A guide to warning signs

The right signage can make a world of difference. In public settings, particularly in healthcare, industrial, commercial and educational buildings, it can make the difference when attempting to get people out of the building in a timely manner.

There are more than a few different types of signage that one needs to be aware of. Specifically, there are different colours that indicate what kind of warning sign one is looking at. Knowing the colours can be critical when it comes to knowing what to do, not do, or how to get out of an emergency situation.

Colour importance

What could the colour of signage possibly have to do with anything? Well, as it turns out, the colour of the signs one sees around a commercial, industrial, educational, or healthcare building can be a critical indicator of what one is about to walk into.

When one searches for signs from a vendor like RS, the colour can give a quick indicator. Understanding those indicators can allow for preventative measures to be taken. In the event of an emergency, knowing the various colours can also allow for fast action to either vacate or provide suppression.

Red signs

The first sign colour type to consider is the red sign. Red is universally recognised to indicate danger, signalling the potential for injury or even death. These signs or tags are mostly red with white lettering or symbols that are meant to contrast and stand out so that they can be seen from even a far distance.

Danger signs are meant to be taken with the utmost care in mind. They warn against the consequences of prospective actions or potential hazards if protocols in that area are violated. They are meant to be taken very seriously.

Yellow signs

Much as yellow is used as a symbol of caution when out on the roadways, it is also used as a symbol of caution in terms of signage. These tags and signs, composed mostly of bright yellow colouring, indicate that there are potential physical dangers that could occur in the area ahead.

Using contrasting colours – black, usually – yellow signs will indicate potential injuries to be caused by hazards in the area. These can include but are not limited to tripping, falling, slipping, pinching, and striking against hazards. Though they are not deadly, inappropriate actions from ignoring these signs can lead to serious injury.

Orange signs

The orange signs are warning signs. Much the same as the other colours, they are predominantly one colour (orange, in this case) with a contrasting colour for the letters so that they can seen from a good distance away. These act in much the same way as the caution signs.

Orange illustrates potentially dangerous areas, parts of machinery, or equipment. These components may crush, shock, cut, or cause injury to a person. Fluorescent orange or orange-red indicate biological hazards. These infectious agents and wastes could pose a risk of injury, illness, or even death.

Green signs

Perhaps the most common sign type one will find. Green signage is indicative of safety instructions. These also have contrasting lettering on a solid background so that they can be read from a good distance away. Some part of the sign may even include black lettering against a background of white.

Green signage points out things like emergency wash stations, first aid equipment, and even fire exits. These signs are designed to help protect the safety of occupants in one way or another. In just about any kind of building one comes across, green signs will be somewhere.

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