Safety signs denote a particular hazard from which we need to stay away. They may give crucial instructions about secure practices to adhere to at work by means of a simple poster.

A danger sign is the most direct and powerful of these, the lettering being red, which historically connotes a serious peril plus black and white for contrast. It often is just the word “Danger” with nothing else which emphasises the seriousness of the admonition. Other safety signs are less rigorous, like the warning sign which is usually orange and black making it highly visible from a distance so is excellent for announcing the need for our watchfulness on the roads.

Caution signs provide an even less stringent warning and are normally yellow and black. All levels of safety signs are designed to international standards accepted by most countries. They use the same symbols, often called pictograms, to show the possible negative results of ignoring the sign or of the danger itself. We must always remember that signs are not a substitute for common sense and reasonable behavior but rather the means to remind us of what we need to do to keep ourselves and our loved ones out of harm’s way.

Safety signs can be in the various colours mentioned above, large or small, lighted or reflective, and can even be furnished with sound. They all comprise an integral and important element of our society that serves a useful purpose in the protection and preservation of our way of life.