Nema Z535.6

ANSI Z535.
6-2006
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American National Standard
for Product Safety Information

in Product Manuals,
Instructions, and Other
Collateral Materials
Copyright National Electrical Manufacturers Association

Provided by IHS under license with NEMA Licensee=Praxair Inc/5903738101, User=Cabriales, Rodolfo
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale, 02/12/2010 10:44:21 MST
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
American National Standard
For Product Safety Information in Product Manuals,

Instructions, and Other Collateral Materials
Secretariat:
National Electrical Manufacturers Association

Approved August 3, 2006
Published October 10, 2006
American National Standards Institute, Inc.
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
DISCLAIMER
The information in this publication was considered technically sound by the consensus of
persons engaged in the development and approval of the document at the time it was
developed. Consensus does not necessarily mean that there is unanimous agreement
among every person participating in the development of this document.
NEMA standards and guideline publications, of which the document contained herein is one,
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publication may be available from other sources, which the user may wish to consult for
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additional views or information not covered by this publication.
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
Approval of an American National Standard requires verification by

AMERICAN ANSI that the requirements for due process, consensus, and other
NATIONAL criteria for approval have been met by the standards developer.
STANDARD Consensus is established when, in the judgment of the ANSI Board of

Standards Review, substantial agreement has been reached by directly
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and will in no circumstances give an interpretation of any American
National Standard. Moreover, no person shall have the right or
authority to issue an interpretation of an American National Standard in
the name of the American National Standards Institute. Requests for
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interpretations should be addressed to the secretariat or sponsor whose

name appears on the title page of this standard.
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
Contents
Page
Foreword ......................................................................................................................................... vi
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
2 Scope and Purpose ................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 Scope .................................................................................................................................... 2
2.2 Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 2
3 Application and Exceptions........................................................................................................ 2
3.1 Application............................................................................................................................. 2
3.2 Exceptions............................................................................................................................. 2
4 Definitions .................................................................................................................................. 3
5 Message Components............................................................................................................... 6
5.1 Signal Word........................................................................................................................... 6
5.1.1 Use of Signal Words .............................................................................................. 6
5.1.2 Multiple Hazard Identification................................................................................. 6
5.1.3 Signal Word Panel ................................................................................................. 6
5.2 Symbols and Other Graphics ................................................................................................ 6
5.2.1 Safety Alert Symbol................................................................................................ 7
5.2.2 Safety Symbols ...................................................................................................... 7
5.2.3 Graphics Other Than Safety Symbols ................................................................... 7
5.3 Color ...................................................................................................................................... 7
5.3.1 Signal Word Panel ................................................................................................. 7
5.3.2 Safety Message ..................................................................................................... 8
5.3.3 Other Standards..................................................................................................... 8
5.3.4 Other Colors........................................................................................................... 8
5.4 Type Style and Size .............................................................................................................. 9
5.4.1 Signal Words.......................................................................................................... 9
5.4.2 Safety Message Text ............................................................................................. 9
iii
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
6 Supplemental Directives ............................................................................................................ 9
6.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 9
6.2 Content.................................................................................................................................. 9
6.3 Location............................................................................................................................... 10
6.4 Format ................................................................................................................................. 10
7 Grouped Safety Messages ...................................................................................................... 11
7.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 11
7.2 Content................................................................................................................................ 11
7.3 Location............................................................................................................................... 11
7.3.1 Table of Contents................................................................................................. 11
7.4 Format ................................................................................................................................. 11
7.4.1 Heading/Title ........................................................................................................ 11
7.4.2 Organization......................................................................................................... 12
7.4.3 Formatting Individual Messages .......................................................................... 12
7.4.4 Safety Symbols .................................................................................................... 12
8 Section Safety Messages ........................................................................................................13

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8.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 13
8.2 Content................................................................................................................................ 13
8.3 Location............................................................................................................................... 13
8.4 Format ................................................................................................................................. 13
8.4.1 Signal Word Panel ............................................................................................... 14
8.4.2 Safety Alert Symbol.............................................................................................. 15
8.4.3 Multiple Section Safety Messages ....................................................................... 15
8.4.4 Section Safety Message Text .............................................................................. 15
9 Embedded Safety Messages................................................................................................... 16
9.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 16
9.2 Content................................................................................................................................ 16
9.3 Location............................................................................................................................... 16
iv

ANSI Z535.6-2006
9.4 Format ................................................................................................................................. 16
9.4.1 Signal Words........................................................................................................ 17
9.4.2 Safety Alert Symbol.............................................................................................. 18
9.4.3 Embedded Safety Message Text......................................................................... 18
10 Property Damage Messages ................................................................................................. 18
10.1 Signal Word ....................................................................................................................... 18
10.1.1 Color....................................................................................................................... 18
10.2 Safety Alert Symbol ...........................................................................................................18
10.3 Safety Messages and Property Damage Messages ......................................................... 18
10.4 Supplemental Directives .................................................................................................... 19
10.5 Grouped Safety Messages ................................................................................................ 19
11 References............................................................................................................................. 19
11.1 General .............................................................................................................................. 19
11.2 American National Standards............................................................................................ 19
11.3 Other Standards ................................................................................................................19
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Figures
1 Safety alert symbols ................................................................................................................ 5
2 Examples of a signal word panel............................................................................................. 6
3 Supplemental directive with safety alert symbol ................................................................... 10
4 Examples of section safety message with signal word panel ............................................... 14
5 Examples of section safety message with safety alert symbol ............................................. 15
6 Examples of embedded safety message with signal word.................................................... 17
7 Embedded safety message with safety alert symbol ............................................................ 18
Annexes
A Providing Information About Safety Messages in Collateral Materials and Product Safety
Signs and Labels ................................................................................................................... 20
B Translations of Signal Words ................................................................................................ 22
C Risk Estimation and Signal Word Selection .......................................................................... 23

ANSI Z535.6-2006
Foreword
(Neither this foreword nor any of the informative annexes is a part of American National Standard Z535.6.)
In 1979, the ANSI Z53 Committee on Safety Colors was combined with the ANSI Z35 Committee on
Safety Signs to form the ANSI Z535 Committee on Safety Signs and Colors. This committee has the
following scope:
To develop standards for the design, application, and use of signs, colors and symbols intended to
identify and warn against specific hazards and for other accident prevention purposes.
The basic mission and fundamental purpose of the ANSI Z535 Committee is to develop, refine, and
promote a single, uniform graphic system used for communicating safety and accident prevention
information. The Committee recognizes that safety information can also be effectively communicated
using other graphic systems.
Five subcommittees were created and assigned the tasks of updating the ANSI Z53 and Z35
Standards and writing new standards. The five standards included:
• ANSI Z535.1, Safety Color Code [ANSI Z53.1-1979 was updated and combined into this
standard in 1991.]
• ANSI Z535.2, Environmental and Facility Safety Signs [ANSI Z35.1-1972 and Z35.4-1972 were
updated and combined into this standard in 1991.]
• ANSI Z535.3, Criteria for Safety Symbols [new in 1991]
• ANSI Z535.4, Product Safety Signs and Labels [new in 1991]
• ANSI Z535.5, Accident Prevention Tags (For Temporary Hazards) [ANSI Z35.2-1974 was
updated and combined into this standard in 1991.]
Together these five standards contain information needed to specify formats, colors, and symbols for
safety signs used in environmental and facility applications, product applications, and accident
prevention tags.
The 1991 standards, which became available in 1992, were revised and a new edition was published
in 1998. The 1998 edition of ANSI Z535.4 contained an Annex (Annex A, Guidelines for Increasing
Recognition of Safety Label Components), which encouraged manufacturers to describe on-product
safety label components (i.e., safety alert symbol, signal words, safety symbols) in collateral materials
(e.g., operation manuals, instructions, safety literature, service manuals, etc.) used with the product.
The 1998 standards were subsequently revised to produce the 2002 edition.
In the course of preparing the 2002 edition of the Z535 standards, the ANSI Z535 Accredited
Standards Committee considered the merits and practicality of developing a new standard addressing
the presentation of safety messages in collateral materials such as owner’s manuals, instruction books,
troubleshooting and repair manuals, etc. In 2002, the committee voted to form a new subcommittee,
ANSI Z535.6. The purpose of this new subcommittee is to develop a standard to complement the
existing Z535 standards by dealing with various aspects of the provision of safety information in
collateral materials. This standard was prepared by Subcommittee Z535.6 on Product Safety
Information in Product Manuals, Instructions, and Other Collateral Materials.
This foreword and all of the Annexes are considered to be informative and are not an official part of this
standard. In the vocabulary of writing standards, the word “informative” is meant to convey that the
information presented is for informational purposes only and is not considered to be mandatory in
nature. The body of this standard is “normative,” meaning that this information is considered to be
mandatory.
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
See the ANSI Z535-2006 Safety Color Chart for the purpose of viewing accurate colors. Due to the
differences in color printing technologies and color monitors, the appearance of colors in this document
may not be accurate.
This standard was processed and approved for submittal to ANSI by the Accredited Standards
Committee on Safety Signs and Colors, ANSI Z535. Committee approval of this standard does not
necessarily imply that all committee members voted for its approval. At the time it approved this
standard, the Z535 Committee had the following members:
Gary M. Bell, Chairperson

