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Shop Safety Signage

Signs do not replace training, but they remind people of hazards, show where equipment is and speak when you are not there.

What can signs do in a shop?

Good signs warn of hazards, mark exits and equipment, show what protective gear is needed and say who can use what. They help new workers, visitors, teens and seasonal help who do not know the place. They also help in an emergency, when people may not think clearly.

Signs work best as part of a program that also includes training and supervision, and they must be accurate and kept up to date.

A sign can also say what is not allowed, such as no entry while a machine is running or no open flame. Short, direct words are best, and the language should match your crew.

What should I mark?

Start with the places where people could be hurt or need to find something fast: exits, extinguishers, first aid kits, eye wash, electrical panels, shutoffs, chemical storage, machines with moving parts, hot work areas, and hazardous or restricted areas.

Mark floor hazards such as steps and low beams, and mark the area around equipment that needs clearance.

Include signs at entries to the shop for visitors and delivery drivers, since they do not know your hazards and may wander into work areas.

• Exits and exit routes.
• Extinguishers, first aid and eye wash.
• Electrical panels and emergency shutoffs.
• Chemical storage and machine hazards.

What do the words and colors mean?

Standards and manufacturers describe signal words such as Danger, Warning and Caution and the colors that go with them. Use these terms as labels for the type of message the sign carries, not as a ranking of how risky your shop is. Official guidance, including OSHA's, explains what is required for workplaces and what is optional.

Where a sign is needed by law, such as for certain chemicals or equipment, ask OSHA or your state agency for the specifics.

Do not make up your own symbols for hazards that have standard symbols, since mixed messages confuse people. Commercially printed signs are widely available, but you do not need to choose any particular brand.

How do I make signs readable?

Keep the message short and clear, use large lettering and contrast, and put it at a height and place where people will see it. Use pictures as well as words so that people who read little English or are very young can understand. Consider translating signs into the languages your workers use.

Keep signs clean and well lit and replace faded or damaged ones.

Consider glow-in-the-dark or reflective materials for exit signs and key shutoffs if power may fail. Ask your fire marshal about what is acceptable.

Where should signs not be used?

Too many signs create clutter, and people stop reading. Avoid signs that contradict each other or that are out of date. A sign that says a machine is out of service must be taken down when it is back, and a sign for a hazard that no longer exists should be removed.

Do not let a sign stand in for a guard or lockout. Fix the hazard where possible.

Sort out old signs once a year. A faded sign that no one reads is worse than no sign, because it suggests that the shop does not look after safety.

How do signs work with training?

Use signs to reinforce what you taught. Walk new workers around the shop and point out the signs and what they mean. Ask them what they think a sign says, to check it makes sense.

Involve workers in choosing where signs go. They know where mistakes are made.

Ask teens and new workers to explain the signs back to you, and watch for any that are misread.

• Walk new workers past every sign.
• Ask what each sign means.
• Fix any that are misread or missing.

How do I keep signage current?

Review signs during your regular safety walk-through and at your annual audit. Update them when you add equipment, move things or change procedures. Keep a list of what each sign is for.

Consider asking a local fire marshal or safety professional to review your signs and give feedback.

Photograph each sign location and keep the photos with your records so you can replace signs the same way if they are damaged.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.