OSHA Jobsite Signage Checklist (2026)

The reg

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145 (general industry) and 29 CFR 1926.200 (construction) govern signage. Both reference ANSI Z535 for colors, pictograms, and header language.

The four header words that matter

ANSI Z535 uses a strict hierarchy. Use the wrong header and the sign doesn't count.

• DANGER (red) — immediate hazard that WILL cause death or serious injury.
• WARNING (orange) — hazard that COULD cause death or serious injury.
• CAUTION (yellow) — minor or moderate injury.
• NOTICE (blue) — property damage or safety info, no personal injury.

Pick wrong and you either under-warn (legal exposure) or over-warn (people stop reading your signs).

The checklist — sign by sign

Required at every jobsite entrance

• Hard Hat Required (WARNING, yellow) — every PPE zone entrance.
• No Trespassing / Authorized Personnel Only — at all entrances.
• Company Name + Emergency Phone — who to call, 24/7 number.
• Permit Information — per local requirements.

PPE zone signs

One per PPE zone boundary. Minimum:

• Safety glasses required
• Hard hat required
• High-visibility clothing required
• Steel-toe boots required

If your site requires hearing protection or respirators in specific areas, add zone-specific PPE signs.

Hazard signs

• Overhead Work / Falling Debris — under any multi-story work.
• Open Excavation — every 25 feet along an open trench.
• Electrical Hazard — on panel boxes, temporary power, any exposed wiring.
• Flammable Materials — on fuel storage, solvent storage.
• Confined Space — at any confined space entry.

Directional signs

• Emergency exit routes
• First aid station location
• Fire extinguisher locations (every 75 feet per NFPA)
• Muster point for evacuation

Specific situations

• Silica Work: "Silica Dust — Respirator Required" per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153.
• Hot Work: Posted during welding, cutting, brazing.
• Lockout/Tagout: On isolated energy sources.

Bilingual requirements

OSHA requires signs be understandable by all workers. If any significant portion of your crew primarily reads Spanish, bilingual signs aren't a preference — they're a compliance requirement. On RGV jobs and most Houston sites, bilingual is standard.

Materials & durability

• Aluminum — outdoor, long-term. 1–2 year lifespan in Houston humidity.
• Reflective aluminum — where night visibility matters.
• Coroplast — short-term (< 90 days). Cheap, doesn't survive long sun exposure.
• Vinyl stickers — temporary, peel-off.

The mistakes we see on safety walks

1. Wrong header word. DANGER used where WARNING is correct, or vice versa.
2. Faded signs past their lifespan. If a pictogram is washed out, it doesn't count as compliant.
3. Missing Spanish translation on a Spanish-primary crew.
4. Signs 7+ feet off the ground — out of the direct sightline, crews don't read them.
5. No company emergency contact — OSHA inspectors will ask who to call, and "I don't know" is a finding.

Getting the full package

We print and install jobsite signage packages — the whole entrance setup + PPE zones + hazard markers — in a single visit. Custom site signs with your logo and PO print in 48 hours. Bilingual is standard.