide choices that meet the aims of 1910.145.

Appendix B cites Product Safety Signs and Labels (FMC Corporation, 1978) as a document addressing product-related sign and label design; see the listing in 1910.145AppB.

• Use that reference for guidance on labeling hazards on products and components; always ensure final labels conform to legal requirements in 1910.145.

The Howett report, Size of Letters Required for Visibility as a Function of Viewing Distance and Observer Acuity (National Bureau of Standards, 1983), is the Appendix B reference you should consult for letter-legibility research; see 1910.145AppB.

• This report helps you select text sizes and contrast to ensure signs are legible at expected viewing distances in line with the intent of 1910.145.

Appendix B lists Symbol Signs from the U.S. Department of Transportation (November 1974) as a transportation-focused symbol source; see the citation in 1910.145AppB.

• Transportation symbol sets can be helpful if your workplace signage will interact with public wayfinding or shipping operations, but you must still meet the regulatory requirements of 1910.145.

Appendix B includes Lerner and Collins’ works—The Assessment of Safety Symbol Understandability by Different Testing Methods (1980) and Workplace Safety Symbols (1980)—which directly address testing methods for symbol comprehension; these appear in 1910.145AppB.

• Use these references to design validation studies that confirm workers understand chosen symbols, supporting the performance objectives of 1910.145.

Appendix B does not impose an order or priority; it simply lists useful references (color coding, pictograms, legibility, testing) you can consult as needed—see 1910.145AppB.

• Practical approach: start with color-coding guidance (e.g., ANSI Z53.1), then select symbols from pictogram libraries, apply letter-size guidance (Howett), and validate with symbol-understandability methods (Lerner & Collins) while ensuring compliance with 1910.145.

No—Appendix B provides multiple complementary references (color, symbol design, letter size, comprehension) and employers will usually need to consult more than one source to design effective signs; see 1910.145AppB.

• Combine resources—for example, use color-coding guidance together with pictogram libraries and letter-size research—to meet the practical objectives and legal requirements under 1910.145.

Yes—Appendix B includes Graphic Symbols for Public Areas and Occupational Environments (Treasury Board of Canada, July 1980) which addresses symbols for both public and occupational settings; see 1910.145AppB.

• If your facility serves both workers and the public, this reference helps choose symbols understandable to a broader audience while ensuring signs meet the legal requirements in 1910.145.