While we may think of signage as a clever 20th Century invention, they have been around for longer than you or I. Think of the Egyptians – world class stone carvers and masters of intricate story-telling (minus words). Or what about the Roman signs which pointed the way for weary travellers and marked journey milestones?
Safety signs, however, are another story entirely.
No doubt you have seen some pretty awful safety signage which tells you not to breathe underwater, or that touching this wire leads to death…and a $200 fine!
Yes, it’s been a long road to get to the universally understood and impactful safety signage that we have today. The sheer volume of industrial workplaces point to a definite need for good safety signage.
What makes a good safety sign?
Seeking ANSI and OSHA compliance will place you firmly on the road to effective safety signage. They offer comprehensive assistance on size, placement, and markers which will definitely assist.
Visibility
Placing the sign in a high traffic area, or in the specific vicinity of where the danger lies, is key. Of course, this sign saves lives so will need to be bold, bright, and instantly understood.
Images
A simple story can be told with an image, which is exactly what you’re looking for in a safety sign. It needs to be immediately recognised and understood. If a picture paints a thousand words, then a safety sign needs to contain all of them.
Size
While placement and size would depend on the hazard, your signage does need to be big enough to see and easy to read at a glance. Squinting down at a postage stamp-sized sign defeats the purpose.
Colours
This one is obvious! Reds, yellows, and oranges are very much recognised as warning colours and are universally accepted as such. A red or yellow sign on a triangular shape will catch the eye of even the most unwary factory worker.
Does your company need updated, customised safety signage? If so, we’d love to assist you. Why not visit us at signkor.co.za and take a look at the variety of signage options available to you?
