Precautionary statement

In United States safety standards, precautionary statements are sentences providing information on potential hazards, and proper procedures. They are used in situations from consumer product on labels and manuals, to descriptions of physical activities. Various methods are used to bring focus to them, such as setting apart from normal text, graphic icons, changes in text's font and color. Texts will often clarify the types of statements and their meanings within the text. Common precautionary statements are described below. See ANSI 535.

Danger

Danger statements are a description of an imminent hazard that will result in severe injury or death if not avoided and should be limited to the most extreme situations.

Danger: Description of imminent hazard and failure to avoid hazard will result in death.


ANSI Z535.5 Definition: "Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. The signal word "DANGER" is to be limited to the most extreme situations. DANGER [signs] should not be used for property damage hazards unless personal injury risk appropriate to these levels is also involved." [1]

OSHA 1910.145 Definition: "Shall be used in major hazard situations where an immediate hazard presents a threat of death or serious injury to employees. Danger tags shall be used only in these situations."[2]

Warning

Warning statements are a description of a potentially hazardous situation which if not avoided could result in minor personal injury or serious injury or death.


Warning: Description of hazard and possible resulting injures or death.

ANSI Z535.5 Definition: "Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury. WARNING [signs] should not be used for property damage hazards unless personal injury risk appropriate to this level is also involved." [3]

OSHA 1910.145 Definition: "May be used to represent a hazard level between "Caution" and "Danger," instead of the required "Caution" tag, provided that they have a signal word of "Warning," an appropriate major message, and otherwise meet the general tag criteria of paragraph (f)(4) of this section."[4]

Caution

Caution statements are a description of a potentially hazardous situation which if not avoided could result in minor or moderate personal injury.

Caution: Description of hazard and possible resulting injuries or death.

ANSI Z535.5 Definition: "Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury." [5]

OSHA 1910.145 Definition: "Shall be used in minor hazard situations where a non-immediate or potential hazard or unsafe practice presents a lesser threat of employee injury."[6]

Notice

Notice statements are used to notify people on hazards that could result in things other than personal injury, like property damage.


Notice: Statement including nature of hazard and possible result.


ANSI Z535.5 Definition: " Indicates information considered important but not hazard related. The safety alert symbol [the triangle symbol with the exclamation point] shall not be used with this signal word. For environmental/facility signs, NOTICE is typically the choice of signal word for messages relating to property damage, security, sanitation, and housekeeping rules." [7]

OSHA 1910.145 Definition: None[8]

References

  1. ↑ Definitions for Danger, Warning, Caution Signs that follow ANSI Z535 Standards and OSHA 1910.145 Rules, retrieved 2013-11-16
  2. ↑ Definitions for Danger, Warning, Caution Signs that follow ANSI Z535 Standards and OSHA 1910.145 Rules, retrieved 2013-11-16
  3. ↑ Definitions for Danger, Warning, Caution Signs that follow ANSI Z535 Standards and OSHA 1910.145 Rules, retrieved 2013-11-16
  4. ↑ Definitions for Danger, Warning, Caution Signs that follow ANSI Z535 Standards and OSHA 1910.145 Rules, retrieved 2013-11-16
  5. ↑ Definitions for Danger, Warning, Caution Signs that follow ANSI Z535 Standards and OSHA 1910.145 Rules, retrieved 2013-11-16
  6. ↑ Definitions for Danger, Warning, Caution Signs that follow ANSI Z535 Standards and OSHA 1910.145 Rules, retrieved 2013-11-16
  7. ↑ Definitions for Danger, Warning, Caution Signs that follow ANSI Z535 Standards and OSHA 1910.145 Rules, retrieved 2013-11-16
  8. ↑ Definitions for Danger, Warning, Caution Signs that follow ANSI Z535 Standards and OSHA 1910.145 Rules, retrieved 2013-11-16
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