Everywhere you look you see signs. You might be far from the nearest town or highway and somebody still wants to tell you where you can drive, where you can’t park, what you should wear and where you should buy dinner.
The number of signs and the information they are intended to convey is overwhelming. Even in your workplace, words, pictures and symbols likely are plastered on the walls and equipment. You could be tempted to ignore them all rather than sort out what is important and what is not. That would not be a good idea, because some of them might contain information on how to protect you and others from injury and illness.
“Sign fatigue” is how some people describe the state of mind where you have seen so many signs you don’t pay attention to them anymore. Inaccurate signs contribute to this condition, such as a lockout tag remaining on a machine after it has been returned to service or a warning sign mistakenly left behind when a road work crew has packed up and gone home for the day. When you find out a sign is wrong, you might be inclined to ignore a similar sign when you see it later. Don’t give in to sign fatigue.
No matter how many signs are vying for your attention and no matter if inaccurate signs have fooled you in the past, it is important that you continue to watch for safety signs at work, on the road and wherever you are. Drivers who ignore highway construction signs continue to plow into heavy machinery and run over workers. Workers who fail to take workplace safety signs seriously continue to be injured and killed by on-the-job hazards.
Safety information is often conveyed by way of colors, shapes and symbols designed to stand out from the crowd. In many cases these elements are standardized so you can recognize them easily, such as highway signs throughout the United States and Canada.
Signs are for your safety. Consider these tips for making them work for you:
- Make a habit of observing safety signs. Watch for information about speed limits, traffic patterns, container contents, emergency equipment and any other precautions and hazards.
- Learn to recognize the standard shapes, colors, lettering and pictograms on signs. You’ll get better with practice and you’ll understand the messages more easily.
Good safety signage is the result of cooperation. If you see a problem with a safety sign, report it. A damaged, worn or unlighted sign should be repaired or replaced. Inaccurate signs should be removed or corrected. If a sign has become obscured (such as a stop sign overtaken by tree branches) make sure someone clears it. Remove clutter and unnecessary postings on walls and equipment so important safety information stands out. If you see the need for a safety sign where none exists, make sure it is placed.
