How to Improve

Safety with Signs

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TOPIC: How to Improve Safety with Signs

Discussion Date:
General info
A sign is a form of visual instruction that can be used to reduce safety hazards and Employee Participants:
environmental accidents, as well as improve efficiency and quality of business
operations.
There are many forms of signs. They may be based on standard colors, shapes or
______________
sizes, and are limited in text to reduce interpretation errors. The various types of
signs include, but are not limited to, adhesive labels, lines or markings on the floor or
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ground, placards mounted on posts, light stacks displaying pass/fail status, etc.
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Why signs are an effective form of communication ______________
Colors and shapes are more visually stimulating than written words
o
o Signs can apply to people of various ages and levels of education
______________
o Signs can provide instruction at the point of use, instead of hidden in a book
or procedure
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o Many signs are universal (traffic signs, flammability hazards) and can be ______________
applied to increase the rate of comprehension
______________
Using signs to Improve Safety
o Traffic control signs are used for speed limits, passing zones, lane direction,
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yielding and stopping, among others ______________
o Slip, trip and fall hazards can be denoted by solid-colored lines on steps, or
portable or stationary placards warning of wet or slippery areas and uneven ______________
surfaces
o Flammability, combustion and explosion signs are denoted on containers
______________
and locations to alert personnel of potential hazards ______________
o Confined spaces, heights and low overhangs are denoted to help prevent
head-bumps, and to alert personnel of proper PPE, ventilation and fall ______________
hazards
o Color coding for mechanical lines can be used to quickly identify water, air,
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hydraulic, gas and other forms of energy in the event of emergency The material in this document is provided for
informational purposes only and not as a
o Material status and housekeeping can be improved by designating a place comprehensive or exhaustive resource on this topic.
This material has been compiled from a multitude
for everything through the use of colored lines and signage of sources believed to be accurate; however,
Caterpillar Inc. assumes no responsibility for the
accuracy or currency of this information and
Questions to Generate Discussion encourages you to consult experts in this area for
more information. In no event does the content of
– What types of signs are in your work area? this document supersede any applicable local,
state, or federal statutes or regulations.
– Are there tasks in your daily work where a sign would improve safety, efficiency,
quality or reduce costs? Control ID: V1010.1

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