Richard Olesen, Vice Chairperson
Doug Read, Secretary
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Organization Represented: Name of Representative:
Alliance of American Insurers Stephen Young
American Society of Safety Engineers J. Paul Frantz

Thomas F. Bresnahan (Alt.)
Howard A. Elwell (Alt.)
American Welding Society August F. Manz
Applied Materials Edward Karl

Carl Wong (Alt.)
Association for Manufacturing Technology David Felinski
Association of Equipment Manufacturers Richard A. Dressler

Daniel J. Taylor (Alt.)
Browning Arms Company Larry D. Nelson
Caterpillar, Inc. Sue A. Hooker

Mark A. Steffen
Dorris & Associates, Inc. Alan Dorris

Nathan T. Dorris (Alt.)
Eagle Crusher Co. Ryan Parsell
Edison Electric Institute David C. Young

Janet Fox (Alt.)
Glass Application Analysis William P. Whitney
vii

ANSI Z535.6-2006
Hale Color Consultants William N. Hale
Hazard Communication Systems, Inc. Geoffrey Peckham

Jerry Reganess (Alt.)
Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Michael Kalsher

Michael S. Wogalter (Alt.)
Human Factors & Safety Analytics, Inc. Jay Martin
Industrial Safety Equipment Association Linda Moquet

Richard Fisk (Alt.)
Carmen Taylor (Alt.)
Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers Al Clapp

Sue Vogel (Alt.)
John Dagenhart (Alt.)
International Staple, Nail, and Tool Association John Kurtz
L. Dale Baker & Associates L. Dale Baker
Lab Safety Supply, Inc. Jim Versweyveld
Marhefka & Associates Russell E. Marhefka
National Association of Graphic and Product Russ Butchko

Identification Manufacturers Donna Ehrmann (Alt.)
National Electrical Manufacturers Association John W. Young
National Spray Equipment Manufacturers Association Dan Pahl
Nuclear Supplier Association Blair Brewster
Power Tool Institute George Whelchel

Charles M. Stockinger (Alt.)
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Rural Utilities Service Trung Hiu
Safety Behavior Analysis, Inc. Shelley Waters Deppa
Sauder Woodworking Gary Bell

Scott Helberg (Alt.)
Scaffold Industry Association Dave Merrifield
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
Snap-On-Tools Bill Pagac

Tom Christensen (Alt.)
Society of Environmental Graphic Designers Tonya Smith-Jackson
Society of the Plastics Industry, Machinery Division Loren Mills

Walter Bishop (Alt.)
Drew Winsted (Alt.)
Standard Register Corporation Amy Martin

Pat Konkol (Alt.)
Systems Safety Society Robert Cunitz
Underwriters Laboratories Richard Olesen
Subcommittee Z535.6 on Product Safety Information in Product Manuals, Instructions, and Other
Collateral Materials, which developed this standard, had the following members:
J. Paul Frantz, Chairperson

Steven Hall, Vice Chairperson
Doug Read, Secretary
Gary Bell, Sauder Woodworking Company
Charles Burhans, Applied Safety and Ergonomics, Inc.
Nathan Dorris, Dorris and Associates, Inc.
Richard Dressler, Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Alan Hatmaker, U.S. Navy, Naval Surface Warfare Center
Scott Helberg, Sauder Woodworking Company
Judith Isaacson, Applied Safety and Ergonomics, Inc.
Edward Karl, Applied Materials
Loren Mills, Society of Plastics Industry
Larry Nelson, Browning Arms Company
Richard Olesen, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
Geoffrey Peckham, Hazard Communication Systems, Inc.
Timothy Rhoades, Applied Safety and Ergonomics, Inc.
ix
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
Patricia Robinson, Coronado Consulting Services, LLC
George Welchel, Power Tool Institute
Sharon White, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Stephen Young, Alliance of American Insurers
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD ANSI Z535.6-2006
For Product Safety Information in Product Manuals,

Instructions, and Other Collateral Materials
1 Introduction
Historically, there has been a lack of widely available or generally applicable graphic systems for
presenting safety information in product manuals, instructions, and related collateral materials. The
absence of such systems, combined with the increased awareness and use of ANSI Z535.4 Standard for
Product Safety Signs and Labels, has led to attempts to apply various aspects of ANSI Z535.4 to the
presentation of safety information in collateral materials. Since ANSI Z535.4 was not designed for that
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purpose, it is not well suited for broad application beyond the domain of product signs and labels. Its
limited applicability stems from differences between product signs and labels and various collateral
materials.
• Collateral materials can vary significantly in terms of their purpose, content, format, and/or length.
For example, they may come in the form of a bound manual, a single sheet of paper (folded or
otherwise), a pamphlet, a booklet, or an electronic document.
• Collateral materials are typically formatted like a book or other published literature. Thus, different
formats for safety messages may be required and/or expected compared to on-product
information.
In addition, there are differences that may exist between safety information in collateral materials and
safety messages on product safety signs and labels. For example:
• Collateral materials typically:

o contain more information than product safety signs
o address multiple hazards and contain multiple safety messages
o provide longer and more detailed safety messages
o contain multiple pages of information that cannot be viewed simultaneously
o provide information that would be impractical to provide on product safety signs, such as
definitions of the safety alert symbol, signal words, and safety symbols
• Safety information in collateral materials must often be integrated with non-safety information.
• Because collateral materials are not typically attached to the product, issues related to reading
conditions, distinctiveness, placement, expected life, and maintenance are different. In addition,
the concept of a safe viewing distance is not generally applicable.
To respond to these differences, this standard sets forth a hazard communication system developed
specifically for product safety information in collateral materials. It incorporates elements of the graphical
approaches used by other ANSI Z535-series standards into a common design direction selected to
provide product safety information in an orderly and visually consistent manner.

