Safety Sign Colours and What They Mean
By Fire Safety BD · Last updated
Red, yellow, blue and green: the widely used colour and shape convention for workplace safety signs, and where each kind belongs.
A safety sign has to be understood in a second, often by someone who cannot read the words on it. That is why signs around the world follow the same colour and shape convention.
The four colours
| Colour | Meaning | Typical shape | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Prohibition — do not do this. Also marks fire equipment | Circle with a diagonal bar; square for fire equipment | No smoking, no entry, fire extinguisher location |
| Yellow | Warning — take care, a hazard is present | Triangle | High voltage, wet floor, flammable material |
| Blue | Mandatory — you must do this | Circle | Wear a helmet, wear eye protection |
| Green | Safe condition — the way to safety or help | Rectangle or square | Exit, first aid, assembly point |
Where each kind belongs
- Red prohibition signs at the point where the action is dangerous: no smoking beside fuel, gas or chemical stores.
- Red fire equipment signs above every extinguisher, hose reel and call point.
- Yellow warning signs at the hazard itself: electrical panels, wet floors, openings and low beams.
- Blue mandatory signs at the entrance to the area where the protection is required.
- Green exit signs along the whole escape route, so that the next sign is always in view.
Make signs work
- Mount them at eye level or above doors, where stock and vehicles will not hide them.
- Choose a size that can be read from the far end of the room.
- Replace faded, peeling or painted-over signs.
- Do not crowd many signs together; people stop reading them.
- Mark temporary hazards with caution tape, cones or a floor sign, and remove them when the hazard is gone.
A sign reminds people of a hazard. It does not remove it — fix the hazard first where you can.
Frequently asked questions
Should safety signs be in Bangla or English?
Use the language your workers and visitors actually read. A clear pictogram with a short Bangla line, or Bangla and English together, is understood by the widest group.
What is a photoluminescent sign?
It is a sign that absorbs light and glows in the dark for a period without any power, so the exit route can still be seen when the electricity fails.