What Warnings Should Safety Labels Communicate

Safety labels play an important role in almost every industry. These safety decals are created to let people know that certain dangers exist. In order to make sure that safety labels say the right thing, there are ANSI and ISO safety standards with which labels should comply. At the same time, there is still a lot of leeway when it comes to how these safety labels communicate their messages. What should the safety label say? What sort of warnings should they give? There are a few points that everyone should keep in mind.

Use Symbols When Possible

When possible, it is a good idea to use symbols. Symbols are important because they prevent words from getting lost in translation and also communicate important safety information to those who might not be able to read. For example, some safety labels should include a picture of a specific danger of using that piece of equipment. It might illustrate sharp blades for hot surfaces that are found on construction equipment. It might also be a good idea to include a red circle with a slash that communicates prohibited actions. On many safety decals and custom labels, there are yellow triangles with exclamation marks that are used to communicate caution, warning, and danger.

Keep the Wording Short

Some companies first impulse is to create grammatically correct safety labels. The problem is that the verbiage might become excessive. If the labels are too long, then people might not read them. Instead, all construction safety labels should communicate warnings in the active voice. The reader should feel like he or she is being given a command. Then, use a strong action word at the beginning to grab the attention of everyone. Some keywords include “danger” or “warning” in all capital letters. Then, discuss what the risk entails. It is a good idea to highlight serious injuries that could result from using this equipment improperly.

Comply with Industry Standards

Finally, it is also important to make sure that the manner in which these labels are communicating their information is compliant with the latest industry standards. These standards are put in place to ensure that everyone is kept safe. The label needs to be rugged, the safety decals should have colors that pop, and the custom labels should have wording that is easy to read from a safe distance. This will ensure that everyone understands the risks of using construction equipment and heavy machinery.

Invest in High-Quality Safety Labels for Construction Equipment and Heavy Machinery

In the end, ANSI and ISO safety labels need to use pictures to clearly demonstrate what the risk is. They should use verbiage that is easy to read from a distance. They should also be crafted in a manner that is compliant with the latest industry standards. Anyone who is looking for help coming up with these safety labels should be sure to reach out for professional help. There are trained experts who are able to generate safety labels that are strong enough to stand up under just about any conditions. This is an important part of keeping everyone safe from harm.