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What
header should I use?
A sign should not be a wallflower.
It should get noticed and the primary function of the header is
to provide an attention-getting color cue. In fact, research tells
us that the color is as important, and debatably even more important,
than the signal word itself.
As a signal word, Danger is overused,
but it is easy to understand why. What sign or label designer wants
to underestimate the level of Danger? Although the perceptual differences
between Warning and Caution are not significant, there are, in fact,
rules as to when each signal word should be used.
| ANSI Z535.5-1997
Designs and Definitions: |
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Danger:
"indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if
not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. This signal
word is to be limited to the most extreme situations." |
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Warning: "indicates
a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, could
result in death or serious injury." |
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Caution: "indicates a potentially hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or major
injury." Caution should be used without the signal alert
symbol for hazards that result only in property damages. |
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Notice: "signs used to indicate a statement
of company policy directly or indirectly related to the safety
of personnel or protection of property. This signal word shall
not be associated directly with a hazard or hazardous situation
and shall not be used in place of DANGER, WARNING or CAUTION." |
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Safety First: "signs used to indicate general
instructions relative to safe work practices, remind of proper
safety procedures, and indicate the location of safety equipment." |
The OSHA regulations reference an earlier set of ANSI standards,
which, themselves have been updated. As a result, the designs
shown in the OSHA regulations are out-of-date. The OSHA designs
are as follows:
Although these designs are familiar
to many, it is the intention of the ANSI standard to reduce
their use and rely, instead, on the designs shown in the 1998
ANSI standards. As these designs become obsolete, many companies
are making the switch.
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