Hazard Communications – Signs

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Safety Signs Improve Hazard Communications

If you’re looking to improve the hazard communications in your facility, you’ll want to start by taking a good look at the different types of signs used by your company. Signs have been used to communicate hazards for millennia, and they are still one of the most effective options available.

Taking some time to look at how your facility uses signs, and how this use could be improved, will help you to greatly improve the overall hazard communication in the company. This will lead to a safer workplace with fewer accidents and injuries overall. To begin, it is important to identify all the different types of signs your facility may use.

Safety Signs

When it comes to hazard communication signs, the first thing that will come to mind is the standard safety signs. Signs that alert people to a potential risk in the area are one of the most effective options out there. When walking through any facility, you will likely see signs that boldly say “DANGER” or “CAUTION” and know that you need to be aware of a potential risk.

The design of many of these safety signs are regulated by OSHA, so they will look the same no matter which facility is using them. It is also possible to make custom safety signs that fulfill a specific purpose within your facility. No matter what type of safety signs you are using, it is essential that they convey a very clear message, and are placed in an area that is easy to see.

Floor Signs

Floor signs are typically used to provide temporary notification of a hazard in the area. The most recognized type of floor sign is the ‘caution: wet floor’ sign that you often see in areas that have recently been mopped.

There are many different types of floor signs, however, and they are a great way to alert people to a wide range of different hazards. Since these signs are mobile, it is possible to quickly put them up in response to a specific situation.

Of course, you can also set up permanent floors signs if necessary. If, for example, a particular entrance always gets wet when it rains, it may make sense to put up a floor sign that conveys this message clearly.

Custom Floor Signs for Hazard Communications

Vinyl Signs

One of the most popular types of hazard communication signs available are the vinyl signs, which can be custom printed to provide any message. Vinyl signs are very durable, and can be used in almost any environment without a problem.

Another great benefit of these signs is that you can create them right in your facility, if you have a good industrial label maker. Having access to a high quality label maker will allow your facility to create hazard signs in just minutes, so you can communicate information about a specific situation.

These label makers also make it far more affordable to create any type of sign that you need. In most cases, it will cost a fraction of what it would be to order customized signs from a third party vendor, which is why so many facilities are investing in a LabelTac industrial label maker.

Types of Vinyl Signs

If you have a good label printer in your facility, you can easily print out any of the following very useful signs, which can be placed throughout the facility:

Fire Extinguisher – Printing signs that will show people where they can go for a fire extinguisher is a great way to improve the fire safety of a facility. If an extinguisher is stored on one side of a support pillar, for example, you can place signs on all four sides to alert everyone in the area to the existence of this key safety item.
Vehicle Hazard Area – If your facility has indoor vehicles, such as hi-lows or forklifts, you can put up signs in the areas where they drive, alerting people to their presence. By ensuring that everyone knows that these vehicles may be driving through, they will be looking out for this danger.
Ledge Warnings – Since many facilities have open ledges where people or equipment could fall off, it is necessary to put up signs to warn them. Even a simple “DANGER” sign could be enough to prevent people from accidentally falling and getting seriously injured.
Chemical Warnings – Most facilities use a variety of different chemicals in different areas of the company. Having safety signs that alert employees to the presence of these chemicals, and what specific cautions they should take, is very important.
Personal Protection Equipment – Custom signs can be made that will direct people to where any personal protection equipment is stored so they can quickly access it in the event of an emergency. During a chemical spill or other emergency, every second counts, and these signs can literally save lives.

Improving Your Facilities Hazard Communications

For many facilities, hazard communications is one of their biggest trouble areas. In fact, OSHA has found that a large number of the violations they issue can be traced back to a problem with something in the facilities hazard communication standards.

With this in mind, it is essential to take steps to improve the way your facility notifies employees of potential risks in the area. Using any type of sign in the facility is an easy, effective, and affordable option that too many facilities overlook.

Take some time to walk through your facility and see where you could benefit from any of these types of signs. Many people are surprised at just how many different ways they can come up with to help improve the overall safety of a facility by simply installing new or improved signs.

Remember, even when you can’t entirely eliminate hazards in your facility, you can still help to keep everyone safe by putting up a high quality, visible sign in the area. By alerting employees and guests of the risk, you will help to keep them from getting hurt, or causing any type of accident. This is one of the most effective ways to improve your overall hazard communication at any facility.

When it comes to safety signs and industrial label makers, Creative Safety Supply is your go to source for all your safety needs.