The purpose of having safety signage in the workplace is to identify and warn workers/visitors who may be exposed to potential hazards in the workplace. Signs can assist in the communication of important instructions, reinforce safety messages and provide instructions for emergency situations. The health and safety legislation means that all workplaces are obliged to use signs where practical to highlight a serious hazard or risk in the workplace.
Safety signs contain instructions that all people on site need to follow and comply with. Failure to comply with any safety signage constitutes either an offence at law, or is a breach of safety procedures or other directions the work site/place has instructed.
Regulatory signs include:
| Prohibition signs | Signs that indicate that an action or activity is not permitted. The sign is shown as a red circle with a red slash over a black icon over the action. Test is black on a white background. |
| Mandatory signs | Signs that indicate that an instruction must be carried out. The icons are in white reversed out of a blue circle. Text is black on a white background. |
| Danger signs | Signs that warn a particular hazard or hazardous condition is likely to be life-threatening. The sign is shown as a word Danger on a red oval over a black rectangle. Text is black on a white background. |
| Warning signs | Safety signs that warn of a hazard or hazardous condition that is not likely to be life threatening. The safety sign consists of a black triangle and icon on a yellow background with supporting black text is required. |
| Fire safety signs | Fire safety signs advise the location of fire alarms and firefighting equipment. They contain white symbols and/or text on a red background. |
| Emergency signs | Safety signs that indicate the location of, or directions to emergency facilities. These signs feature a white symbol and/or text on a green background. |
| General information signs | These signs communicate information of a general nature and often refer to housekeeping, company practices or logistics. These signs are not referred to in AS 1319:1994. |