Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful workplace safety program. Among the many tools available to safety professionals, standardized safety signage stands out as one of the most immediate and universally recognized. The use of clearly defined signal words and color schemes—as standardized by OSHA and ANSI—creates a visual hierarchy that communicates hazard severity at a glance.
This whitepaper focuses on understanding and applying the five primary safety signage types: DANGER, WARNING, CAUTION, NOTICE, and SAFETY INSTRUCTION. Each serves a distinct role in hazard communication and is designed with a specific audience, context, and urgency in mind.
Misusing this hierarchy—such as labeling a life-threatening hazard with a CAUTION sign—can lead to confusion, underreaction, and noncompliance. By contrast, properly using signage to mirror true risk levels builds trust, reinforces training, and enhances response times. In the following sections, you’ll find design breakdowns, application guidance, and practical visuals to help ensure your facility communicates hazard levels effectively and consistently.
