OSHA’s New Safety Sign Ruling: A Game-Changer for Workplace Safety

As of September 11, 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has implemented a new rule update that incorporates the latest ANSI Z535 safety sign and tag standards into its safety regulations. This change is a significant step forward in advancing safety in the United States, providing industries with the tools they need to create effective safety communication in the workplace.

Prior to this update, OSHA’s safety sign and tag regulations referenced outdated standards from 1967 and 1968. The new standards, based on the 2011 ANSI Z535 guidelines, offer a more advanced and uniform system for hazard recognition. This means that safety signs and tags will now be part of a national system, matching the ANSI Z535-formatted product safety labels used in daily life.

The benefits of this update are twofold. Firstly, it allows employers to create more effective safety communication in the workplace, using graphical symbols, specific color-coding, and precise formatting to convey safety messages. Secondly, it reduces the risk of litigation by providing a best practice for visually communicating safety messages, aligning with the ANSI Z535.2 and Z535.5 standards.

The legal theory of the duty to warn is evolving, and companies that fail to provide adequate warnings may face allegations of “failure to warn” and “inadequate warnings” when accidents occur. The new OSHA-endorsed ANSI Z535 safety signage provides organizations with a risk reduction tool to prevent accidents and a litigation defense tool to lessen liability.

In conclusion, the OSHA rule change is a significant step forward in promoting workplace safety. It is essential for safety and legal/risk management decision-makers to take note of this development and adopt the latest best practice safety signs, labels, and tags in their facilities to create a safer work environment and reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.