Contents ANSI Z535 3 2011 Revision of ANSI Z535 3 2007 American National Standard Criteria for Safety Symbols Copyright National Electrical Manufacturers Association Provided by IHS under license with NEMA Licensee=Fluor Corp no FPPPV per administrator 2110503106, User=Puentes, Artur Not for Resale, 02172014 12 52 43 MSTNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS ` , , ` ` ` ` , ` ` , ` , ` , , ` ` ` , ` , ` ` ` ` , ` ` ` ` ` , , ` , , ` , ` , , ` ANSI Z535 3 2011 Copyrig.
Scope
This standard provides general criteria for the design, evaluation, and use of safety symbols to identify and warn against specific hazards, and to provide information to avoid personal injury.
Purpose
This standard aims to encourage the widespread adoption of consistent and effective safety symbols for improved safety communication It outlines a procedure for assessing the effectiveness of these images in conveying their intended messages, along with guidelines for the graphic design of safety symbols.
Intent
This standard offers guidance for choosing safety symbols that effectively alert individuals to potential hazards and convey essential safety messages It encompasses applications and information related to products, surrounding environments, and workplace settings.
Existing American National Standards
The ANSI Z535.3 standard aims to complement existing American National Standards relevant to specific industries or applications, rather than replace them Its primary goal is to promote the adoption of this standard in future updates of other regulations, thereby enhancing safety and compliance across various sectors.
4.1 accident: An incident that results in harm, property damage, or both
4.1.1 harm: Any degree of physical injury, including death
4.1.2 incident: An unintended and undesired event
4.2 colors: Colors specified in this standard shall conform to ANSI Z535.1
4.3 critical confusion: When a safety symbol elicits the opposite, or prohibited action For instance, when a safety symbol meaning “No Fires Allowed” is misunderstood to mean “Fires Allowed Here.”
4.4 excluded functions: Situations or environments where the safety symbol would not be appropriate to use
4.5 hazard: A potential source of harm
4.6 image: That portion of the safety symbol which is a graphic rendering, either abstract or representational, of the safety message
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4.7.1 may: This word is understood to be permissive
4.7.2 shall: This word is understood to be mandatory
4.7.3 should: This word is understood to be advisory
Section 4.7.4 of this standard addresses informative content, which is intended solely for clarification, illustration, and general information purposes It is important to note that these informative sections do not impose mandatory requirements Additionally, the foreword and annexes fall under this category of informative material.
4.7.5 normative: Refers to those portions of this standard containing the mandatory requirements (shall), as well as the recommended practices (should) The body of this standard is considered normative
A 4.8 panel refers to a specific area of a safety sign that features a unique background color distinct from surrounding areas or is clearly defined by a line, border, or white space Safety signs typically incorporate three types of panels: the signal word panel, the message panel, and the safety symbol panel.
4.8.1 signal word panel: Area of the safety sign that contains the signal word or words and, when used, the safety alert symbol
4.8.2 safety symbol panel: Area of the safety sign that contains the safety symbol
4.8.3 message panel: Area of the safety sign that contains the word message (see ANSI Z535.2, ANSI Z535.4, and ANSI Z535.5)
4.9 referent: The message intended to be associated with the safety symbol
4.10 respondent: The test taker who is a member of the targeted audience likely to see a warning or safety symbol
The 4.11 safety alert symbol is an important hazard indicator, featuring an equilateral triangle encasing an exclamation mark This symbol is specifically designed to signal potential accidents rather than property damage, ensuring clear communication of safety risks.
Figure 1 The Safety Alert Symbol
(A) for use with DANGER signal word; (safety white triangle, safety red exclamation mark, safety red background)
(B) for use with WARNING signal word; (safety black triangle, safety orange exclamation mark)
(C) for use with CAUTION signal word; (safety black triangle, safety yellow exclamation mark)
The symbols (D) and (E) are designed for use alongside DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION signal words Symbol (D) features a safety yellow triangle bordered in black, accompanied by a black exclamation mark, while symbol (E) consists of a safety yellow triangle with a black exclamation mark and a yellow border encircling a black band.
NOTE—D and E are provided to allow for consistency with certain ISO standards, such as ISO 3864-1 and ISO 3864-2.
4.12 safety sign: (See definitions in ANSI Z535.2, ANSI Z535.4, and ANSI Z535.5 as applicable.)