ANSI Z535.6-2006
2 Scope and Purpose
2.1 Scope
This standard sets forth requirements for the design and location of product safety messages in collateral
materials for a wide variety of products.
2.2 Purpose
This standard is intended to: (1) address the applicability of elements of other ANSI Z535-series
standards to collateral materials, (2) establish a uniform and consistent visual layout for safety information
in collateral materials for a wide variety of products, (3) minimize the proliferation of designs for safety
information in collateral materials, (4) establish a national uniform system for the recognition of potential
personal injury hazards for those persons using products, (5) assist manufacturers in providing safety
information in collateral materials, and (6) promote the efficient development of safety messages in
collateral materials.
3 Application and Exceptions
3.1 Application
This standard provides guidance to any entity involved in creating collateral materials that contain safety
messages. This standard is applicable to a broad range of products.
This standard addresses the provision of safety messages in documents that communicate primarily with
text, but may also be appropriate for documents that communicate primarily or exclusively with pictures,
illustrations, and other graphics.
This standard was developed primarily for use in developing collateral materials associated with products.
These provisions may also prove useful for some training or instructional materials associated with an
environment or facilities.
This standard addresses four types of safety messages that may be present in collateral materials:
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• supplemental directives
• grouped safety messages
• section safety messages
• embedded safety messages
Not all documents will contain four types of safety messages. Some documents may contain no safety
messages. This standard does not require that documents include any particular types of safety
messages.
3.2 Exceptions
Should any requirement of this standard conflict with other applicable standards or federal, state, or
municipal regulations, such conflict shall not invalidate other requirements of this standard. Where other
applicable standards or regulations specify particular formats for certain messages, these non-Z535.6
formats may also be used for other messages to maintain consistency in a document.

ANSI Z535.6-2006
4 Definitions
4.1 accident: An incident that results in unintended harm.
4.1.1 harm: Injury, death, or property damage.
4.1.2 incident: An unintended and undesired event that has the potential to cause harm.
4.2 collateral materials: Printed information that accompanies a product, including owner’s manuals,
instructions, user’s guides, maintenance or service manuals, assembly instructions, safety manuals,
instructions on product packaging and similar information about a product, its uses and functions, and/or
other user-related interactions.
Collateral materials may take the form of a single sheet of paper, a multi-page document, printing on a
package or container, or a printable electronic document.
Collateral materials do not include items such as product signs, labels, labeling, material safety data
sheets (MSDSs), advertising and promotional materials, audio and video materials, or dynamic or
electronic media (e.g., electronic documents with animation, sound or other features that are not
printable).
4.3 colors: Colors specified in this standard shall conform to American National Standard for Safety
Colors, ANSI Z535.1-2006.
4.4 document: A single instance of collateral materials.
4.5 hazard: A potential source of harm.
4.6 Intent
4.6.1 may: This word is understood to be permissive.
4.6.2 shall: This word is understood to be mandatory.
4.6.3 should: This word is understood to be advisory.
4.7 safety messages: Word messages that provide information primarily about the nature of a
hazardous situation, the consequences of not avoiding a hazardous situation, and/or method(s) for
avoiding a hazardous situation, or that direct readers to such information. Safety symbols and other
graphics may be used to supplement or substitute for part or all of a word message.
There are many types of messages commonly found in collateral materials that are important and related
to safety, but are NOT included in the definition of safety messages for the purposes of this standard,
such as:
• information that does not have direct safety implications and that clarifies steps, procedures, or
other information in collateral materials
• procedures or instructions that are referred to in safety messages, typically as a means of
avoiding a hazardous situation
• procedural or descriptive information that is subordinate to a grouped safety message or section
safety message, or adjacent and related to an embedded safety message
• information that has only indirect or secondary safety implications
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
• descriptions of, or information about, safety devices or features

• descriptions, definitions, or other supplementary information about a hazard
4.7.1 supplemental directives: Supplemental directives are messages about other safety messages.
Supplemental directives do not address specific hazards. Rather, they provide information that promotes
awareness and use of specific safety messages (e.g., grouped, section or embedded safety messages,
product safety signs and labels) or other safety-related information.
NOTE—Grouped, section, or embedded safety messages may include references to other information, but are not considered
supplemental directives because they address specific hazards.
4.7.2 grouped safety messages: Safety messages that are collected or grouped in a document or
section of a document devoted primarily or exclusively to safety information.
4.7.3 section safety messages: Safety messages that apply to entire sections, subsections, or
multiple paragraphs or procedures within a document. These messages apply to larger units of
information than do embedded safety messages and typically appear at the beginning of the section to
which they apply.
4.7.4 embedded safety messages: Safety messages that apply to a specific part of a section, a
paragraph, a particular procedure or part of a procedure, a particular sentence, etc. in a document. These
messages apply to smaller units of information than do section safety messages and are integrated within
procedures or other text.
4.8 property damage messages: Word messages that provide information primarily about
situations that can lead to property damage, the potential consequences of not avoiding the situations,
and/or method(s) for avoiding the situations, or that direct readers to such information. Messages about
hazards that could result in both personal injury and property damage are considered safety messages,
not property damage messages.
4.9 safety symbol: A graphic representation intended to convey a message without the use of
words. It may represent a hazard, a hazardous situation, a precaution to avoid a hazard, a result of not
avoiding a hazard, or any combination of these messages. (See ANSI Z535.3-2006, Criteria for Safety
Symbols.)
4.9.1 safety alert symbol: A symbol that indicates a potential personal injury hazard. It is composed of
an equilateral triangle surrounding an exclamation mark. The safety alert symbol shall not be used to alert
persons of property-damage only accidents.
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
(A) for use with DANGER signal word (white

triangle, red exclamation mark, and red
background)
(B) for use with WARNING signal word (black
triangle, orange exclamation mark)
(C) for use with CAUTION signal word (black
triangle, yellow exclamation mark)
(D) and (E)1 for use with DANGER, WARNING, or

CAUTION signal words or no signal word (yellow
background, black border, and black exclamation
mark. (E) has a yellow border around the black
border.)
(F) and (G) for use with DANGER, WARNING, or

CAUTION signal words or no signal word
Figure 1—Safety alert symbols
4.10 signal words: A word that calls attention to a safety message or messages, or a property damage
message or messages, and designates a degree or level of hazard seriousness. The signal words in this
standard are “DANGER,” “WARNING,” “CAUTION,” and “NOTICE.”
4.10.1 DANGER: Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious
injury. This signal word is to be limited to the most extreme situations.
4.10.2 WARNING: Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious
injury.
4.10.3 CAUTION: Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate
injury. It may also be used without the safety alert symbol as an alternative to “NOTICE.”2
4.10.4 NOTICE: “NOTICE” is the preferred signal word to address practices not related to personal injury.
The safety alert symbol shall not be used with this signal word. As an alternative to “NOTICE”, the word
“CAUTION” without the safety alert symbol may be used to indicate a message not related to personal
injury.2
1
D and E are provided to allow for consistency with certain ISO standards, such as ISO 3864-1 and ISO 3864-2.
2
It is the intention of the ANSI Z535 committee to eliminate the alternative of using the signal word “CAUTION”
without the safety alert symbol to indicate a hazardous situation not related to personal injury in the 2011 version of
this standard. This will assist in making more of a differentiation between safety messages indicating personal injury
and messages not related to personal injury.
5
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
5 Message Components
When safety message or property damage message components are specified or permitted by sections
6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, they shall be used in accordance with the provisions of this section.
5.1 Signal Word
5.1.1 Use of Signal Words

Signal words may be used to identify safety messages and property damage messages. Signal words
shall only be used to identify safety messages and property damage messages in accordance with the
signal word definitions (see Section 4.10). Signal words shall not be used for anything other than safety
messages and property damage messages.
The words “danger,” “warning,” “caution,” and “notice” may also be used in the text of a document without
being used as a signal word.
When no other applicable standard or federal, state, or local government regulation specifies a particular
signal word, selection of the signal word shall be made in accordance with the signal word definitions in
Section 4.10.
5.1.2 Multiple Hazard Identification

When one signal word is used to identify multiple safety messages, and the messages are classified at
different levels of risk, the signal word corresponding to the greatest risk level shall be used.
5.1.3 Signal Word Panel

A signal word panel consists of a safety alert symbol and signal word centered on a contrasting
rectangular background. When the contrasting background is the same color as the background for
surrounding text and graphics (e.g., white signal word panel background and white background for
surrounding text and graphics), a contrasting border may be used around the rectangular signal word
panel. See Figure 2.
NOTE—The safety alert symbol is not used with the signal word “NOTICE”.
In a signal word panel, the safety alert symbol shall be used in accordance with Section 5.2.1.1. Color
and type style and size shall be in accordance with Sections 5.3 and 5.4.
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Figure 2—Examples of a signal word panel
5.2 Symbols and Other Graphics

Symbols and other graphics may be used with safety messages. Symbols may be generic (i.e., the safety
alert symbol) or specifically related to the hazard being addressed (i.e., safety symbols) (see Section 4.9).

