1910.145(e)(2): Wording on Safety Signs
The wording on any safety sign should be easy to read and concise, contain enough information to be easily understood, make a positive rather than negative suggestion, and be accurate in fact.
Key takeaways
- 1910.145(e)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 30 times in the last 3 years, in 30 inspections, with $14,666 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: PA (20), MA (2), TX (2).
- Related part: 1910.145(e) Sign wordings (31 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.145(e)(2) ("Nature of wording") is one requirement inside 1910.145 Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(2) Nature of wording. The wording of any sign should be easily read and concise. The sign should contain sufficient information to be easily understood. The wording should make a positive, rather than negative suggestion and should be accurate in fact. 30 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.145.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.145(e)(2).
At 9:00 a.m. on September 19, 2024, Employee #1 was assisting in the movement ofmulch from the Express Blower truck to the retention pond behind residential houses. The employee was sent to the truck by the crew leader to investigate whythe mulch was not coming…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: PA (20), MA (2), TX (2), OR (1), TN (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| BEONTAG, USA | TROTWOOD, OH | $8,000 |
| TRADEBE TREATMENT & RECYCLING LLC. | EAST CHICAGO, IN | $3,000 |
| BENCHMARK COMPANIES LLC | FRANKLIN, TN | $2,000 |
| NASOYA FOODS USA, LLC | AYER, MA | $700 |
| CENTRAL STEEL SUPPLY CO, INC. | MARLBOROUGH, MA | $700 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.145(e)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.145(e)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.145(e) Sign wordings 31 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
How should a safety sign be worded?
Easily read, concise, with enough information to be understood.
Should signs use positive or negative wording?
The wording should make a positive, rather than negative, suggestion.
Must sign wording be accurate?
Yes. It should be accurate in fact.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.145 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.