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or level of hazard seriousness, the probable consequenceof involvement with the hazard, and how the hazard canbe avoided.

2.2 Purpose

The purposes of this standard are: (1) to establish auniform and consistent visual layout for safety signs andlabels applied to a wide variety of products, (2) tominimize the proliferation of design for product safetysigns and labels and (3) to achieve application of anational uniform system for the recognition of potentialpersonal injury hazards for those persons using products.

2.2.1 There are a number of existing American NationalStandards which are recognized for particular industriesor specific uses. Compliance with such a standard maybe considered for the particular industry or use. It is notthe intent of this ANSI Z535.4 standard to replace existingstandards or regulations which are uniquely applicable toa specific industry or use. It is the intent to encourageadoption of this standard in subsequent revisions ofother standards and regulations.

3 Application and exceptions

3.1 Application

This standard provides guidance for manufacturers,employers, distributors, and others who have a desire toalert persons to potential personal injury hazards inherentwith products. For chemical products and chemicalmixtures follow ANSI Z129.1-1994.

3.2 Exceptions

3.2.1 Should any of the requirements of this standardconflict with federal, state, or municipal regulations, suchconflict shall not invalidate other sections of thisstandard.3.2.2 Should it be necessary to use the same graphicsystem for product safety signs and for environmentaland facility safety signs, the graphic system as defined inthis standard (see section 6and 7.1 through 7.5) or as defined in ANSI Z535.2-1998,Environmental and Facility Safety Signs (see sections5.1.2, 5.2.2, 5.3.2) may be used.

2. American National Standardfor Product Safety Signs andLabels

1 Introduction

The design of safety signs1 for products has beeninfluenced for many years by standards originallydeveloped for accident prevention signs to be used inthe general environment. As product safety signsevolved, some basic differences developed between theircharacteristics and those of environmental safety signs:Environmental safety signs are usually larger, observedat longer distances, and frequently contain lesseramounts of information for visual clarity at a distance.Product safety signs are likely to contain moreinformation within a smaller format, are usually observedat closer distances, and must physically and visuallyintegrate with a wide range of product size, shape, andcolor characteristics. Attempts by productmanufacturers to address these variable characteristicshave produced numerous approaches to the graphictreatment of such signs.

This standard sets forth a hazard communication systemdeveloped specifically for product safety signs andlabels. It consolidates a number of previous graphicapproaches into a common design direction carefullyselected to present product hazard information in anorderly and visually consistent manner for effectivecommunication.

The ANSI Z535.4 standard developed for product safetysigns and labels complements the ANSI Z535.2 standarddeveloped for environmental and facility safety signs.These standards are similar in many respects, however,they each address different physical and visualrequirements as noted above. In this regard, theAccredited Standards Committee Z535 has recognizedand affirmed the need for these two standards.

2 Scope and purpose

2.1 Scope

This standard sets forth performance requirements forthe design, application, use, and placement of safetysigns and labels intended to identify potential hazardsfor persons using, operating, servicing, or in proximityto, a wide variety of products. A product safety sign orlabel should alert persons to a specific hazard, the degree

1 In this standard, the term sign will be used to mean either a product safety sign or label.

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4 Definitions

4.1 accident: An occurrence in a sequence of eventsthat produces unintended injury, death or propertydamage.

4.2 colors: Colors specified in this standard shallconform to American National Standard Safety ColorCode, ANSI Z535.1-1998.

4.3 decal: (See safety sign.)

4.4 hazard: A source of potential injury to a person.

4.5 Intent

4.5.1 may: This word is understood to be permissive.

4.5.2 shall: This word is understood to be mandatory.

4.5.3 should: This word is understood to be advisory.

4.6 label: (See safety sign.)

4.7 panel: Area of the safety sign having a distinctivebackground color different from adjacent areas of thesign, or which is clearly delineated by a line, border, ormargin. There may be up to three (3) panels per sign:signal word, message, and symbol.

4.7.1 signal word panel: Area of the safety sign thatcontains the signal word. For personal injury hazards, thesignal word panel also contains the safety alert symbol.4.7.2 message panel: Area of the safety sign thatcontains the word messages which identify the hazard,indicate how to avoid the hazard, and advise of theprobable consequence of not avoiding the hazard. 1,2

4.7.3 symbol/pictorial panel: Area of the safety signthat contains the symbol/pictorial.

