As a leader in the facility services industry, UG2 knows that keeping employees and building occupants safe at all times is a must. When mitigating risk, there are different methods, but one of the most effective is the use of signage, signals, and labels.
In a recently published article in Facility Safety Management, Adam Rabesa, UG2’s Director of Environmental Health & Safety, explains how these tools can be used to successfully bring attention to potential hazards and instruct people on how to stay safe.
Oftentimes, individuals tune out possible hazards when performing routine tasks, since the more times a task is completed successfully, the less one has to think about it. Not only do signage and labels bring attention to the present tasks and potential hazards, but they are fairly easy to implement.
Here are Adam’s Best Practices for Optimizing Results:
1. Make Them Readily Understandable
There’s no point in using signs and labels if they’re not easily digestible. Clear and concise messaging is a must. It may be necessary to translate your signs and labels into additional languages or use universally understood symbols/images.
2. Help Them Get Noticed
Signage needs to be clearly visible, so it does not blend into the background. Sometimes people don’t even notice new signage or labels because of “change blindness”. Make your designs bold and change them up on a regular basis.
3. Keep Them Handy
Make sure signage is easily accessible and clearly labeled for employees. For example, store “Caution Wet Floor” signs in every trash barrel. Adam mentions it is also a best practice to incorporate QR codes in places where spills might occur so people can notify the facility services team from their phones.
4. Follow Standards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has three sign classifications. Be sure to follow:
- Danger (red, black, and white)
- Caution (yellow and black)
- Safety Instructions (white and green)
5. Conduct Inspections
Routine inspections should be conducted to evaluate signs and labels that can become less visible and fade over time. Adam recommends that they are cleaned regularly and that letters be replaced if they become too faded.
Ultimately, signs, signals, and labels are cost-effective and reliable methods to warn people of dangers and guide them on the correct safety procedures. To be effective, plan in advance, pay attention to details, and collaborate with service providers, vendors, property managers, tenants, and others working at your facility.