Standard Lays Out Criteria for Safety Symbols
By CP Editorial Staff - November 2007
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published a standard that provides general principles for the design, evaluation and use of safety symbols to identify and warn against specific hazards and personal injury.
The standard, ANSI Z535.3-2007 American National Standard Criteria for Safety Symbols, includes a procedure for evaluating image effectiveness in communicating intended messages, as well as considerations for graphic design of safety symbols.
The publication aims to address the fact that the U.S. population is multi-ethnic, highly mobile, and derived from a multiplicity of social and educational backgrounds. Word-only signs might not be effective in promoting safety to the general population. Signs with safety symbols can promote greater and more rapid communication of the safety message and greater safety.
ANSI Z535.3-2007 incorporates several significant changes. The safety alert symbol has been harmonized with color alternatives specified by the International Organization for Standardization. Annex A now includes illustrations of the standard’s principles and guidelines, while Annex C features safety symbol examples.
