Accident Prevention Signs & Tags

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Clyde Hensley
6 years ago
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1 Accident Prevention Purpose This component of the Safe Work Practices is designed to provide guidance regarding OSHA Regulation 29 CFR Specifications for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags. Scope This component applies to all safety signs and accident prevention tags that are used at Apache Offshore facilities or operations. Responsibility Apache Production Foreman, Person in Charge (PIC), Lead Operators, Consultants, or Production Superintendent shall ensure that all recognized hazards are identified and proper signs are posted/tags affixed. Definitions Sign - In the context of this component, a sign is defined as a surface that serves as a warning of, or safety instructions to employees who may be exposed to hazards. Excluded in this definition are news releases, shop bulletin boards, and safety posters. Tag - a device usually constructed of paper, card, pasteboard, plastic, or other material used to identify a hazardous condition. Major Message - The portion of a tag s inscription that is more specific than the signal word and that indicates the specific hazardous condition or the instruction to be communicated to the employee. For example: DO NOT USE or HIGH VOLTAGE or a corresponding pictograph used with a written text or alone. Pictograph - a pictorial representation used to identify a hazardous condition or to convey a safety instruction. Signal Word - The portion of a tag s inscription that contains the word or words that are intended to capture the employee s immediate attention. Page D-1-1

2 Accident Prevention Signs Types of Signs The different types of signs outlined within the context of this component include: danger signs, caution signs, safety instruction signs, slow moving vehicle emblem, and biological hazard signs. All of the signs shall have rounded or blunt corners (free of sharp edges, burrs, splinters, or other sharp projections). The fastening devices used to post the signs shall be located in a manner in which they do not create a hazard. Danger Signs - Danger signs indicate immediate danger and that special precaution is necessary. All employees shall be instructed as to the indication of danger signs. There shall be no variation in the type of design of signs posted to warn of specific dangers and radiation hazards. Danger signs shall be of the colors red, black, and white in opaque glossy as specified in CIE Standard Source C (ANSI Z ), incorporated by reference as specified in Sec Caution Signs - Caution Signs shall be used only to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices. All employees shall be instructed that caution signs indicate a possible hazard against which proper precaution should be taken. Standard colors of caution signs shall consist of yellow background, black panel with yellow letters. The colors shall be those of opaque glossy samples as specified in Table 1 of American National Standard Z CAUTION DEFECTIVE DO NOT USE Page D-1-2

3 Safety Instruction Signs - Safety instruction signs shall be used where there is a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measures. The background shall be of standard color, white green panel with white letters. Any letters used against the white background shall be black. The colors shall be those of opaque glossy samples as specified in table 1 of American National Standard Z Biological Hazard Signs - Biohazard signs shall be used to signify the actual or potential presence of a biohazard and to identify equipment, containers, rooms, materials, experimental animals, or combinations thereof, which contain, or are contaminated with viable hazardous agents. In the context of this component, Biological hazard, or biohazard shall include only those infectious agents presenting a risk or potential risk to the wellbeing of man. Biohazard warning signs shall be of florescent orange or orange/red letters and include the biohazard symbol in black. Note: Refer to Specific Programs/Bloodborne Pathogens for additional information regarding application (see Section E, Chapter 2). BIOHAZARD Page D-1-3

4 Sign Wording The wording of any sign should be easily read and concise. The sign should contain sufficient information to be easily understood. The wording should be a positive rather than a negative suggestion, and should be accurate in fact. All signs shall be written legibly in English. If a contract employee does not read English, then the required interpreter must translate this information for them so that they can perform their work safely. Accident Prevention Tags Usage Tags are to be used as a means to prevent accidental injury or illness to employees who are exposed to hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions, equipment, or operations that are out of the ordinary, unexpected, or not readily apparent. Tags are to be used until such time as the identified hazard is eliminated or the hazardous operation is completed. Tags need not be used where signs, guarding, or other positive means of protection are being used. Requirements Wording - All tags shall contain a signal word and a major message. The signal word shall be either Danger, Caution, Biological Hazard, BIOHAZARD, or the biological hazard symbol. Signal words must be readable at a minimum distance of five feet or such greater distance as warranted by the hazard. The major message shall indicate the specific hazardous condition and the instructions to be communicated to employees. The major message shall be understandable to all employees who may be exposed to the identified hazard. Posting - Tags shall be affixed as close as safely possible to their respective hazards by a positive means such as plastic wraps, string, wire, or adhesive that prevents their loss or unintentional removal. Page D-1-4

5 TYPES OF TAGS Danger Tags - Danger tags shall be used and only used in situations where major hazard situations present a threat of death or serious injury to employees. Colors shall be in black, white and red. Caution Tags - Caution tags shall be used and only used in situations where there are minor hazard levels that are deemed non-immediate or potential hazard or unsafe practice presents a lesser threat of employee injury. Colors shall be yellow background with black letters. Page D-1-5

6 Warning Tags - Warning tags may be used to represent a hazard level between Caution and Danger, instead of the required Caution tag, provided that they have a signal word of Warning, an appropriate major message, and otherwise meet the general tag criteria outlined under REQUIREMENT/Wording/Posting paragraphs of this component. Colors shall be orange background with black letters. Biological Hazard Tags - Biological hazard tags shall be used to identify the actual or potential presence of a biological hazard and to identify equipment, containers, rooms, or combinations thereof that contain or are contaminated with hazardous biological agents. The symbol design for biological hazard tags shall be conformed to the design shown below: Page D-1-6

Hazard Communication Program

Hazard Communication Program Purpose Hazard Communication The purpose of this Hazard Communication (Hazcom) is to provide a written procedure outlining Apache s system for handling hazardous chemicals/materials in the work place.