Safety Symbols

Are you sure that you know all the safety symbols that you see in the science labs, in the hospitals or anywhere in a building or house? Do you know what these symbols means, what they signify? If not, no problem as this article will explain almost all the safety symbols that you see around you so that next time you see them you will know what they are trying to indicate. Read on...
Whether it's in the train, or in a hotel or in a house or a hospital or science lab, you see these safety symbols nearly every where. Each safety sign and symbol tries to tell you something, some of them are also signs of warning, like the common skull and bone symbol which warns you against danger, or the lighted cigarette with a barred sign against it which means that smoking is not allowed in that place. Similarly there are many such safety symbols which people put up everywhere, but since some people are not aware of these symbols, they overlook it. Given below are some of the common symbols and meanings, which are used mainly in the more hazardous places like the science laboratory or maybe in hospitals.

Symbols You Should Know

There are some symbols which are put up in hospitals and science labs and even in residential areas. These symbols are the ones that ensures your safety, health wise. Suppose there is a fire in the building, then the fire escape symbol will show you where you have to go for the fire escape.

*Click on the images for better view.

Eye Protection
eye protection symbol

Some labs deal with chemicals or with metals etc, which, while handling, accidentally goes into your eyes, might cause blindness. Hence, outside these labs you will find a symbol which shows the picture of safety glasses. This means that beyond that particular point one has to wear safety glasses.

Fire Escape
fire exit

Almost all buildings have a fire exit where people can escape from in case of a fire. The fire escape symbols are shown as an oblong or square box and a white symbol showing a person running down the stairs and the sign of a white arrow on a green background showing in which direction the stairs are located. One can just follow the signs and reach the fire escape.

Safety Clothes
helmet sign

Before entering a lab or some place where there are chances of the chemicals having a negative effect on you, or where there are chances of contamination, then, you have to wear a special overall. This is indicated by a picture of a dress or suit which means that the person has to wear an overall. Sometimes, there will also be a sign of a helmet which indicates that one has to wear a helmet in order to protect their head from any kind of mishaps. A safety symbol of a boot indicates that you have to wear special boots before entering the lab area in order to protect your feet. The symbol of a headphone means that you need them in order to protect your ears against the noise which sometimes are so high that in can cause hearing loss. You will be safe if you just follow these safety tips.

Science Safety Symbols

While visiting or while working in a science lab, it is important that one knows all the lab symbols as one wrong step can be dangerous for you as well as for others around you. Given below are some of the symbols that you will notice mainly in a science lab.

Warning or Danger
danger sign

In some places you will see a yellow board with a black colored triangle around a black exclamation mark. Below the triangle will be a text in black on yellow background. This is a symbol of caution which warns people about the dangers in the work place. Sometimes the sign of a skull and bones also indicates danger or warning.

Biological Hazards
bio hazard symbol

This symbol of a circle with intersecting crescents, is put up in a place where there is danger of bacteria or fungi etc. It warns people that if they step in there then there are chances of the person getting infected by the bacteria or maybe by the fungi.

Radioactive Safety
radioactive symbol

Radioactive materials are used in science labs and if a person without proper protection comes in contact with radiation, then it might be hazardous. Hence, the symbol of a black circle surrounded by three triangular structures, on a yellow background and embedded within a black triangle, is used as a radioactive safety measure.

Electrical Safety
electric shock symbol

The symbol is a yellow triangle within a black triangle and the sign of a bolt of lightning in black. It warns people that the area is a high voltage area and that if they enter it without proper precautions, they might get electrocuted.

Death Symbol
death sign

The symbol of a person being hit by lightning, cautions the person that if not careful, any accident can be fatal. The person should take the required precaution before entering that area.

Flammable and Explosives
fire symbol

Sometimes you will see the signs of a burning fire marked either in red or black on certain machinery or equipment in the science lab. This lab safety sign indicates that the product can catch fire pretty easy and that it's a caution to people not to get anything that causes fire, near the product. The picture of something bursting, indicates that the product is highly explosive hence one has to be very careful around it and that it is recommended that one does not get anything that might cause an explosion, near it.

No Mobiles Allowed
no cell phone sign

A mobile phone with a barred sign across it means not to use mobile for your own safety. You will see this sign mainly in petrol pumps. Sometimes, a radiation from the mobile can set a whole place, mainly places that contains highly inflammable materials or maybe areas where the signals from the mobiles can hamper some important signals like in the airplanes.

Some other Symbols
  • Thermal Safety: The symbol of a mitt is used to caution the use of hot objects.
  • Sharp Objects: Symbol is that of a finger with a pointed splinter stuck to it.
  • Laser Safety: A black colored sign of a sun like structure, on a yellow background within a black triangle, and this indicates that there is invisible laser beam and the person is not supposed to stare at it.
  • Shower Sign: After coming in contact with some chemicals, one has to take a shower immediately in order to wash it off properly. Hence, there is this picture of a person standing under a shower and a first aid sign beside it.
These were some of the common symbols that you will find around you or in a science lab or hospital etc. Now that you know what these symbols mean, next time you won't be clueless and can take action immediately, thus protecting yourself as well as others.
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Last Updated: 9/20/2011
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