1. SITE SAFETY || Signs and Barricades
Volume 1 Issue 52
Signs and Barricades are an important part of work area safety that protect workers, visitors and the general public. If there is a potential hazard, signs must be visible at all times and when necessary, appropriate barricades must be in place.
OSHA has specific regulations pertaining to signs and barricades so use this safety topic to review and become familiar with the signs and barricades that are needed in specific work areas.
OSHA Standard (a) Signs (…) required (…) shall be visible at all times when work is being performed, and shall be removed or covered promptly when the hazards no longer exist.
Signs are the warnings of hazard, temporarily or permanently affixed or placed, at locations where hazards exist.
Barricade means an obstruction to deter the passage of persons or vehicles.
RED >> DANGER >> where immediate hazard exists
YELLOW >> CAUTION >> to warn of potential hazards
ORANGE >> WARNING >> barricades or notices
(*1) Photo Credit – Photo by MyParkingSign.com.
All safety signs should be visible and legible. If an active sign is vandalized, becomes rusted, or is coming off the affixed location, it must be replaced immediately. Any sign that is no longer relevant should be covered or removed immediately.
Barricades should be inspected daily (or more often) to ensure they are still in place and working as intended.
(*1)

2. Examples of Danger signs in use.
SITE SAFETY || Signs and Barricades
Volume 1 Issue 52
Danger signs indicate that there is an immediate threat and special precautions are necessary.
Red should be the main color on the top of a black and white Danger sign.
Don’t assume everyone is aware of clear and present danger, signs are important!
Use Danger signs to mark hazardous areas to prevent potential serious injuries to employees and others that could be in the area at any time.
OSHA Standard (b)(1)/(2) Danger signs shall be used only where an immediate hazard exists… Danger signs shall have red as the predominating color for the upper panel; black outline on the borders; and a white lower panel for additional sign wording.
(*2)
(*2, *3, *4, *6) Photo Credit – Photo by MySafetySign.com
(*5) Photo Credit – darkday. Confined Space with View. Creative Commons License:
(*5)
(*4)
Examples of Danger signs in use.
(*6)
(*3)

3. Examples of Caution signs in use.
SITE SAFETY || Signs and Barricades
Volume 1 Issue 52
Caution signs warn against potential hazards or caution against unsafe practices, that if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury.
Caution signs are yellow and black to ensure they are easily visible.
OSHA Standard (c)(1)/(2) Caution signs shall be used only to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices… Caution signs shall have yellow as the predominating color; black upper panel and borders: yellow lettering of "caution" on the black panel; and the lower yellow panel for additional sign wording. Black lettering shall be used for additional wording.
Examples of Caution signs in use.
(*7, *8) Photo Credit – Photo by MySafetySign.com
(*9, *10) Photo Credit – Creative Commons License:
(*9)
(*10)
(*5)
(*8)
(*7)

4. SITE SAFETY || Signs and Barricades
Volume 1 Issue 52
OSHA Standard (e) Safety instruction signs, when used, shall be white with green upper panel with white letters to convey the principal message. Any additional wording on the sign shall be black letters on the white background.
Other required signs include:
Warning Signs
Safety Instruction Signs
Exit Signs
Directional Signs
Traffic Signs
Notice Signs
OSHA Standard (d) Exit signs, when required, shall be lettered in legible red letters, not less than 6 inches high, on a white field and the principal stroke of the letters shall be at least three-fourths inch in width.
OSHA Standard (f) Directional signs, other than automotive traffic signs specified in paragraph (g) of this section, shall be white with a black panel and a white directional symbol. Any additional wording on the sign shall be black letters on the white background.
(*9)
OSHA Standard (g)(1) Construction areas shall be posted with legible traffic signs at points of hazard.
(*11)
(*11) Photo Credit – Leo Fung. Eye Wash Station. Creative Commons License:
(*12) Photo Credit – Photo by MySafetySign.com
(*13) Photo Credit – Photo by RoadTrafficSigns.com
Warning signs indicate a potentially hazardous situation.
Safety Instruction signs are used to provide information, procedures or instructions.
Notice signs are often blue and provide information that is considered important but not directly hazardous (example: security or hygiene).
(*12)
(*13)

5. Examples of Barricades.
SITE SAFETY || Signs and Barricades
Volume 1 Issue 52
A barricade outlines or blocks a dangerous area and warns of a boundary not to be crossed to ensure employee and public safety. It is an obstruction to deter the passage of persons or vehicles.
Tapes, screens, cones, rope, wire, chains or signs can be barricades if set up properly.
(*16)
(*14)
(*14) Photo Credit – Rudi Riet. Barricades. Creative Commons License:
(*15) Photo Credit – Ryan McKnight. Road construction in Dupont. Creative Commons License:
(*16) Photo Credit – Grant Hollingworth. Construction zone. Creative Commons License:
Examples of Barricades.
(*15)

6. SITE SAFETY || Signs and Barricades
Volume 1 Issue 52
(*2, *3, *4, *6, *7, *8, *12) Photo Credit – Photo by MySafetySign.com
(*5) Photo Credit – darkday. Confined Space with View.
(*9, *10) Photo Credit –
(*11) Photo Credit – Leo Fung. Eye Wash Station.
(*13) Photo Credit – Photo by RoadTrafficSigns.com
(*14) Photo Credit – Rudi Riet. Barricades.
(*15) Photo Credit – Ryan McKnight. Road construction in Dupont.
(*17) Photo Credit – Grant Hollingworth. Construction zone.
Creative Commons License: