Discuss the type and meaning of different hazard warning signs

To ensure the safety of our society hazard warning signs play a significant role. Enforced by Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA), these signs play a crucial role in maintaining the safety of a workplace. While approaching a dangerous area or in case of a fire it is the hazard warning signs which help you to practice caution and safety and exit safely.

To identify the areas and containers which are hazard to your health different signs and symbols are used. Be it household cleaners or construction sites the hazard warning signs contain some striking symbols so that you can recognise them at once and take precautions to avoid them if not handled properly. The hazard warning signs are uniform and come with some difference in colors or backgrounds to indicate the particular hazard.

Types and meaning of different hazard warning signs:

  • The most common of all hazard warning signs, is the skull and crossbones which stands for lethal hazards. This sign can often be found in the places of high risk or danger, on the containers to indicate that the contents can be fatal.
  • The sign of blades of a black fan with yellow background is the sign of danger of radiation. That means you will get them in a place where there is radiation. Radiation is hazardous to people and to avoid injury to your body parts you must wear protective clothing in areas where radiation is used. The same sign in plain black and white bear the same meaning and warning indications.
  • Three interwoven arcs with a bell shape in the middle is the indicator of biohazard risks. A place or substance where such a sign is placed indicates the biochemical hazards which are transmitted by contact with the skin or through the air. The same sign can be black with a white background or black with a yellow background.
  • A lightning bolt or a staggered exclamation point is the sign of high voltage. A high voltage place is a risky zone and special care should be taken while moving in such area. Power centers, construction sites, etc. usually are places of high voltage.
  • Hazard warning signs can also be a simple exclamation point inside a triangle. It is the symbol that alerts of the possibilities of hazard or danger which can be anything, from a slippery pavement to falling debris and beyond.
  • The hazard warning signs also include those for chemical hazards. The places or containers with chemical hazards may cause flammability, health risks, reactivity and other hazards.

You can find various other hazard warning signs including the hazard warning diamonds and to ensure your protection and safety it is important to understand what these symbols mean. If you are unsure of the meaning of any symbol it is better to move away from the area as soon as possible.

Among the online stores offering hazard warning signs Lasting Impressions is the leading name. With an extensive collection of hazard warning signs you can get the required ones according to your requirements.

Terry G is a health and safety coach who has been training people about the need of maintaining health and safety signs like hazard warning signs at the workplace and at home as well. He has written many articles on various hazard warning signs.

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