Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Scope.
(1) These specifications apply to the design,
application, and use of signs or symbols intended to indicate and, insofar as
possible, to define specific hazards of a nature such that failure to designate
them may lead to accidental injury to workers or the public, or both, or to
property damage. These specifications are intended to cover all safety signs
except those designed for streets, highways, railroads, and marine regulations.
These specifications do not apply to plant bulletin boards or to safety
posters.
(2) All new signs and
replacements of old signs shall be in accordance with these
specifications.
(3) All temporary
construction signs and symbols required by this section shall be visible at all
times when work is being performed and shall be removed or covered promptly
when the hazards no longer exist.
(b) Definitions. As used in this section, the
word "sign" refers to a surface on which letters or other markings appear,
prepared for the warning of, or safety instruction of, industrial workers or
members of the public who may be exposed to hazards. Excluded from this
definition, however, are news releases, displays commonly known as safety
posters, and bulletins used for employee education.
(c) Classification of signs according to use.
(1) Danger signs.
(A) Danger signs shall be used only where an
immediate hazard exists.
(B) All
employees shall be instructed that danger signs indicate immediate danger and
that special precautions are necessary.
(2) Warning signs.
(A) Warning signs shall be used to indicate a
potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or
serious injury.
(B) All employees
shall be instructed that warning signs indicate a potentially hazardous
situation that could result in death or serious injury.
(3) Caution signs.
(A) Caution signs shall be used only to warn
against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices.
(B) All employees shall be instructed that
caution signs indicate a possible hazard against which proper precaution should
be taken.
(4) General
safety signs. General safety signs shall be used where there is a need for
general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measures.
(5) Biological hazard signs. The biological
hazard warning shall be used to signify the actual or potential presence of a
biohazard and to identify equipment, containers, rooms, material, experimental
animals, or combinations thereof, which contain, or are contaminated with,
viable hazardous agents. For the purpose of this subsection the term
"biological hazard," or "biohazard," shall include only those infectious agents
presenting a risk or potential risk to the well-being of
employees.
(d) Sign
design.
(1) All signs shall be furnished with
rounded or blunt corners and shall be free from sharp edges, burrs, splinters,
or other sharp projections. The ends or heads of bolts or other fastening
devices shall be located in such a way that they do not constitute a
hazard.
(2) Danger signs shall
consist of the colors red, black, and white only and shall be approved as
defined in Section
3206 of these orders.
(3) Warning signs. Warning signs shall comply
with either one of the following:
(A) They
shall have the signal word "WARNING" in black letters on a rectangular orange
background placed at the top of the sign. The safety alert symbol (a triangle
with sides of equal length surrounding an exclamation mark) shall precede the
signal word and it shall be on the same horizontal line as the base of the
letters of the signal word; or
(B)
They shall have the signal word "WARNING" in black letters within a safety
orange truncated diamond on a black rectangular background.
(C) Warning signs shall be approved as
defined in Section
3206 of these
orders.
(4) Caution
signs. Standard color of the background shall be yellow; and the panel, black
with yellow letters. Any letters used against the yellow background shall be
black. Caution signs shall be approved as defined in Section
3206 of these orders.
(5) General safety signs. Standard color of
the background shall be white; and the panel, green with white letters. Any
letters used against the white background shall be black. General safety signs
shall be approved as defined in Section
3206 of these orders.
(6) Slow-moving vehicle emblem. This emblem
consists of a fluorescent yellow-orange triangle with a dark red reflective
border. The yellow-orange fluorescent triangle is a highly visible color for
daylight exposure. The reflective border defines the shape of the fluorescent
color in daylight and creates a hollow red triangle in the path of motor
vehicle headlights at night. The emblem is intended as a unique identification
for, and it shall be used only on, vehicles which by design move slowly (25
m.p.h. or less) on the public roads. The emblem is not a clearance marker for
wide machinery nor is it intended to replace required lighting or marking of
slow-moving vehicles. Neither the color film pattern and its dimensions nor the
backing shall be altered to permit use of advertising or other markings. The
material, location, mounting, etc., of the emblem shall be in accordance with
the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., Standard, SAE J943-1993, Slow-Moving
Vehicle Identification Emblem.
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(7) Biohazard symbol. The biohazard symbol
design shall be fluorescent orange or orange-red color. Background color is
optional as long as there is sufficient contrast for the symbol to be clearly
defined. Appropriate wording may be used in association with the symbol to
indicate the nature or identity of the hazard, name of individual responsible
for its control, precautionary information, etc., but this information shall
not be superimposed on the symbol.
(e) Sign wordings. The wording of any sign
shall be easily read and concise. The sign shall contain sufficient information
to be easily understood. The wording shall make a positive, rather than
negative suggestion and shall be accurate in fact.
1.
Renumbering of former section
6003 to new section 3340 and
amendment of section filed 2-5-97; operative 3-7-97 (Register 97, No.
6).
2. New subsections (c)(2)-(c)(2)(B) and (d)(3)-(d)(3)(C) and
subsection renumbering filed 11-8-2001; operative 12-8-2001 (Register 2001, No.
45).
3. Change without regulatory effect providing more legible
illustration of dimensions of Slow Moving Vehicle Emblem filed 2-9-2009
pursuant to section
100, title 1, California Code of
Regulations (Register 2009, No. 7).
Note: Authority cited: Section
142.3, Labor
Code. Reference: Section
142.3, Labor
Code.
