1926.200(c): Caution Sign Colors and Use
Caution signs on construction sites may be used only to warn of potential hazards or unsafe practices and must follow the specified ANSI figures. They must be mainly yellow with a black upper panel and borders, yellow CAUTION lettering on the black panel, and black lettering for added wording on the yellow lower panel.
Key takeaways
- 1926.200(c) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart G).
- OSHA cited it 8 times in the last 3 years, in 8 inspections, with $44,417 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1926.200(c)(1) (7 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.200(c) ("Caution signs") is one requirement inside 1926.200 Accident prevention signs and tags, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart G). It includes 3 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
(c) Caution signs. 8 citations
(1) Caution signs shall be used only to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices, and shall follow the specifications illustrated in Figure 4 of ANSI Z35.1-1968 or in Figures 1 to 13 of ANSI Z535.2-2011, incorporated by reference in § 1926.6. Open (c)(1) 7 citations
(2) Caution signs shall have yellow as the predominating color; black upper panel and borders: yellow lettering of “caution” on the black panel; and the lower yellow panel for additional sign wording. Black lettering shall be used for additional wording. Open (c)(2) 1 citations
(3) The standard color of the background shall be yellow; and the panel, black with yellow letters. Any letters used against the yellow background shall be black. The colors shall be those of opaque glossy samples as specified in Table 1 of ANSI Z53.1-1967 or in Table 1 of ANSI Z535.1-2006(R2011), incorporated by reference in § 1926.6.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.200.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.200(c).
At 10:15 a.m. on August 29, 2024, an employee working as a pipefitter for a residential building contractor was working inside a trench. The employee was struck by the 30-inch bucket of a Kobelco excavator and pinned between the bucket and a plate structure. The…
Where and how often it was cited
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Related parts of this rule
- 1926.200(c)(1) 7 citations
- 1926.200(c)(2) 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When are caution signs used?
Only to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices.
What colors are caution signs?
Yellow is the predominating color, with a black upper panel and borders and yellow caution lettering on the black panel.
What color is additional wording?
Black lettering on the yellow background.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.200 (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 2026-10-19
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.