ANSI Z535.6-2006
5.2.1 Safety Alert Symbol

The safety alert symbol may be used as specified in this standard to identify safety messages. The safety
alert symbol shall not be used to identify information other than safety messages.
5.2.1.1 Using the Safety Alert Symbol with Signal Words

When used with a signal word, the safety alert symbol shall precede the signal word. The base of the
safety alert symbol shall be on the same horizontal level as the base of the letters of the signal word. The
height of the safety alert symbol shall equal or exceed the signal word letter height.
5.2.2 Safety Symbols

Safety symbols may be used to clarify, supplement, or substitute for a portion or all of a safety message.
A symbol may only be used to substitute for a portion or all of a safety message if the symbol has been
demonstrated to be satisfactorily comprehended (e.g., Annex B of ANSI Z535.3) or there is a means
(e.g., instructions, training materials, manuals, etc.) to inform people of the symbol’s meaning.
5.2.2.1 Conveyed Message

The conveyed message of a safety symbol should describe the type of hazard, potential consequences of
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the hazard, or evasive/avoidance actions to be taken. When used with a safety message, the safety
symbol shall be compatible with the word message(s).
5.2.3 Graphics Other Than Safety Symbols

Graphics other than safety symbols (e.g., pictures, photographs, illustrations, charts, graphs, etc.) may be
used to clarify, supplement, or substitute for a portion of a safety message. Uses of graphics other than
safety symbols may include:
• identifying parts referred to by hazard or avoidance information

• illustrating actions recommended by avoidance information
• providing pictures of hazardous conditions to assist the user in identifying these conditions
• showing the principle of operation of a safety device
• presenting quantitative information in graphs or charts
NOTE—ANSI Z535.3–2006 does not provide guidance regarding the design of graphics other than safety symbols.
5.3 Color
Safety messages and property damage messages in collateral materials may be presented in black and
white, grayscale, or color, independent of the number of colors used for other information in a document.
If safety colors are used for safety messages, they should conform to ANSI Z535.1–2006, American
National Standard for Safety Colors.

If colors are used in the signal word panel, the colors specified in Sections 5.3.1.1.1 through 5.3.1.1.4
should be used. If a document is printed with a limited number of colors or in black and white, the color
used for the text of the safety messages may be used in the signal word panel.

ANSI Z535.6-2006
5.3.1.1 Signal Word
5.3.1.1.1 DANGER
When used in a signal word panel, the signal word “DANGER” should be in white letters on a safety red
background.
5.3.1.1.2 WARNING
When used in a signal word panel, the signal word “WARNING” should be in black letters on a safety
orange background.
5.3.1.1.3 CAUTION
When used in a signal word panel, the signal word “CAUTION” should be in black letters on a safety
yellow background.
5.3.1.1.4 NOTICE
When used in a signal word panel, the signal word “NOTICE” should be in white letters on a safety blue
background.
5.3.1.2 Safety Alert Symbol

When used with a signal word, the solid triangle portion of the safety alert symbol shall be the same color
as the signal word lettering, and the exclamation mark portion shall be the same color as the signal word
background. Or as an alternative, the safety alert symbol may consist of a black triangle band and black
exclamation mark on a safety yellow triangle (see Figure 1).
When used without a signal word, the solid triangle portion shall be the same color as the safety message
text and the exclamation mark portion shall be the same color as the background. Or as an alternative,
the safety alert symbol may consist of a black triangle band and black exclamation mark on a safety
yellow triangle (see Figure 1).
5.3.2 Safety Message

The safety message should be printed in black text on a white background.
5.3.3 Other Standards

Other colors may be used for compliance with other standards or regulations (see Section 3.2).
5.3.4 Other Colors

When the text is a color other than black or the background is a color other than white throughout a
document or part of a document, the safety message may be printed with the same text and background
color as the rest of the document. In such cases, the selected text color should contrast with the
background color and allow the message to be read by a user with normal vision under expected reading
conditions.
When appropriate safety colors are not used for signal word panels, the signal word panels may be
printed using the text and background colors used throughout the document or part of the document. In
such cases, the selected signal word color should contrast with the background color and allow the
message to be read by a user with normal vision under expected reading conditions.
8
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
5.4 Type Style and Size
5.4.1 Signal Words

Signal words shall be in sans serif letters in uppercase only. The signal word “NOTICE” should be
italicized. The type size for the signal word shall be at least as large as the type size for the associated
safety message.
5.4.2 Safety Message Text

Safety message text shall be of a size that enables a person with normal vision, including corrected
vision, to read it at a normal reading distance under expected reading conditions. The type size should be
no smaller than the majority of text in the document or the non-safety text (other than headings)
immediately surrounding it, whichever is greater. Safety message text should employ a combination of
upper- and lowercase letters. Uppercase only lettering may be used for emphasis of individual words or
short phrases within a safety message.
6 Supplemental Directives
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6.1 Purpose
A supplemental directive in a document may serve several purposes, including:
• directing users to new, unique, unusual, or particularly important safety information

• directing users to product safety information in the document, in another document, or in some
other source (e.g., product safety signs and labels)
• making users aware of the safety-related nature and importance of an entire document or section
within a document (e.g., a section of grouped safety messages)
• reducing the need to repeat consequence information, especially generic consequences (e.g.,
“severe injury or death”), that may be associated with failure to read the document or refer to
other sources of safety information.
6.2 Content
A supplemental directive may be generic; for example:
• information regarding the general safety implications of a document (e.g., “read all instructions
before use to avoid injury”) or generic consequence information (e.g., “improper use of product
can result in serious injury”)
• information regarding the general safety implications of grouped safety messages (e.g., “to avoid
serious injury or death, follow the safety information in this section/document”)
• generic messages regarding the handling of safety information (e.g., “keep this manual”)
• information pointing readers to other sources of safety information provided with the product (e.g.,
“read all product safety labels,” “refer to safety manual”)
A supplemental directive may be specific; for example:
• information pointing readers to sources of safety information not provided with the product (e.g.,
“read accessory instructions for specific safety information,” “refer to local building codes for
installation requirements”)