The 4.13 safety symbol is a visual representation that conveys important messages regarding hazards and safety precautions without the use of text This configuration may depict a specific hazard, indicate a hazardous situation, or suggest necessary precautions to prevent danger Additionally, it can illustrate the consequences of failing to avoid such hazards, effectively communicating essential safety information through imagery alone.
As used in this standard, the phrase “safety symbol” includes graphic art, such as pictograms, pictorials, or glyphs
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4.14 signal word: The words used in the signal word panel (see ANSI Z535.2, ANSI Z535.4, ANSI
4.15 surround shape: A geometric configuration around the image that can convey additional safety information
4.16 symbol variant / candidate symbol: One of many symbols designed to best represent a referent or hazard or meaning
5 Safety symbol types, surround shapes, and colors
General
Safety symbols, while optional in multi-panel safety signs, labels, and tags as outlined by ANSI Z535.2, ANSI Z535.4, and ANSI Z535.5 standards, play a crucial role in conveying important information Typically, these symbols feature a black or red image set against a white background, enhancing visibility and comprehension.
When designing safety symbols, incorporating a surrounding shape and color is essential; however, it's important to note that a surrounding shape can reduce the available space for the symbol itself Surrounding shapes are mandatory for specific symbols, such as the Safety Alert symbol, which features an exclamation mark within an equilateral triangle, and the Prohibition symbol, which is depicted within a circular band crossed by a diagonal slash.
There are four types of safety symbols that communicate different messages: Hazard Alerting, Mandatory Action, Prohibition, and Information Examples of each type of safety symbol are found in Annex A.
Hazard Alerting
This type of safety symbol conveys information primarily related to the nature of hazards
If a surround shape or color is desired, the Hazard Alerting symbol should be drawn within a safety yellow equilateral triangle (see Annex A).
Mandatory Action
This type of safety symbol conveys actions that should be taken to avoid hazards
If a surround shape or color is desired, the symbol should consist of a safety white image within a solid safety blue or safety black circular surround shape (see Annex A).
Prohibition
This type of safety symbol conveys actions that should not be taken
Prohibition signage must feature a mandatory surround shape, specifically a circular band with a diagonal slash angled at 45 degrees from the upper left to the lower right This symbol should comprise a safety black image, a safety red or safety black circular band with a slash, and a safety white background Additionally, when both the image and the circular band/slash are safety black, the black slash must have a safety white border to clearly distinguish it from the image (refer to Annex A).
Information
This type of safety symbol is generally used on ANSI Z535.2 General Safety or Fire Safety signs (see ANSI Z535.2) to convey equipment location, egress, permitted actions, and fire equipment location
For effective safety signage, the symbol must feature a white image set against a solid background of either safety green, representing general safety, or safety red, indicating fire safety, as illustrated in Annex A.
Procedure for the design of new safety symbols
When creating or modifying a safety symbol, it is recommended to refer to the guidelines in Annex A It is essential to design individual safety symbols as part of a cohesive visual system whenever possible, ensuring consistency and clarity in their application.
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Because safety symbols are used in a wide variety of conditions, the following considerations should be taken into account when designing or implementing safety symbols.
Safety symbol size
Since safety symbols may be used on large and small products or areas, they should be legible at the intended viewing distance.
Safety symbol placement
Safety symbols used on safety signs should be placed within the normal field of view, and near the hazard or area for which action is required.
Safety symbol environment
Attention should be paid to environmental factors such as dirt, degradation, light level, and light quality that can impair the effectiveness of a safety symbol
With demonstrated understandability
A safety symbol should have demonstrated understandability as verified by acceptable selection procedures involving an appropriate test group A methodology for testing is contained in Annex B.
Without demonstrated understandability
Safety symbol training/recognition procedure
To effectively communicate the meaning of symbols, a training and recognition procedure is highly recommended for intended users Conducting this procedure is the responsibility of the employer or product manufacturer who intends to utilize the symbol, as outlined in ANSI Z535.2, Annex A and ANSI Z535.4, Annex A, to ensure users are familiar with the symbols and their corresponding meanings.
General
This standard should be utilized alongside the American National Standards referenced in section 8.2 Additional standards and publications found in Annex C offer further valuable information to help fulfill the requirements of this standard.
