Safety at manufacturing facilities is among a Factory Manager’s most important concerns. For owners, managers, employees, and clients alike, knowing the facility is safe and compliant matters. There are many ways to keep a manufacturing facility safe, starting with strong leadership, clear policies, and safety incentives. Another key to keeping the facility safe is clearly marked signage throughout the facility. Here are some ideas for how to make sure that your facility is safe for everybody who comes and goes:
ANSI Guidelines for Manufacturing Safety Signs
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) provides accredited guidance to ensure your safety signage meets standards. There are three key elements that make an ANSI sign:
- Headers and Signal Words—Signal words must alert people in the area to potential risk or danger. The ANSI guidelines include 5 specific signal words: “danger,” “caution,” “warning,” “notice,” or “safety instructions.” The guidelines specify when to use each word and which color to use with it. They indicate the level of risk and how definite the potential risk is. For instance, “danger” indicates the presence of an immediately hazardous situation that, if not avoided, serious injury or death will occur, whereas “caution” means that a situation is present that could cause minor or moderate injury.
- Safety Symbols/Pictograms—These images accompany warnings to quickly and easily convey the potential hazard in a situation and help overcome language barriers. ANSI’s guidelines include 4 different types of pictograms: hazard, mandatory action, prohibition, and informational. Hazard symbols show a visual representation of the actual danger or risk. Prohibition signs include a red circle with a 45-degree red band going across an image of the element that has been prohibited. Mandatory action symbols are blue, and they contain the action that must be taken (such as putting on safety goggles). Informational symbols show the location of safety devices, such as a fire extinguisher, an AED, a first aid kit, an eyewash station, and more.
- Sign Legend—These describe the hazard or the policy that the images and the other two elements are referring to.
Depending on your industry, there is some variance between ANSI and OSHA standards, so always double-check with your industry guidelines to make sure you are following protocol for proper safety and legal guidelines.
Productivity and Protocol Signage
Beyond the safety signage required by law, you can implement many other signage solutions at your manufacturing facility. These solutions can improve your security and productivity by standardizing workflow. A manufacturing setting is a great place to use instructional signage to remind people of proper protocols. This can include signs that remind people of procedures (for example, reminding people to turn off equipment when finished, or reminding people where a helmet or safety glasses must be worn), as well as signs that show where items go (such as forklift parking space signs). Another really useful type of signage is warehouse navigation signage, where different areas of the warehouse or rows of shelving are labeled to make it easier to find items quickly. You can even use signage to show “lanes” and “roads” of where your forklifts and other heavy machinery should be driving. Anything that you can do to make processes more fluid and intuitive will improve your productivity and your bottom line.
Employee Morale Signage
Another important use for signage in your manufacturing facility is employee morale. Anything that makes processes easier to follow will improve employee morale. You can also install specific signage to positively influence company culture. Signs tracking how many days have passed since your last workplace accident can help reward and incentivize employee safety behavior. Acknowledging and celebrating safety is a great way to unify your staff and help them know their attention to safety matters and hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Trust the Experts at Starfish Signs
At Starfish Signs, our team is well-versed in the legal requirements for signage across a variety of workplaces. Plus, our experience in manufacturing signs, coupled with our attention to detail and our dedication to customer satisfaction, will allow you to confidently invest in signs that will improve safety, efficiency, and morale at your manufacturing facility.