ANSI Z535.6-2006
• specific messages regarding the handling of safety information (e.g., “keep this manual in the
storage sleeve on the back of the operator’s seat”)
• references to new, unique, unusual, or particularly important safety information
A supplemental directive should contain generic hazard avoidance information, typically in the form of an
instruction directing readers to other safety messages. A supplemental directive may also include generic
or specific consequence information.
NOTE—Because supplemental directives do not address specific hazards, they often do not include information about
consequences and, when it is provided, such information is usually non-specific (e.g., “injury,” “serious injury,” “death,” etc.), but may
include more specific consequences (e.g., “electric shock,” “fire,” etc.). Avoidance information may refer the user to some other
document, safety message or messages, etc.
6.3 Location
In general, supplemental directives should be near the beginning of a document (e.g., on the cover, on
the first page, immediately preceding grouped safety messages).
When a supplemental directive refers to information in the same document, it should generally be
provided before the information to which it refers. Typically, this will be near the beginning of a document
(e.g., on the front cover of a multi-page document, toward the top of a single-page document, at the
beginning of a set of grouped safety messages, etc.). Supplemental directives may be placed after the
information to which they refer if such a location is more appropriate.
6.4 Format
Supplemental directives may be preceded by a safety alert symbol without the use of a signal word panel
or border. See Figure 3.
Read equipment manufacturer’s manual and this material before

using this product. Failure to do so can result in serious injury or
death.
Figure 3—Supplemental directive with safety alert symbol
The signal words “DANGER”, “WARNING”, or “CAUTION” may be used, but should only be used for
those supplemental directives that refer to a particular safety message or messages that correspond to
the selected signal word, or include hazard or consequence information that corresponds to the selected
signal word.
If the signal word “DANGER,” “WARNING,” or “CAUTION” is used, it should be preceded by a safety alert
symbol and may be presented with a signal word panel and border.
10
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
7 Grouped Safety Messages
7.1 Purpose
Grouped safety messages may serve several purposes, including:
• allowing users to access some or all of the safety messages for a product in one location
• allowing safety messages to be presented together according to a meaningful organizational
system (e.g., grouped by hazard type, grouped and sequenced by frequency and severity of
injury, grouped by stage of use, grouped by the part of the product involved, etc.)
• providing safety messages that apply to multiple sections or parts of a document so that they do
not have to be repeated unnecessarily throughout the document
• providing safety messages that do not apply to any particular section of the document
• providing detailed information about a hazard that may then be referenced, implicitly or explicitly,
by safety messages in the body of a document
7.2 Content
Grouped safety messages should identify the hazards, indicate how to avoid the hazards, and advise of
the probable consequences of not avoiding the hazards. Where information regarding the hazards,
consequences, or avoidance is similar or identical for several or all grouped safety messages, such
information may be stated once and need not be repeated for each individual message.
When information regarding the hazards, consequences, or avoidance is readily inferred, such
information may be omitted. In addition, consequence information for a grouped safety message may be
omitted if general consequences of failure to comply with all of the grouped safety messages are provided
in a supplemental directive preceding the grouped safety messages.
Messages unrelated to safety should not be placed among grouped safety messages.
7.3 Location
Grouped safety messages should be provided in a separate document or in a distinct section within a
document. When grouped safety messages are provided within a document, they should appear before
any procedural information to which the safety messages apply. Grouped safety messages may be
placed after the information to which they apply if such a location is more appropriate.
A single document may contain more than one section of grouped safety messages.
7.3.1 Table of Contents

When a document contains a section of grouped safety messages, this section should be listed in the
table of contents, if one is provided.
7.4 Format
7.4.1 Heading/Title
7.4.1.1 Document Title

When grouped safety messages are provided in a separate document, the title of that document shall
indicate the safety-related nature of the information in the document (e.g., “Safety Manual,” “Safety
11
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
Information for [product name],” etc.). A signal word may be used as a title for safety documents that are
a single page.
7.4.1.2 Section Heading

When grouped safety messages are provided in a section within a document, the section shall have a
heading indicating the safety-related nature of the information in the section (e.g., “Precautions,”
“Important Safety Information,” etc.). A signal word may be used as the heading.
7.4.1.3 Signal Word

If a signal word is used as a title or heading, it should be presented in a signal word panel and preceded
by a safety alert symbol. The signal word panel may be centered across a page or column of text, or may
be left-justified.
7.4.1.4 Supplemental Directives

A supplemental directive may be used to direct readers to grouped safety messages. The supplemental
directive may provide general hazard or consequence information. When such a supplemental directive
immediately precedes grouped safety messages, it may be used instead of a heading or title that
indicates the safety related nature of the section or document.
7.4.2 Organization
Grouped safety messages may be organized and presented in a variety of ways, such as numbered or
bulleted lists, separate paragraphs, etc. When grouped safety messages include a large number of
messages and multiple topics, they should be further organized into subsections, with meaningful
subheadings provided to indicate the nature of the topics addressed in each subsection.
7.4.3 Formatting Individual Messages

Typical product safety sign and label formatting (e.g., signal word panel, borders, etc.) should not be used
for each individual message.
Individual messages within a set of grouped safety messages may be emphasized, relative to other
messages in the group, using formatting such as:
• type manipulations (e.g., bold, italics, type size, etc.)

• safety symbols
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• lines or borders
• white space or separation from other text
• formatting (e.g., safety alert symbol, signal words) used for section and embedded safety
messages
Such formatting should be used only where special emphasis is desired relative to other safety
messages; it should not be used for all messages in a group.
7.4.4 Safety Symbols

Safety symbols may be used in conjunction with grouped safety messages. When used, the safety
symbol shall be compatible with the word message(s) with which it is associated (see Section 5.2). To
avoid unnecessary repetition, the safety alert symbol should not be used in conjunction with each safety
message in a group.
12

ANSI Z535.6-2006
8 Section Safety Messages
8.1 Purpose
Section safety messages may serve several purposes, including:
• providing safety information that applies throughout a procedure

• providing safety information that pertains to the topic of a particular section, but that is not related
to any particular procedural step or message in the section
• avoiding unnecessary repetition of information about the hazards, consequences, or avoidance
that applies to an entire section, paragraph, procedure, group of procedures, or other unit of text
within the body of a document
• allowing users to access procedural and other product-use information more easily and efficiently
by reducing the extent to which a safety message interrupts or interferes with the access or flow
of information
8.2 Content
Section safety messages should identify the hazard, indicate how to avoid the hazard, and advise of the
probable consequences of not avoiding the hazard.
Information regarding hazard, consequences, or avoidance behavior may be omitted from the safety
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message if it can be readily inferred. This information may also be omitted or abridged in situations where
provision of the information would produce unnecessary repetition.
Information regarding hazard, consequences, or avoidance may be provided in the form of a reference to
more detailed information elsewhere.
8.3 Location
Section safety messages should be provided at the beginning of the section or before the messages to
which they apply.
8.4 Format
Section safety messages shall be differentiated from other, non-safety information in the body of a
document. Section safety messages should be preceded by either a signal word panel or a safety alert
symbol.
13

ANSI Z535.6-2006

If a signal word panel is used, it should be placed above or to the left (at the beginning) of the safety
message. The entire safety message may be indented, with the signal word panel placed to the left. The
signal word in a section safety message signal word panel shall be in sans serif, bold, uppercase letters
in the same type size as or larger than the associated safety message. See Figure 4.
Example 4A:
SECTION HEADING
This is a section safety message. This is a section safety message. This is a

section safety message. This is a section safety message. This is a section
safety message.
General text general text general text general text general text general text
general text general text general text general text.
Example 4B:
SECTION HEADING
This is a section safety message. This is a section safety
message. This is a section safety message. This is a section
safety message. This is a section safety message.

message. This is a section safety message.
Example 4C:
SECTION HEADING

message. This is a section safety message. This is a section
safety message. This is a section safety message.
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Figure 4—Examples of section safety message with signal word panel
14

