According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), an average of 100 deaths per week happen while on the job. The highest percentage of these are on construction sites. Signs help minimize these deaths and keep job sites safe.
Construction Site Sign Enforcement
OSHA is mandated to ensure the safety of over 130 million workers in the United States. Signs are one of the areas OSHA looks at when inspecting job sites. Job sites are required to have signs posted in any location where workers can be in danger. OSHA has specific standards for where signs need to be placed and what messages they must display.
Failure to comply with OSHA will result in steep penalties. Even a first-time non-serious violation will cost $14,502, which is much more than the cost of signs.
Required Signs for Construction Sites
DANGER: These signs are required where the hazard is severe enough to likely result in death. These signs have the signal word “DANGER” in white letters on a red background. The safety alert symbol of an exclamation point in a triangle must also be present on the sign. Danger signs need to be placed in the immediate vicinity of the hazard.
WARNING: These signs are required in locations where a hazard is up ahead which can result in injuries severe enough to cause death. The signal word “WARNING” must be printed on an orange background and accompanied by the aforementioned safety alert symbol. A key distinction is warning signs can be placed further from the hazard than danger signs.
CAUTION: These signs are required throughout a job site as the entire area can cause injuries. These injuries will not result in death but may moderately injure the person. The signal word “CAUTION” must be printed in black text on a yellow background next to the safety symbol.
Address Signs: In California, any vehicle entrance is required to post address signs including the street name and number. The address must be clearly printed and measure at least six inches in height.
No Trespassing: All access points must have a “No Trespassing” sign. The sign must include California Penal Code Section 602. Also, the sign must be installed five feet from the ground.
Emergency Contact Numbers: These signs must be posted at the entrance and on the outside of the project managers’ office, and there must be a 24-hour contact number for someone who will respond in case of an emergency.
At FASTSIGNS® of Sacramento/Natomas Airport Area, CA, we work with project managers in the Sacramento County area to ensure they have the signs they need to operate a safe and OSHA-compliant job site.
