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United States · American National Standards Institute
ANSI Z535
Safety colours, signs, tags and product safety information.
The ANSI Z535 series defines safety colours (Z535.1), environmental and facility safety signs (Z535.2), criteria for safety symbols (Z535.3), product safety signs and labels (Z535.4), accident-prevention tags (Z535.5) and product safety information in product manuals (Z535.6).
Where this standard applies
- Equipment manufacturers exporting to North America
- Industrial facilities standardising on ANSI
- Product safety labelling on machinery
Key requirements
- 1Follow the Z535.1 safety colour palette (safety red, orange, yellow, green, blue) using the specified chromaticity values.
- 2Use the standard signal-word panel layout (signal word + safety alert symbol) on all product safety labels.
- 3Include a hazard statement, consequence, and avoidance instruction on every product safety sign.
- 4Symbols must meet the comprehension criteria of Z535.3 before being used without accompanying text.
Signal words & colours
| Signal | Meaning | Colour rule |
|---|---|---|
| DANGER | Will result in death or serious injury. | Safety red with white text |
| WARNING | Could result in death or serious injury. | Safety orange with black text |
| CAUTION | Could result in minor or moderate injury. | Safety yellow with black text |
| NOTICE | Information unrelated to personal injury. | Safety blue with white text |
References
External links open the issuing authority. This guide is a plain-English summary — always refer to the official text for certification work.