ANSI Z535.6-2006

A safety alert symbol may be used without a signal word to indicate safety messages that would be
assigned the signal words “WARNING” or “CAUTION.” A safety alert symbol shall not be used alone with
safety messages that would be assigned the signal word “DANGER”; “DANGER” safety messages should
be formatted according to Section 8.4.1. A safety alert symbol shall not be used for property damage
messages. When used alone, the safety alert symbol should appear to the left of the safety message, not
above it. The triangle shall be at least as tall as and should be taller than the capital letters in the safety
message. See Figure 5.
Example 5A:
SECTION HEADING
This is a section safety message. This is a section safety message.
This is a section safety message.
general text general text general text.
Example 5B:
SECTION HEADING
This is a section safety message. This is a section safety message. This is
a section safety message. This is a section safety message. This is a
section safety message.
Example 5C:
SECTION HEADING
This is a section safety message. This is a
section safety message. This is a section safety message.
Figure 5 — Examples of section safety message with safety alert symbol
8.4.3 Multiple Section Safety Messages

When multiple section safety messages are presented together, a single signal word panel or safety alert
symbol may be used with the messages. In such instances, the signal word corresponding to the greatest
risk level addressed by the safety messages shall be used.
8.4.4 Section Safety Message Text

The text of a section safety message may be differentiated from other, non-safety information (e.g., by
use of bold, semi-bold, or italic typeface, indented text, white space, etc.). If any type of differentiation is
used, section safety messages should be differentiated in a consistent manner within a document.
15
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
9 Embedded Safety Messages
9.1 Purpose
Embedded safety messages provide safety information within procedures or other text (e.g., product
descriptions, specifications, etc.) so that users would be expected to encounter the safety message at an
appropriate place when reading the procedure or other text.
9.2 Content
Embedded safety messages should identify the hazard, indicate how to avoid the hazard, and advise of
the probable consequences of not avoiding the hazard. If an associated instruction or procedure is, itself,
the method of avoiding the hazard, the embedded safety message may contain only hazard and
consequence information. Information regarding hazard, consequences, or avoidance behavior may be
omitted from the safety message if it can be readily inferred. Information about the hazards,
consequences, or avoidance may be omitted or abridged in situations where (a) more detailed safety
information is provided in a supplemental directive, a set of grouped safety messages, or a section safety
message, and (b) provision of the information would produce unnecessary repetition or an undesirably
long message length. Information regarding hazard, consequences, or avoidance may be provided in the
form of a reference to more detailed information elsewhere.
9.3 Location
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Embedded safety messages should be integrated with the non-safety messages to which they apply.
When included in procedures, embedded safety messages should be treated as part of the procedure
and included as a step or part of a step in the procedure so that, if the procedure is followed, the hazard
would be avoided.
When a procedure is non-linear, that is, when the reader is expected to skip steps or perform steps in
different orders depending on the situation, orders in which the procedure could reasonably be followed
should be considered when determining where to locate the safety messages.
When included in non-procedural text (e.g., explanatory or educational information), embedded safety
messages should be placed in proximity to the information to which they apply.
9.4 Format
Embedded safety messages may be presented without special formatting if the content and context of the
message make it clear that the message has to do with safety.
Embedded safety messages may also be differentiated from other information by:
• a signal word
• a safety alert symbol
• special formatting of the safety message text
When special emphasis is desired for particular words, phrases or sentences in an embedded safety
message (e.g., avoidance information), this part of the safety message may be differentiated by the use
of special formatting of that text, regardless of whether the entire safety message is differentiated in some
other way.
16

ANSI Z535.6-2006
NOTE—Because embedded safety messages must be integrated with the surrounding information, they may be presented without
any special formatting. When special formatting is used to differentiate embedded safety messages, care should be taken to ensure
that the formatting does not unnecessarily interfere with the user reading the information.
In a single document, some embedded safety messages may be differentiated from other text, while
others may not. Factors affecting whether a particular embedded safety message is differentiated may
include:
• whether the message was previously provided in a grouped or section safety message
• the desire to highlight particular embedded safety messages that are either more important or
more likely to be unknown to users
• the number of embedded safety messages, and the length of these messages, relative to the
surrounding non-safety text
9.4.1 Signal Words

Signal words may be used with the safety alert symbol (see section 8.4.1 for examples) or without. If a
signal word is used without the safety alert symbol, it should precede the safety message in-line with the
rest of the text that follows it. The signal word should be printed in all capital letters in a bold, sans serif
font, in the same type size as the text that follows it. An exclamation point should follow the signal word.
See Figure 6.
Example 6A:
General text general text general text general text.

WARNING! This is an embedded safety message. This is an embedded safety
message. This is an embedded safety message.
General text general text general text.
Example 6B:
General text general text general text general text general text general text general text
general text general text general text general text. WARNING! This is an embedded
safety message. This is an embedded safety message. This is an embedded safety
message. General text general text general text.
Figure 6—Examples of embedded safety message with signal word
17
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ANSI Z535.6-2006

A safety alert symbol may be used without a signal word to call attention to safety messages that would
be assigned the signal words “WARNING” or “CAUTION.” When used alone, the safety alert symbol
should appear to the left of the safety message, but not above it. See Figure 7. A safety alert symbol shall
not be used alone with safety messages that would be assigned the signal word “DANGER”; “DANGER”
safety messages should be formatted according to Section 9.4.1.
The safety alert symbol shall not be used to precede embedded safety messages that start in the middle
of a line of text.
--``,``,`,`,,`,`,``,`,``,,```-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
General text general text general text general text general text general
text general text general text general text general text.
This is an embedded safety message. This is an embedded safety
message. This is an embedded safety message. This is an
embedded safety message.
General text general text general text general text general text general
text general text general text general text general text.
Figure 7 — Embedded safety message with safety alert symbol
9.4.3 Embedded Safety Message Text

The text of an embedded safety message may be differentiated from other, non-safety information (e.g.,
using bold, semi-bold, or italic typeface, different color text, etc.). If any type of differentiation is used,
embedded messages should be differentiated in a consistent manner within a document.
10 Property Damage Messages

Requirements for safety messages do not apply to property damage messages. This standard does not
require that property damage only messages be presented using any particular format. However, safety
message formats may be used for property damage messages if the following requirements are met:
10.1 Signal Word

When a signal word is used for a property damage only message, “NOTICE” shall be used. Alternately,
“CAUTION” without the safety alert symbol may be used.
10.1.1 Color
When color is used with the signal word “NOTICE,” safety blue shall be used. Safety red, safety orange
and safety yellow shall not be used.
10.2 Safety Alert Symbol

The safety alert symbol shall not be used with property damage messages.
10.3 Safety Messages and Property Damage Messages

Safety messages and property damage messages shall not be identified by the same signal word.
18

ANSI Z535.6-2006
10.4 Supplemental Directives

Supplemental directives may refer to both safety messages and property damage messages. Such
supplemental directives may be presented using any of the formats in Section 6 of this standard.
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10.5 Grouped Safety Messages

Property damage messages shall not be provided among grouped safety messages unless the property
damage messages are clearly distinguished from the safety messages by use of meaningful headings,
sub-headings, signal words or other distinguishing features.
11 References
11.1 General
This standard shall be used in conjunction with American National Standards listed in 11.2. Other
standards listed in 11.3 contain additional information that may be useful in completing the requirements
of this standard.
11.2 American National Standards
When the following American National Standards are superseded by a revision approved by the
American National Standards Institute, Inc., the revision shall apply:
1. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard for Safety Color Code, ANSI Z535.1-2006.
2. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard for Environmental and Facility Safety
Signs, ANSI Z535.2-2006.
3. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Criteria for Safety Symbols, ANSI Z535.3-2006.
4. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard for Product Safety Signs and Labels, ANSI
Z535.4-2006.
5. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes (for Temporary
Hazards) ANSI Z535.5-2006.
11.3 Other Standards
1. ISO 3864-1:2002, Graphic symbols – Safety colours and safety signs – Part 1: Design principles
for safety signs in workplaces and public areas.
2. ISO 3864-2:2004, Graphical symbols – Safety colours and safety signs – Part 2: Design principles
for product safety labels.
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
Annex A
(Informative)
This annex is not an official part of the body of this standard.
Providing Information About Safety Messages in Collateral Materials and Product
Safety Signs and Labels
A1 Explanation of Signal Words and Symbols