American National Standards
When the following American National Standards are superseded by a revision approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the revision shall apply.
1 ANSI Z535.1-2006 (R2011) , American National Standard Safety Colors (American National Standards Institute, 2006)
2 ANSI Z535.2-2011, American National Standard Environmental and Facility Safety Signs (American National Standards Institute, 2011)
3 ANSI Z535.4-2011, American National Standard Product Safety Signs and Labels (American National Standards Institute, 2011)
4 ANSI Z535.5-2011, American National Standard Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes (for Temporary Hazards) (American National Standards Institute, 2011)
5 ANSI Z535.6-2011, American National Standard Product Safety Information in Product ManualsInstructions, and Other Collateral Materials (American National Standards Institute, 2011)
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Annex A Principles and Guidelines for Graphical Design of Safety Symbols
When designing a new safety symbol or modifying an existing one, it's essential to follow established principles and guidelines for effective graphical design The symbols presented in this context serve merely as illustrative examples and should not be interpreted as officially recognized or approved by the ANSI Z535 Committee.
A2 Safety symbol types, surround shapes, and colors
In accordance with ANSI Z535.2, ANSI Z535.4, and ANSI Z535.5 standards, safety symbols featured in multi-panel safety signs, labels, and tags typically present a black image on a white background, devoid of color or surrounding shapes.
Figure A1 Multi-Panel Safety Sign without Surround Shape and Color on Symbol
There are two notable exceptions to the requirement for surrounding shapes in symbols: the Safety Alert symbol, which features an exclamation mark inside an equilateral triangle, and the Prohibition symbols, which are depicted within a circular band that includes a diagonal slash.
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Surround shape and color can also be used on safety symbols that are part of a multi-panel product label
Figure A4 Multi-Panel Safety Sign with Surround Shape and Color on Symbol
Safety symbols are categorized into four types, each conveying distinct messages: Hazard Alerting, Mandatory Action, Prohibition, and Information Each type is represented by specific shapes and colors, which help to effectively communicate their respective meanings.
This type of safety symbol conveys information primarily related to the nature of hazards
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Figure A5 Examples of Hazard Alerting Symbols
A2.1.2 Optional surround shape and color
The symbol should be drawn within a safety yellow equilateral triangle with a safety black band
Background color: safety yellow Triangular band: safety black Symbol: safety black
Border: safety yellow or safety white
Figure A6 Layout for Hazard Alerting Safety Symbol
This type of safety symbol conveys actions that should be taken to avoid hazards
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Refer to Instruction Manual Wear Hand Protection Wear Ear Protection
Figure A7 Examples of Mandatory Action Symbols
A2.2.2 Optional surround shape and color
If surround shape or color is desired, this symbol should consist of a safety white image within a solid safety blue circular surround shape
Background color: safety blue Symbol: safety white
Figure A8 Layout for Mandatory Action Safety Symbol
This type of safety symbol conveys actions that should not be taken.
No Open Flame No Smoking No Open Flame (Match)
Figure A9 Examples of Prohibition Symbols
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A2.3.2 Mandatory surround shape and optional color
The Prohibition symbol features a circular red band with a diagonal black slash at a 45-degree angle, extending from the upper left to the lower right This design is used to signify prohibition and is set against a white background for clear visibility.
Background color: safety white Circular band and diagonal slash: safety red Symbol: safety black
Figure A10 Layout for Prohibition Safety Symbol
This type of safety symbol is generally used to convey: a safe condition (equipment location, egress, permitted actions); and b fire safety (fire equipment location)
This type of safety symbol is generally used on ANSI Z535.2 Safety Equipment Location (see ANSI Z535.2) and egress signs to convey first aid equipment location and means of escape.
First Aid Emergency Exit Emergency Telephone
Figure A11 Examples of Safe Condition Symbols
If surround shape or color is desired, the symbol should consist of a safety white image within a safety green square or rectangular background
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Background color: safety green Symbol: safety white
Figure A12 Layout for Information—Safe Condition Safety Symbol
This type of safety symbol is generally used on ANSI Z535.2 Fire Equipment Location signs (see ANSI Z535.2) to convey fire equipment location.
Fire Extinguisher Fire Hose and Reel Fire Alarm Call Point
Figure A13 Examples of Fire Safety Symbols
A2.4.2.2 Optional surround shape and color
If surround shape or color is desired, the symbol should consist of a safety white image within a safety red square or rectangular background
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Background color: safety red Symbol: safety white
Figure A14 Layout for Information—Fire Safety Symbol
A3 Principles of effective safety symbols
Safety symbols serve to convey specific safety messages visually, eliminating the need for text To effectively communicate their intended meanings, it is essential to adhere to three interconnected principles: maintaining a consistent visual design, ensuring legibility, and enhancing comprehensibility.
Consistency in visual symbols enhances communication within a system, as it allows symbols to build upon each other and create a coherent visual language (Olgyay, 1995) For instance, in personal protective equipment for the head, maintaining a consistent head shape highlights crucial distinctions in intended meanings, such as differentiating between eye protection and respiratory protection Conversely, variations in head shape can lead to confusion and misinterpretation among users (Deppa et al., 1997).
Variation in Head Detracts from Differences in Messages
Figure A15 Consistent Versus Non-Consistent Symbols for Personal Protective Equipment
Legibility is the connection between a user's visual abilities and a symbol, highlighting the viewer's capacity to distinguish essential elements within it When a symbol lacks adequate legibility at a typical viewing distance, viewers struggle to quickly and accurately interpret the information it conveys.
Generally, using a 2.75" square symbol design template, the designer should try to use 0.04" as the minimum dimension for symbol elements (e.g., the width of a line or space between elements)
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Comprehensibility refers to a user's ability to understand a symbol's meaning as intended by its designer Safety symbols are graphical representations meant to communicate hazards or safety messages without the use of words However, many widely-used symbols lack pre-publication comprehension testing, leading to significant misunderstandings, as highlighted by various studies (Collins, Lerner, and Pierman, 1982; Collins and Pierman, 1979; Easterby and Hakiel, 1977) To address this issue, it is recommended to conduct comprehension testing Annex B provides procedures to identify and select symbols that effectively convey messages, thereby reducing dependence on verbal explanations and symbol training.
The principle of simplicity is crucial in symbol design, as it enhances viewer comprehension and reaction A symbol should be detailed enough to convey its message, yet simpler geometric forms are often more effective, especially when used consistently within a set It's important to avoid unnecessary details or decorations, ensuring that critical elements of the safety symbol are easily recognizable from the intended viewing distance.
A4 Selection of the types of symbols to depict
Choosing the appropriate symbol type significantly impacts understanding Research indicates that representational symbols illustrating hazards are more effective and easier for participants to comprehend compared to abstract symbols or those indicating mandatory actions or prohibitions.
A4.1 Representational symbols preferred over abstract symbols
Symbols, while inherently abstract, can be more easily understood when they are representational This clarity is crucial, especially when a safety symbol aims to alert users to a hidden hazard.
Figure A16 Representational Versus Abstract Symbols for Fire Alarm Call Point
A4.2 Hazard description symbols preferred over hazard avoidance symbols
Safety symbols usually communicate one of two types of messages: hazard description or hazard avoidance (see Figure A17)
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No Entry Foot Protection Fire Ladder
Figure A17 Hazard Description and Hazard Avoidance Symbols
Hazard description symbols, also called Hazard Alerting symbols, depict the nature of the hazard (e.g., poison); sometimes, they also show the consequences
Hazard avoidance symbols play a crucial role in promoting safety by illustrating how to steer clear of dangers There are three primary types of these symbols: Prohibition symbols, which indicate actions to avoid; Mandatory Action symbols, which outline necessary safety procedures; and Information symbols, which provide guidance on the location of safety equipment and emergency exits.
Symbols primarily illustrate hazard descriptions, and it is uncommon for a single symbol to effectively convey both hazard descriptions and avoidance messages Consequently, when given the option to choose between a hazard description symbol and a hazard avoidance symbol, it is advisable to select the hazard description symbol for clearer communication.
A4.3 Safety symbols that depict dramatic action
Incorporate safety symbols that illustrate dynamic actions associated with potential hazards to enhance communication To increase effectiveness, include representations of human figures or body parts alongside the hazard itself Symbols that convey the human impact of engaging with hazards are more compelling and encourage viewers to take precautions, compared to abstract symbols.
Figure A18 Dramatic Action Versus Abstract Symbol for Electric Shock
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