Caution signs, also known as hazards signs or warning signs, tell workers or visitors in a workplace where dangers and risks are, and how to avoid them.
Safety warning signs in the workplace are essential in assisting workers in carrying out tasks in the safest possible manner.
Signsmart is a signage company that manufactures and sells such signs to workplaces and any other institutions or people that need them.
Today, a Signsmart employee discusses caution signs and helps us get familiar with the symbols and warnings they indicate to us.
Why is it important to know the safety and hazard signs?
When we get familiar with safety signs in Melbourne, we can help to prevent accidents by:
- Being more cautious around certain substances
- Correctly and safely using certain machinery
- Knowing where pedestrians and other people could be present
- Practicing safe driving speeds
You help your colleagues stay safe through signage – just another way your business can put safety first.
What are the 6 types of hazards in the workplace?
There are six main types of hazard or caution signs in the workplace.
We outline these six below to help you start to get familiar with health and safety signs.
Biological hazards
Biological hazards refer to the diseases from exposure to certain people, animals, or chemicals.
One such example of biological hazard signs that we are all tremendously familiar with is Covid-19 distancing signs. Another example is RISK OF RADIATION signage.
Physical hazards
Physical hazards pertain to injuries or risks including potential crushes, lacerations, falls, and other injuries from physical objects or barriers.
Common examples include SLIPPERY WHEN WET or WATCH YOUR STEP signs.
Ergonomic hazards
Ergonomic hazards refer to the long term physical effects from menial but consistent tasks at a workplace, such as back pain due to poor posture when seated at a desk, constantly lifting heavy equipment, or exposure to loud noises and vibration.
An example of a hazard sign that refers to ergonomic warnings is the TAKE CARE WHEN LIFTING sign.
Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards are the potential for any gas, liquid, or solid substance to either come in contact with you, or for you to inhale, which creates a bodily reaction.
These are common in warehouses and laboratories, as well as construction sites. Common examples include WEAR RUBBER GLOVES WHEN HANDLING CHEMICALS and asbestos warning signs.
Workload hazards
Workload hazards are related to stress, depression, and other mental health issues because of the amount of work or type of work one perpetually experiences.
What are the 9 hazard symbols?
Another way to categorise caution signs is to look at the symbols that they often depict.
Workplace safety signs, and symbols especially, need to be understood so that the correct practices can be undertaken according to them.
Explosive symbol
The explosive symbol indicates that a substance has the potential to explode like dynamite.
This symbol can be found on many of Signsmart’s Dangerous Goods labels, which should be affixed on any container storing or transporting explosives.
Corrosion symbol
If a substance is corrosive, this means it can wear away at skin or fabric via either having a very strong or very low pH, among other properties.
An example is the TOXIC caution signs.
“Gas under pressure” symbol
These are gases that are susceptible to being diffused in a space, so you need to watch out for them in tight containers.
An example is the FLAMMABLE GAS sign.
“Dangerous for the environment” symbol
These are substances that can create nasty greenhouse gases or be detrimental to plants and animals.
Toxic symbol
Toxic substances may refer to the potential for corrosion but also for chemicals that are toxic for you to ingest.
Signsmart’s Hazchem signs are used to identify toxic liquids or chemicals.
Oxidising symbol
If a chemical is known as an “oxidising agent”, it means that it easily gains electrons from other substances close by.
This means that an oxidising agent can induce a combustion reaction at much lower temperatures than standard chemicals. Therefore, anything with an oxidising symbol must, for example, be kept away from open flames.
Flammable symbol
Oxidising agents may come under the flammable umbrella, as well as:
- Gasoline
- Acetone
- Alcohol
- Petroleum
- Sawdust
You need to mount the flammable symbol on any of these substances you are storing or transporting.
Health hazard symbol
Health hazards may cause health effects, long and short term illness, or injury.
Where can I get hazard signs for my workplace?
Signsmart supplies caution and hazard signs for all sorts of businesses across Australia
Explore Signsmart’s range of workplace hazard signs for yourself on our website and shop online now for fast delivery Australia-wide.
Got something custom in mind? We can certainly help! Speak to us today about custom safety signs in Australia – just tell us what information you need and we’ll do the rest.
Signsmart follows all the correct formatting to ensure that your workplace is compliant and safe.
Shop online now or speak to our team if you need further information: call (03) 9687 3050, or fill in the contact form and we will get back to you shortly.