Those signal words and safety symbols that are used in a product’s collateral materials or on the product
may be defined in collateral materials if space is available.
A1.1 Safety Alert Symbol

The meaning of the safety alert symbol may be provided in collateral materials. The following artwork may
be used for this purpose.
This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to

potential personal injury hazards. Obey all safety messages
that follow this symbol to avoid possible injury or death.
A1.2 Signal Words

The meaning of the different signal words as defined by the ANSI Z535.6 and ANSI Z535.4 standards
may be provided in collateral materials. The following artwork may be used for this purpose.
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DANGER indicates a hazardous

situation which, if not avoided, will
result in death or serious injury.
WARNING indicates a hazardous

situation which, if not avoided, could
result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION, used with the safety alert

symbol, indicates a hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, could result in
minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE is used to address practices

NOTICE not related to personal injury.
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
CAUTION, without the safety alert

symbol, is used to address practices
not related to personal injury.
A1.3 Other Highlighting Conventions

The meaning of any other highlighting conventions used to differentiate safety messages (e.g., text
manipulations, indention, etc.) may be provided in collateral materials.
A1.4 Safety symbols

The meaning of any safety symbols used on your safety labels or collateral materials may be explained in
collateral materials.
A2 Product Safety Signs and Labels
A2.1 Identifying the Presence, Location, and Content of Product Safety Signs or Labels
Information identifying the presence, location, and content of product safety signs or labels may be
provided in collateral materials. Product safety signs may be reproduced in collateral materials. The
purpose and expected life of the document, as well as the location and expected life of the labels, should
be considered when deciding whether to provide this information. Space considerations in the document
may also be considered when deciding whether to include such information.
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A2.2 Discussing Maintenance or Replacement of Product Safety Signs or Labels

Information on maintenance and/or replacement of product safety signs and labels may be provided in
collateral materials. The expected life of the product, the labels, and the document should be considered
when deciding whether to provide this information. Space considerations in the document may also be
considered when deciding whether to include such information.
A2.3 Referencing Safety Information in Collateral Materials within Product Safety Signs
or Labels
If product safety signs or labels refer readers to collateral materials for additional safety information,
relevant information should be provided in the referenced document(s).
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
Annex B
(Informative)
Translations of Signal Words
B1 Scope
Translation of the signal words and word message are optional considerations. These translations may
vary by region and dialect. It is recommended that translations be checked regarding their
appropriateness for the intended audience.
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Table B1—Translation of Signal Words
22

ANSI Z535.6-2006
Annex C
(Informative)
Risk Estimation and Signal Word Selection
C1 Scope
Signal words are selected based on the risk that results from not following the safety message. The level
of risk determines signal words, safety colors, and whether to use the safety alert symbol. This annex
provides guidance for estimating risk and selecting signal words.
C2 Definitions
C2.1 accident: An incident that results in unintended harm.
C2.2 harm: Injury, death or property damage.

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C2.3 hazard: A potential source of harm.
C2.4 hazardous situation: A condition or act that is contrary to the implicit or explicit instructions of a
safety message and that exposes a person or property to increased risk of harm. The presence of the
condition or performance of the act may be intentional or unintentional. However, conditions or acts that
are implemented with the intention of causing harm are not considered hazardous situations within the
scope of this standard.
C2.5 incident: An unintentional and undesired event that has the potential to cause harm.
C2.6 risk: A combination of the probability of occurrence of harm and the severity of that harm.
C3 Risk Estimation
C3.1 General
Risk estimation involves (a) considering the probability and severity of harm that can result from a
hazardous situation, and (b) combining these estimates to determine the risk. While quantitative risk
assessment is possible in certain limited circumstances, only qualitative risk estimates are possible in
most cases. For the purpose of safety messages classification (i.e., assigning a signal word and safety
color, and determining whether the safety alert symbol is appropriate), qualitative risk estimation is
commonplace and generally appropriate.
There are numerous methods for estimating the risk posed by a hazardous situation. This section outlines
one method that is specifically designed to assist in assigning signal words according to the definitions in
this standard. For information about other risk estimation methods or models, see the references at the
end of this annex.
C3.2 Hazardous situation

Safety messages provide instructions, explicit or implicit, regarding how to avoid hazardous situations. In
order to select the appropriate signal word, risk must be estimated for the particular hazardous situation
or situations.
Note that, for the purposes of signal word selection, it does not matter why a safety message might not be
followed (e.g., failure to read the message, conscious decision to ignore the message); the hazardous
situation associated with a message is the same, regardless of why the message is not followed.
23

ANSI Z535.6-2006
When a safety message addresses more than one hazardous situation, the risk associated with each
hazardous situation should be estimated. In these cases, the signal word corresponding to the greatest
risk level is used (see section 5.1.2).
C3.3 Model of Events Resulting from a Hazardous Situation

Figure C1 shows the possible results of a hazardous situation.
Figure C1—Model of the Possible Results of a Hazardous Situation
The hazardous situation (i.e., the result of not following a safety message) either results in an accident
(i.e., harm occurs) or in no accident (i.e., either no incident occurs, or the incident does not result in
harm). If an accident occurs, it results in harm. The harm can be classified by severity, from property
damage to death or serious injury.
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24

ANSI Z535.6-2006
C3.4 Severity
C3.4.1 Classification of Severity of Harm

As shown in the model above, there are three classifications for severity of harm that are used in
selecting signal words:
C3.4.1.1 Death or Serious Injury: Injury to humans that is more severe than minor or moderate injury.
Harm classified as death or serious injury may also include property damage, or moderate or minor
injuries that occur as a result of the same event.
Serious injuries typically have one or more of the following characteristics:
• results in permanent loss of function or significant disfigurement

• requires substantial and prolonged medical treatment
• involves long periods of disability
• involves considerable pain and suffering over long periods of time
Examples of serious injuries include amputations, severe burns, and loss or impairment of vision or
hearing.
C3.4.1.2 Moderate or Minor Injury: Injury to humans, not including death or serious injury. Harm
classified as moderate or minor injury may also include property damage that occurs as a result of the
same event.
Minor or moderate injuries do not typically result in permanent disability or significant disfigurement or
pain. Examples of minor or moderate injuries include cuts, scratches and irritation.
C3.4.1.3 Property Damage: Damage to property that does not include injury to humans.
C3.4.2 Hazardous Situations Resulting in Multiple Harms

When harm resulting from an event includes results falling into more than one of the severity
classifications, the most severe classification should be used. For example, an event that results in both
minor injury and property damage is classified as “minor or moderate injury.” Similarly, an event that
results in both minor injury to one body part and serious injury to another should be classified as “serious
injury or death.”
C3.4.3 Worst Credible Severity of Harm

A hazardous situation can result in a variety of outcomes, each with varying likelihood. When selecting a
signal word, it is necessary to determine the worst credible harm that can result from a hazardous
situation. Only outcomes that are credible possibilities should be considered.
Once the worst credible harm has been identified, it should be classified by severity (i.e., property
damage only, minor or moderate injury, or death or serious injury). This category is the worst credible
severity of harm for a particular hazardous situation.
C3.5 Probability
Risk depends on the probability of harm. For the purpose of signal word selection, probability of harm
includes the probability of an accident and the probability of the worst credible severity of harm occurring
if there is an accident.
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25

ANSI Z535.6-2006
The probability of the hazardous situation occurring (i.e., the probability of the safety message not being
followed) should not be included in an estimate of risk for the purpose of signal word selection.
C3.5.1 Probability of Accident

