1910.145(c)(2): Caution Signs
Employers must use caution signs only to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices. All employees must be instructed that caution signs indicate a possible hazard against which proper precaution should be taken.
Key takeaways
- 1910.145(c)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 78 times in the last 3 years, in 75 inspections, with $245,981 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: PR (14), NJ (11), TX (9).
- Related part: 1910.145(c) Classification of signs according to use (227 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.145(c)(2) ("Caution signs") is one requirement inside 1910.145 Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). It includes 2 sub-paragraphs. 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) Caution signs. 78 citations
(i) Caution signs shall be used only to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices. Open (c)(2)(i) 66 citations
(ii) All employees shall be instructed that caution signs indicate a possible hazard against which proper precaution should be taken. 9 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(c)(2).
At 7:45 p.m. on January 18, 2024, an employee was removing a die cut drum/cylinder from a print/die cut machine. The die cut drum/cylinder was attached to a "print stand" (a machine with wheels on a track) behind the employee. The die cut drum fell…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 31 |
| 2025 | 22 |
| 2026 | 20 |
Top states: PR (14), NJ (11), TX (9), PA (6), AL (5)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| WESTROCK CP LLC | NORTH TONAWANDA, NY | $16,131 |
| ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY | LUBBOCK, TX | $14,187 |
| NUCOR CORPORATION | FORT PAYNE, AL | $13,240 |
| TURNER INDUSTRIES GROUP, LLC | PARIS, TX | $11,348 |
| BERRY GLOBAL INC. | MONROE, LA | $10,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.145(c)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.145(c)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.145(c) Classification of signs according to use 227 citations
- 1910.145(c)(3) Safety instruction signs 136 citations
- 1910.145(c)(2)(i) 66 citations
- 1910.145(c)(1) Danger signs 13 citations
- 1910.145(c)(1)(ii) 10 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
What are caution signs for?
Only to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices.
Must workers be taught what caution signs mean?
Yes. All employees must be instructed that caution signs indicate a possible hazard requiring proper precaution.
Can caution signs be used for other messages?
No. They shall be used only for those warning purposes.
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 2026-10-21
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.