⚡ TL;DR — Quick Summary
- Workplace safety signs use a fixed colour and shape for each category, so the meaning is understood before anyone reads the wording.
- Australian Standard AS 1319-1994 sets out 4 main categories (regulatory, hazard, emergency information, fire), which split further into 7 individual sign types.
- Mandatory (blue circle) tells you what you must do, prohibition (red circle and slash) tells you what you must not do, warning (yellow triangle) and danger (red oval) both flag hazards, at different severity levels.
- Under the WHS Regulations, a PCBU has a duty to warn of workplace hazards, and compliant signage is one of the main ways that duty is met.
- Choosing the right sign is only half the job. Material and durability determine whether it is still legible and compliant in two years.
Workplace safety signs and symbols use standardised colours, shapes and pictograms to communicate a hazard, an instruction or emergency information instantly, without relying on language or reading speed. In Australia, this system is set out in AS 1319-1994, Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment, and it applies across construction sites, mine sites, warehouses, factories and offices.
This guide walks through every sign type, what each colour and shape means, and how to choose signage that actually holds up in the environment it is installed in.
Safety signs and symbols are a universal language, transcending countries and cultural barriers, so everyone on site, regardless of where they are from, can understand essential safety information at a glance.
Related → Guide to OHS Safety Signs | What Do Different Safety Sign Colours Mean?
Why Workplace Safety Signs Matter
Safety signs do two jobs at once. They reduce the chance of an accident by making hazards, instructions and emergency information immediately obvious, and they are one of the main ways a business meets its legal duty of care.
Under the model WHS Regulations adopted across Australian states and territories, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a duty to communicate workplace hazards to workers and visitors. Compliant signage, correctly placed and sized, is one of the primary methods of meeting that duty. Missing, faded or incorrect signage can lead to an Improvement Notice, a Prohibition Notice halting work in the affected area, or penalties under the WHS Act, with the exact process and amounts varying by state or territory regulator.
Because the colour and shape system is standardised, a worker who has never set foot on a particular site can still recognise a blue circle as an instruction and a red circle with a slash as something forbidden, before reading a single word.
How Many Types of Safety Signs Are There? 4 Categories, 7 Sign Types
This is where a lot of confusion comes from. AS 1319 groups signs into 4 main categories, but two of those categories split into subtypes, which gives 7 individual sign types in total. Both numbers are correct, they are just answering slightly different questions.
| 4 Main Categories | 7 Individual Sign Types |
|---|---|
| Regulatory signs | Mandatory, Prohibition, Limitation or restriction |
| Hazard signs | Danger, Warning |
| Emergency information signs | Emergency information |
| Fire signs | Fire |
A note on “5 types” and “10 signs” style questions: some general safety training materials group signs slightly differently again, or add a non-AS 1319 category like notice or safety instruction signs. There is no single universal number across every course and country, AS 1319 is the authoritative reference for Australian workplaces specifically.
Workplace Safety Signs and Symbols and Their Meanings
Here is what each sign type looks like and means, in the order most workplaces encounter them.
Mandatory Signs, an Instruction That Must Be Followed
Mandatory signs display a white symbol on a blue circular background. They specify an instruction that must be carried out, most commonly PPE requirements such as “Hard Hat Must Be Worn,” “Hearing Protection Required” or “Safety Glasses Must Be Worn.” Compliance with a mandatory sign is not optional.
Prohibition Signs, an Action That Is Not Permitted
Prohibition signs use a red circle with a diagonal slash over a black symbol, on a white background. They notify workers of actions or behaviours that are not allowed, such as No Smoking, No Entry or No Mobile Phones in a hazardous area. These are placed wherever a specific action could create a serious risk.
Limitation or Restriction Signs, a Defined Limit
Limitation or restriction signs place a numerical or other defined limit on an activity or the use of a facility or item of plant, for example a maximum load rating or a site speed limit.
Warning Signs, a Hazard That Is Not Life Threatening
Warning signs use a black pictogram inside a yellow triangle with a black border. They alert workers to a hazard or hazardous condition that is not likely to be life threatening, such as a slippery floor, moving machinery or the presence of a chemical hazard.
Danger Signs, a Hazard Likely to Be Life Threatening
Danger signs display the word DANGER in white letters on a red oval, set inside a black rectangle. They are reserved for hazards or hazardous conditions likely to be life threatening, and under AS 1319 they never carry a pictogram, the wording alone carries the message.
Danger vs warning, the quick test: if the hazard could reasonably kill someone, it needs a danger sign, red oval, no pictogram. If it is a genuine hazard but not likely to be fatal, a warning sign, yellow triangle, is the correct choice.
Emergency Information Signs, Where to Go in an Emergency
Emergency information signs use a white symbol and/or text on a green background. They indicate the location of, or directions to, emergency related facilities such as first aid points, evacuation routes, emergency showers and assembly areas.
