1910.145(e): Safety Sign Wording and Biohazard Signs
Safety sign wording should be easy to read, concise, positive rather than negative, accurate and contain enough information to be understood. Biological hazard warnings must be used to show the actual or potential presence of a biohazard and to identify equipment, containers, rooms, materials or experimental animals containing or contaminated with viable hazardous agents.
Key takeaways
- 1910.145(e) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 31 times in the last 3 years, in 31 inspections, with $16,089 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)(2) Nature of wording (30 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.145(e) ("Sign wordings") is one requirement inside 1910.145 Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). It includes 4 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
(e) Sign wordings. 31 citations
(1) [Reserved]
(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. Open (e)(2) 30 citations
(3) [Reserved]
(4) Biological hazard signs. The biological hazard warning shall be used to signify the actual or potential presence of a biohazard and to identify equipment, containers, rooms, materials, experimental animals, or combinations thereof, which contain, or are contaminated with, viable hazardous agents. For the purpose of this subparagraph the term “biological hazard,” or “biohazard,” shall include only those infectious agents presenting a risk or potential risk to the well-being of man. 1 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).
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 | 13 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: PA (20), MA (2), TX (2), AR (1), OR (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 |
| PACTIV LLC | MALVERN, AR | $1,423 |
| NASOYA FOODS USA, LLC | AYER, MA | $700 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.145(e), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.145(e).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.145(e)(2) Nature of wording 30 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 sign wording be written?
Easily read, concise, with enough information to be understood, positive rather than negative, and accurate in fact.
When is a biohazard sign used?
To show the actual or potential presence of a biohazard and identify items or areas containing or contaminated with viable hazardous agents.
What counts as a biohazard?
Only infectious agents presenting a risk or potential risk to the well-being of man.
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.