4.8 pictorial: (See symbol/pictorial.)

4.9 placard: (See safety sign.)

4.10 safety alert symbol: (See Annex A) A symbolwhich indicates a potential personal injury hazard. It iscomposed of an equilateral triangle surrounding anexclamation mark. The safety alert symbol should not beused to alert persons to property-damage-only accidents.

Figure 1 Safety alert symbol

4.11 safety sign: A visual alerting device in the form of adecal, label, placard, or other marking such as anembossing, stamping, etching, or other process whichadvises the observer of the nature and degree of thepotential hazard(s). It can also describe safetyprecautions or evasive actions to take, or provide otherdirections to eliminate or reduce the hazard.

4.11.1 environmental/facility safety sign: Sign orplacard in a work or public area that provides safetyinformation about the immediate environment.

4.11.2 product safety sign or label: Sign, label, or decalaffixed to a product that provides hazard and safetyinformation about that product.

4.11.2.1 permanent safety sign or label: Informationaffixed to a product to warn against potential exposure tohazards inherent in the normal use associated with theproduct, or which might be created during otherreasonably anticipated product use. The sign or label isto be permanently affixed to the product so that it cannotbe easily removed.

4.11.2.2 temporary safety sign or tag: Informationaffixed to a product or its container to warn of atemporary hazard created by situations such as shipment,setup, service or repair. Temporary safety signs and tagsare removed when the hazard no longer exists.

4.12 sign classifications: Various categories of signs,each with a distinct signal word and colors, whichrepresent different levels of hazards.

4.13 signal word: The word or words that call attentionto the safety sign and designate a degree or level of

1 The order in which the content appears in the message panel is flexible. Factors to consider when determining the order of a word

messages content include the target audiences degree of prior knowledge of the hazard and the reaction time required to avoid the

hazard.

2 When information on consequence, avoidance, or type of hazard is readily inferred, this information may be omitted from the message

panel. See Annex B 3.1.

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hazard seriousness. The signal words for product safetysigns are DANGER, WARNING and CAUTION.

4.13.1 DANGER: Indicates an imminently hazardoussituation which, if not avoided, will result in death orserious injury. This signal word is to be limited to themost extreme situations.

4.13.2 WARNING: Indicates a potentially hazardoussituation which, if not avoided, could result in death orserious injury.

4.13.3 CAUTION: Indicates a potentially hazardoussituation which, if not avoided, may result in minor ormoderate injury. It may also be used to alert againstunsafe practices.

NoteDANGER or WARNING should not be considered forproperty damage accidents unless personal injury riskappropriate to these levels is also involved. CAUTION ispermitted for property-damage-only accidents. The safety alertsymbol should not be used to alert persons to property-damage-only accidents.

4.14 symbol/pictorial: A graphic representationintended to convey a message without the use of words.It may represent a hazard, a hazardous situation, aprecaution to avoid a hazard, a result of not avoiding ahazard, or any combination of these messages. (See ANSIZ535.3-1998, Criteria for Safety Symbols).

5 Sign classifications

5.1 Hazard classification

Product safety signs and labels are classified accordingto the relative seriousness of the hazard situation. Thedetermination is based on an estimation of the likelihoodof exposure to the hazardous situation and what couldhappen as a result of exposure to the hazard. Forproducts, there are three hazard classifications which aredenoted by the signal words DANGER, WARNING orCAUTION.

5.2 Signal word selection

When no federal, state, or local government code,regulation, standard, or guideline specifies a particular

signal word, selection of the signal word should be madein accordance with the definitions provided in Section 4.

5.3 Multiple hazard identification

5.3.1 One sign or label

When more than one hazard situation exists on a product,either in close proximity to each other, or which might bepreventable from a common location, it is permissible touse only one safety sign or label provided that theinformation effectively addresses each hazard.

5.3.2 Levels of seriousness

When multiple hazard situations are addressed on onesign or label, and the hazards are classified at differentlevels of seriousness, the signal word corresponding tothe greatest hazard level shall be used.

6 Sign or label format

6.1 Panels

A product safety sign or label consists of a signal wordpanel plus a message panel. A symbol/pictorial panelmay be used to communicate parts, or all, of the elementsof a message panel (see 4.7.2 message panel).