Fire Signs, Fire Fighting Equipment Locations
Fire signs use a white symbol and/or text on a red background. They advise the location of fire alarms and fire fighting equipment, and are treated as their own category rather than folded into hazard or emergency information signs.
Notice or General Information Signs (Not a Formal AS 1319 Category)
Many workplaces also use notice or general information signs, typically a white background with black lettering, sometimes with wording in a pale blue panel. These cover non-hazard housekeeping instructions and site information. They sit outside the four formal AS 1319 categories but are common alongside compliant safety signage.
10 Common Safety Signs and What They Mean
A quick reference for the signs seen most often on Australian worksites.
| Sign | Category | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hard Hat Must Be Worn | Mandatory | Head protection is required beyond this point |
| No Smoking | Prohibition | Smoking is not permitted in this area |
| No Unauthorised Entry | Prohibition | Only authorised personnel may enter |
| Caution, Slippery Surface | Warning | Surface may be wet or slippery, hazard is not life threatening |
| Caution, Moving Machinery | Warning | Machinery may start or move without notice |
| Danger, High Voltage | Danger | Hazard is likely to be life threatening if the warning is ignored |
| First Aid | Emergency information | Location of first aid facilities or supplies |
| Emergency Assembly Point | Emergency information | Where to gather in an evacuation |
| Fire Extinguisher | Fire | Location of fire fighting equipment |
| Fire Alarm Call Point | Fire | Location of a manual fire alarm activation point |
Safety Sign Colours at a Glance
Colour is the fastest signal a worker reads, often before the shape or wording registers. Blue means an instruction, red means prohibited or an immediate life threatening hazard, yellow means a hazard that requires caution, and green means emergency related information.
For a full breakdown of every colour used in Australian workplace signage and what drives the colour choice, see our dedicated guide.
Related → What Do Different Safety Sign Colours Mean?
Choosing the Right Signage for Your Workplace
Getting the category and colour right is only the first part. A sign that fades, cracks or peels within a year is not doing the job it was installed for, particularly outdoors, on a mine site, or anywhere exposed to UV and weather.
EXBO produces workplace and OHS signage on colorbond metal, poly plastic and self-adhesive vinyl, along with aluminium and corflute for other applications, with UV laminate or UV cured direct print ink as standard. For mine sites and heavy industrial environments, class 1 (formerly class 2) high visibility vinyl is available across the range.
If your site needs a custom sign outside the standard range, or a full sitewide signage audit and rollout, our team can help you get the layout, size and material right the first time.
Related → Statutory Signs | Wayfinding and Informational Signage
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 4 types of safety signs?
The 4 main categories under AS 1319 are regulatory signs, hazard signs, emergency information signs and fire signs. Regulatory and hazard signs each split further into subtypes, which is where the “7 types” figure comes from.
What are the 7 types of safety signs?
The 7 individual sign types are mandatory, prohibition, limitation or restriction, danger, warning, emergency information and fire. These sit within the 4 main categories above.
What is the difference between a warning sign and a danger sign?
Warning signs (yellow triangle, black pictogram) cover hazards that are not likely to be life threatening. Danger signs (red oval, black rectangle, white DANGER text, no pictogram) are reserved for hazards likely to be life threatening.
Why are safety signs important in the workplace?
They reduce the risk of accidents by making hazards and instructions instantly recognisable regardless of language, and they help a business meet its WHS duty to warn workers and visitors of workplace hazards.
What standard governs safety signs in Australia?
AS 1319-1994, Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment, reaffirmed in 2018, sets the colour, shape, layout and minimum size requirements. Each state and territory also has its own WHS regulator that enforces compliance.
Are safety sign colours the same everywhere in the world?
The core logic (red for prohibited or danger, blue for mandatory, yellow for warning, green for emergency information) is broadly consistent internationally and aligns with ISO 7010, but exact layouts and wording rules differ by country and standard. Australian workplaces should follow AS 1319 specifically.
The Bottom Line
Every workplace safety sign in Australia is built around the same idea: colour and shape carry the meaning before anyone reads the wording. Mandatory (blue circle), prohibition (red circle and slash), warning (yellow triangle), danger (red oval), emergency information (green) and fire (red) each have a fixed design under AS 1319, and knowing the difference, particularly between warning and danger, matters for genuine safety outcomes, not just compliance paperwork.
Getting the sign type right is the first step. Getting the size and material right for the environment it is installed in is what keeps it doing its job for years, not months.
Get Your Workplace Signage Sorted Properly
EXBO supplies compliant workplace and OHS signage on colorbond metal, poly plastic, self-adhesive vinyl, aluminium and corflute, finished with UV laminate or UV cured print as standard. Send through your site requirements and we will confirm the right sign type, size and material for your workplace.
EXBO — Supply Nation Certified | ISO 9001 Accredited | Serving Perth, Karratha, and Regional WA
Contact
Get In Touch
Top Products
