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The Problem Every HSE Officer Faces

You know your factory needs safety signs. The OSH Code says so, the inspector checks for them, and your management expects compliance. But here is the question that keeps HSE officers up at night: "Which exact signs do I actually need, and where exactly do they go?"

This article solves that problem. We have mapped the key OSH Code sections and schedules to specific sign requirements, organised by factory zone. Print this article, grab a clipboard, and walk your factory. By the time you reach the canteen for your chai break, you will have a complete list of what you need to order.

Zone 1: Main Entrance and Gate Area

OSH Code Reference: Chapter II (Registration), Chapter IV (Safety Provisions)

☐ Factory registration display board — your factory licence/registration number, prominently displayed
☐ Visitor reporting sign — "All Visitors Must Report to Security"
☐ PPE mandatory entry sign — minimum: safety shoes and helmet for production areas
☐ Speed limit sign — vehicle speed limit within premises (typically 10-15 km/h)
☐ Emergency contact board — fire station, hospital, ambulance, factory manager numbers
☐ Assembly point directional sign
☐ No Smoking sign — at the boundary of smoke-free zones

Think of your factory gate as a movie theatre entrance — the rules of engagement are established before anyone walks in.

Zone 2: Production Floor

OSH Code Reference: Chapter IV (Safety), Schedule 1 (Hazardous Processes)

☐ Machine hazard signs — "Danger: Moving Parts" near every unguarded machine
☐ Machine operation signs — "Do Not Operate Without Guard"
☐ PPE mandatory signs — specific to zone (ear protection in noisy sections, eye protection near grinding/cutting)
☐ LOTO (Lockout/Tagout) signs — near every machine with isolation procedures
☐ Floor markings and pedestrian walkway signs
☐ Crane bay warnings — "Do Not Stand Under Suspended Load"
☐ Noise hazard signs — if area exceeds 85 dB
☐ Fire extinguisher location signs
☐ Emergency exit direction signs

Zone 3: Electrical Rooms and Panels

OSH Code Reference: Chapter IV; IE Rules 1956; CEA Regulations 2010

☐ "Danger: High Voltage" on every HT panel and transformer
☐ "Authorised Personnel Only" at electrical room entry
☐ LOTO procedure board near main panels
☐ "Do Not Switch On — Men at Work" hanging tags
☐ First aid for electric shock instruction poster
☐ Fire extinguisher (CO2 type) location sign

A factory in Pune failed an electrical inspection not because of faulty wiring, but because the "Danger: High Voltage" sign on their main transformer had faded to illegibility. The sign was 8 years old.

Zone 4: Chemical Storage and Handling Areas

OSH Code Reference: Schedule 1; GHS Regulations

☐ GHS hazard pictograms on every chemical storage cabinet and bulk container
☐ Safety Data Sheet (SDS) display
☐ "Corrosive" / "Flammable" / "Toxic" warning signs as applicable
☐ PPE mandatory signs — chemical gloves, goggles, face shield, apron
☐ Eye wash station location sign
☐ Chemical spill procedure board
☐ "No Smoking / No Naked Flame"

Zone 5: Fire Safety and Emergency Routes

OSH Code + NBC 2016

☐ Emergency exit signs — photoluminescent, at every exit door and above staircases
☐ Running man directional signs — along entire evacuation route
☐ Fire extinguisher location signs
☐ Fire hose reel location signs
☐ Fire alarm call point identification signs
☐ Floor-wise evacuation plan — one per floor per stairwell, minimum A3 size
☐ Assembly point sign
☐ Fire door "Keep Shut" signs
☐ "Do Not Use Lift During Fire" signs

Fire safety signs are the first thing an inspector checks. If these are in order, the entire inspection starts on a positive note.

Zone 6: Welfare Facilities

OSH Code Chapter III, Schedule V

☐ Canteen identification sign — if 100+ workers
☐ Toilet signs — separate Male / Female identification
☐ "Wash Hands" instruction signs
☐ Drinking water station signs — "Potable Water" and "Non-Potable Water"
☐ Crèche identification sign — if 50+ women workers
☐ First aid room / medical centre signs
☐ First aid box location signs — one per 150 workers

Zone 7: Loading Dock and Vehicle Areas

☐ Speed limit signs
☐ "Sound Horn" signs at blind corners
☐ Pedestrian walkway signs
☐ "Forklift Operating Area" warning signs
☐ Hi-vis jacket mandatory signs

How to Use This Checklist

Print this page or download our expanded PDF version
Walk your factory zone by zone with a camera and this checklist
Mark each item: ✓ Present and compliant | ✗ Missing | ⚠ Present but non-compliant
Order online — standard signs ship same day; custom bilingual signs in 2-3 days

Download the full 55-item checklist as a PDF: Free OSH Code Factory Safety Signage Compliance Checklist.

What Safety Signs Does Your Factory ACTUALLY Need? A Section-by-Section OSH Code Checklist