6.2 Panel arrangement

The sign or label panels can be either in a horizontal orvertical arrangement (see Figures 1 through 5). Thefigures, as shown, are sample formats. Actual size,layout, and proportion may vary depending onapplication requirements.

6.3 Safety alert symbol

A safety alert symbol, when used with the signal word,shall precede the signal word. The base of the safetyalert symbol shall be on the same horizontal line as thebase of the letters of the signal word. The height of thesafety alert symbol shall equal or exceed the signal wordletter height.

6.4 Border

A safety sign or label shall be distinctive on the product.A contrasting border may be used on the sign to achievedistinctiveness.

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6.5 Word message

The word message should be concise and readilyunderstood.

6.5.1 Multiple messages should be provided withsufficient space between them, when feasible, to preventthem from visually blending together.

6.5.2 When detailed instructions, precautions, orconsequences require lengthy verbiage it shall bepermissible to refer the user to the proper instructionmanual.

6.6 Pictorial

The pictorial should be readily understood and shouldeffectively communicate the message.

7 Safety sign and label colors

7.1 Standard colors

Safety colors shall conform to ANSI Z535.1-1998, SafetyColor Code.

7.2 Signal word panels

7.2.1 DANGER The word DANGER shall be in whiteletters on a safety red background.

7.2.2 WARNING The word WARNING shall be in blackletters on a safety orange background.

7.2.3 CAUTION The word CAUTION shall be in blackletters on a safety yellow background.

7.2.4 Safety alert symbol The solid triangle portion shallbe the same color as the signal word lettering, and theexclamation mark portion shall be the same color as thesignal word panel background.

7.3 Message panel

The message panel should have either black lettering on awhite background or white lettering on a blackbackground.

7.4 Symbol/pictorial panel

The symbol/pictorial panel should normally have a blackpictorial on a white background. Other colors may beused for pictorial emphasis, such as safety red for fire,etc.

7.5 Border

The border should normally be white. If necessary toachieve better contrast, the border may be black.

7.6 Color options

7.6.1 Other standards. Other colors may be used forcompliance with other standards (see 3.2 Exceptions).

7.6.2 Message and symbol/pictorial panels. Whenspecial circumstances limit the use of sign colors to twocolors, the colors assigned to the signal word panel mayalso be used for the message and symbol/pictorial panelsprovided that the panel colors contrast with thebackground color of the product.

7.6.3 Exceptions. When special circumstances precludethe use of safety colors on base materials such as wood,cardboard, metal, plastic, etc., the marking used should(when feasible) contrast with the background color of thebase material.

8 Letter style and size

NoteFor additional reference on letter style and size, seeAnnex B.

8.1 Letter style

8.1.1 Signal words shall be in sans serif letters in uppercase only.

8.1.2 Message panel lettering should be a combinationof upper and lower case sans serif letters. Serif letteringmay be used for longer text. Upper case only letteringmay be used for short messages or emphasis of individualwords.

8.1.3 Examples of acceptable lettering styles include:Arial, Arial Bold, Folio Medium, Franklin Gothic,Helvetica, Helvetica Bold, Meta Bold, News Gothic Bold,Poster Gothic, and Univers.

8.2 Letter size

8.2.1 Lettering shall be of a size that enables a personwith normal vision, including corrected vision, to read thesafety sign or label at a safe viewing distance from thehazard.

8.2.2 Safe viewing distance for the signal word shall takeinto consideration a reasonable hazard avoidance

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Figure 2 Three-panel sign horizontal format

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Figure 3 Three-panel sign vertical format

Figure 4 Three-panel sign horizontal format

Figure 5 Two-panel sign vertical format

Figure 6 Two-panel sign horizontal format

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reaction time.

8.2.3 Safe viewing distance for the message panel wordingmay be different from the safe viewing distance for thesignal word.

8.2.4 Signal word letter height should be at least 50percent greater than the selected height of the majority ofthe message panel wording.

9 Sign and label placement

9.1 Location

Product safety signs and labels shall be placed such thatthey will: (1) be readily visible to the intended viewer and(2) alert the viewer to the potential hazard in time to takeappropriate action.

9.2 Protection

When feasible, placement of the sign or label shouldprovide protection from foreseeable damage, fading, orvisual obstruction caused by abrasion, ultraviolet light, orsubstances such as lubricants, chemicals and dirt.

