The Occupational Safety & Health Administration, otherwise known as OSHA have specific requirements for all workplace safety signage which are outlined below.

Caution signs. Standard color of the background must be yellow; and the panel yellow, with black letters. The colors must be those of opaque glossy samples.

OSHA requires all tags contain a signal word and a major message.

• “Major message” means that portion of a tag’s inscription that is more specific than the signal word and that indicates the specific hazardous condition or the instruction to be communicated to the employee. Examples include: “High Voltage,” “Close Clearance,” “Do Not Start,” or “Do Not Use” or a corresponding pictograph used with a written text or alone.

• “Pictograph” means a pictorial representation used to identify a hazardous condition or to convey a safety instruction.

• “Signal word” means that portion of a tag’s inscription that contains the word or words that are intended to capture the employee’s immediate attention.

• “Tag” means a device usually made of card, paper, pasteboard, plastic or other material used to identify a hazardous condition.

OSHA requires the major message indicates the specific hazardous condition or the instruction to be communicated to the employee. The signal word must be readable at a minimum distance of five feet (1.52 m). The tag’s major message must be presented in either pictographs, written text or both.

For more information, please visit the OSHA Website or for specific stand requirements, please visit OSHA – Specifications for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags