What are OSHA Color Codes?
OSHA color codes are described in 29 CFR 1910.144 (Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards). This standard identifies the following colors and their uses:
- Red
- For the identification of fire protection equipment and apparatus, danger signs, containers of flammable liquids, lights at barricades, stop buttons/switches.
- Yellow
- For the identification of specific physical hazards including falling, tripping, and striking, and for designating caution.
In OSHA standard 1910.145, specific colors are not mandated for use on accident prevention tags, but these colors are recommended:
- Red: for danger tags.
- Yellow: for caution tags.
- Orange: for warning tags.
- Fluorescent orange or red-orange: biological hazards.
OSHA has adopted ANSI standard Z535.1-2011 for the design of accident prevention signs (safety signs), and the color codes of this standard can be used in OSHA compliant signage.
What are ANSI color codes?
ANSI color codes are described in the ANSI Z535.1-2001 standard for the identification of potential hazards and safety equipment. Each color or combination of colors has its own use case. Learn more here.
Do I need OSHA or ANSI safety signs?
The goals of OSHA and ANSI designed signs are the same: to alert workers of potential hazards and of workplace polices. There are many factors that should be considered before choosing one design or the other, and in many cases, an ANSI formatted sign will comply with OSHA standards. Learn more here.
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