The probability of an accident if a hazardous situation exists (i.e., if the safety message is not followed)
should be estimated. The probability of an accident includes the probability of accidents that result in any
severity of harm.
Circumstances in which a hazardous situation does not result in an incident, or in which it results in an
incident that does not cause harm, are not accidents.
C3.5.2 Probability of Worst Credible Severity of Harm

The probability of the worst credible severity of harm occurring if an accident occurs should be estimated.
To estimate the probability of the worst credible severity of harm, it is necessary to include not only the
likelihood of the worst credible harm, but also the likelihood of all other outcomes that fall within the worst
credible severity of harm category (e.g., if the worst credible harm is death, then include all outcomes that
are in the category serious injury or death).
C3.5.3 Estimating Probability

For the purposes of assigning signal words, probability need not be determined quantitatively, or with
great precision. Signal words are assigned based on estimates of probability using two qualitative
categories:
C3.5.3.1 will: Indicates an event that is expected to happen with near certainty.
C3.5.3.2 could: Indicates an event that is possible but not nearly certain.
C4 Signal Word Selection

A signal word is selected according to the risk of harm presented by the hazardous situation that the
safety message addresses. That is, signal word selection is based on the risk posed if the safety
message is not followed.
The risk is determined based on:

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• worst credible severity of harm if an accident occurs
• probability of an accident if the hazardous situation occurs (i.e., if the safety message is not
followed)
• probability of the worst credible severity of harm occurring
26

ANSI Z535.6-2006
C4.1 Signal Word Selection Matrices

The following matrices show the signal words, colors, and presence or absence of safety alert symbol
that are assigned for each combination of accident probability, worst credible harm, and probability of
worst credible harm.
If Worst Credible Severity of Harm is Death or Serious Injury
Probability of Accident if
Hazardous Situation is not Avoided
Will Could
Will
Probability of Death or Serious

Injury if Accident Occurs
Could
If Worst Credible Severity of Harm is Moderate or Minor Injury
For all probabilities:
If Worst Credible Severity of Harm is Property Damage
For all probabilities: Preferred:
NOTICE
Alternate:
27
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ANSI Z535.6-2006
C4.2 Signal Word Selection Process

The signal word selection process is summarized in Figure C2.
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Figure C2—Signal Word Selection Process
28

ANSI Z535.6-2006
C5 References
The following publications provide information about risk estimation and assessment:
1. ANSI B11.TR3 - 2000, Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction - A Guide to Estimate, Evaluate and
Reduce Risks Associated with Machine Tools
2. ANSI/RIA R15.06 -1999, American National Standard for Industrial Robots and Robot Systems -
Safety Requirements
3. ANSI/AAMI/ISO 14971:2000, Medical devices - Application of risk management to medical

devices
4. ANSI/AAMI/ISO 14971:2000/A1:2003, Medical devices - Application of risk management to

medical devices - Annex H - Rationale for requirements -- Amendment 1
5. ANSI/PMMI B115.1-2000, Safety Requirements for Construction, Care, and Use for Packaging
Machinery and Packaging-Related Converting Machinery
6. BS EN 1050 - 1997, Safety of Machinery - Principals for Risk Assessment
7. CAN/CSA -Q850-97, Risk Management: Guideline for Decision Makers

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8. ISO 14121 - 1999, Safety of Machinery - Principals for Risk Assessment
9. MIL-STD-882D, 1- February 2000, Department of Defense Standard Practice for System Safety
10. SEMI S10 1103 - Safety Guideline for Risk Assessment
29

Revisions 2011
The ANSI Accredited Standards Committee Z535 plans to issue the next revisions of the Z535
Standards (Z535.1 through Z535.6) in December 2011. In order to meet that deadline, the
Committee developed the following tentative schedule:
All proposed changes are due: June 30, 2009

Revisions will be finalized for letter balloting: April 15, 2010
Letter balloting will be completed by: July 15, 2010
Public reviews will be completed by: March 1, 2011
Drafts will be ready to submit to the publisher: May 31, 20011
Published: December 15, 2011
All proposed changes must be submitted by June 30, 2009. Any and all proposals received
after that date will be deferred to subsequent revisions. In order to facilitate the next revision,
proposed changes must be submitted on a form for that specific purpose, which is on the back of
this page. Please send this form to:
Secretary, ANSI Committee Z535

1300 North 17th Street, Suite 1752
Rosslyn, VA 22209
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ANSI Accredited Standards Committee Z535
On Safety Signs and Colors
FORM FOR PROPOSALS
Return to: Secretary, ANSI Committee Z535
1300 North 17th Street, Suite 1752
Rosslyn, VA 22209
Name _________________________________________ Date ______________________
Address ___________________________________________________________________
Representing _______________________________________________________________
(Please indicate organization or self.)
E-mail Address ________________________________ Telephone ____________________
1. a. Standard Title __________________________________________________
b. Section/Paragraph ______________________________________________
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2. Proposal recommends (check one): New Text

Revised Text
Deleted Text
3. Proposal (Include the proposed new or revised text, or identify the words to be deleted.
Underline additions and strikethrough deletions.)
4. Statement of the Problem or Reason for the Proposal
5. Check one. This proposal is original material.

This proposal is not original material; its source is as follows:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
This original material is the submitter’s own idea based upon his/her own experience, thought, or research, and to the
best of his/her knowledge, is not copied from another source.
I agree to give NEMA all and full rights, including rights of copyright, in this proposal, and I understand that I
acquire no rights in any standards publication in which this proposal in this or another similar or analogous form
is used.
_________________________________________
Signature
Please do not write in the space below.
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American National Standard

for Product Safety Information

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2 Scope and Purpose ................................................................................................................... 2

2.1 Scope .................................................................................................................................... 2

2.2 Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 2

3 Application and Exceptions........................................................................................................ 2

5.1 Signal Word........................................................................................................................... 6

5.1.1 Use of Signal Words .............................................................................................. 6

5.1.2 Multiple Hazard Identification................................................................................. 6

5.1.3 Signal Word Panel ................................................................................................. 6

5.2 Symbols and Other Graphics ................................................................................................ 6

5.2.1 Safety Alert Symbol................................................................................................ 7

5.2.2 Safety Symbols ...................................................................................................... 7

5.2.3 Graphics Other Than Safety Symbols ................................................................... 7

5.3 Color ...................................................................................................................................... 7

5.3.1 Signal Word Panel ................................................................................................. 7

5.3.2 Safety Message ..................................................................................................... 8

5.3.3 Other Standards..................................................................................................... 8

5.3.4 Other Colors........................................................................................................... 8

5.4 Type Style and Size .............................................................................................................. 9

5.4.1 Signal Words.......................................................................................................... 9

5.4.2 Safety Message Text ............................................................................................. 9

Copyright National Electrical Manufacturers Association

6 Supplemental Directives ............................................................................................................ 9

6.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 9

6.4 Format ................................................................................................................................. 10

7 Grouped Safety Messages ...................................................................................................... 11

7.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 11

7.3.1 Table of Contents................................................................................................. 11

7.4 Format ................................................................................................................................. 11

7.4.1 Heading/Title ........................................................................................................ 11

7.4.3 Formatting Individual Messages .......................................................................... 12

7.4.4 Safety Symbols .................................................................................................... 12

8 Section Safety Messages ........................................................................................................13

8.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 13

8.4 Format ................................................................................................................................. 13

8.4.1 Signal Word Panel ............................................................................................... 14

8.4.2 Safety Alert Symbol.............................................................................................. 15

8.4.3 Multiple Section Safety Messages ....................................................................... 15

8.4.4 Section Safety Message Text .............................................................................. 15

9 Embedded Safety Messages................................................................................................... 16

9.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 16