10 Expected life and maintenance

10.1 Expected life

Product safety signs or labels shall have a reasonableexpected life with good color stability, pictorial legibility,and word message legibility when viewed at a safe viewingdistance as described in Section 8.2. Reasonable expectedlife shall take into consideration the expected life of theproduct and the foreseeable environment of use.

NoteWhile there is no definition provided for legibility andsafe viewing distance, paragraphs 8.2.1 thru 8.2.3, paragraph9.1 and Annex B do provide some guidance for interpretation.

10.2 Product user instructions

The manufacturer should include information onmaintenance or replacement of safety signs or labels asdetailed in 10.2.1 through 10.2.3. If accompanying collateralmaterial is provided, this information may be included.

10.2.1 Maintenance

Product safety signs or labels should be periodicallyinspected and cleaned by the product user as necessary tomaintain good legibility for safe viewing distance as

described in Section 8.2.

10.2.2 Replacement

Product safety signs or labels should be replaced by theproduct user when they no longer meet the legibilityrequirements for safe viewing distance as described inSection 8.2. In cases where products have an extensiveexpected life or where exposed to extreme conditions, theproduct user should contact either the productmanufacturer or some other source to determine a meansfor obtaining replacement signs or labels.

10.2.3 Installation procedure

Installation of new or replacement safety signs or labelsshould be in accordance with the sign or labelmanufacturers recommended procedure.

11 Symbols/pictorials

11.1 General

11.1.1 Symbols and pictorials are graphic representationschosen to clearly convey a specific alerting message.

11.1.2 The conveyed message of a symbol/pictorial is todescribe the type of hazard, potential consequences of thehazard, or evasive/avoidance actions to be taken. Whenused, the symbol/pictorial must be compatible with theword message(s).

11.2 Symbol/pictorial useSymbols and pictorials may be used to clarify, supplementor substitute for a portion of the word message found inthe message panel of product safety signs. Only symbolsvalidated for recognition should be used. Symbols/pictorials that have not been validated for recognition mayonly be used to supplement or clarify the word message onthe product safety sign.

12 References

12.1 General

This standard shall be used in conjunction with AmericanNational Standards listed in 12.2. Other standards listed in12.3 and other publications listed in 12.4 contain additional

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information that may be useful in completing therequirements of this standard.

12.2 American National Standards

When the following American National Standards aresuperseded by a revision approved by the AmericanNational Standards Institute, Inc., the revision shall apply.

1. American National Standards Institute (ANSI). SafetyColor Code, ANSI Z535.1-1998.

2. American National Standards Institute (ANSI).Environmental and Facility Safety Signs, ANSI Z535.2-1998.

3. American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Criteriafor Safety Symbols/Pictorials, ANSI Z535.3-1998.

4. American National Standards Institute (ANSI).Accident Prevention Tags for Temporary Hazards, ANSIZ535.5-1998.

12.3 Other standards

1. American National Standards Institute (ANSI).Precautionary Labeling of Hazardous IndustrialChemicals. New York: ANSI Z129.1-1994.

2. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).Standard Practice for Operating Light-ExposureApparatus (Carbon-Arc Type) With and Without Water forExposure of Nonmetallic Materials. ASTM Section 14,Volume 14.02, Designation G23-95. Philadelphia, PA: 1997Annual Book of ASTM Standards.

3. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).Practice for Operating Light -Exposure Apparatus(Xenon-Arc Type) With and Without Water for Exposure ofNonmetallic Materials. ASTM Section 14, Volume 14.02,Designation G26-95. Philadelphia, PA: 1997 Annual Bookof ASTM Standards.

4. Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL). Standard forMarking and Labeling Systems. Northbrook IL: UL969-1989.

12.4 Other publications

1. FMC Corporation, Product Safety Sign and LabelSystem, FMC: Santa Clara, CA. 1985.

2. Smith, Sidney L., Letter Size and Legibility, HumanFactors, 1979, 21 (60, 661-670).

3. Howett, Gerald L., Size of Letters Required for Visibilityas a Function of Viewing Distance and Observer VisualAcuity, National Bureau of Standards, 1983.

4. Westinghouse Electric Corporation, WestinghouseProduct Safety Label Handbook, Westinghouse: Trafford,PA. 1981