Does "Subpart G - Signs, Signals and Barricades" Apply to You?

Subpart G provides the requirements for accident prevention sign and tags, signaling, and barricades. It also provides important definitions applicable to the subpart such as:

• Signs are the warnings of hazard, temporarily or permanently affixed or placed, at locations where hazards exist.
• Tags are temporary signs, usually attached to a piece of equipment or part of a structure, to warn of existing or immediate hazards.
• Signals are moving signs, provided by workers, such as flaggers, or by devices, such as flashing lights, to warn of possible or existing hazards.
• Barricade is an obstruction to deter the passage of persons or vehicles.

Do you need accident prevention signs and tags? This should be a yes as most employers will need to use some form of accident prevention signs and tags. The standard on accident prevention signs and tags includes the requirements for danger signs, caution signs, exit signs, directional signs, traffic signs, and accident prevention tags. Accident prevention tags are to be used as a temporary means of warning employees of an existing hazard, such as defective tools or equipment. It also references consensus standards incorporated by reference.

Do you have flaggers? Do you use cranes and hoists? If yes to either question, then you need to comply with the standard on signaling which provides requirements for flaggers and using crane and hoist signals. It also references ANSI standards and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (1988 Edition, Revision 3, and the Millennium Edition) which are incorporated by reference.

The NCDOL Library is available for assistance regarding access to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, ASME, NFPA, IEEE). In addition, other related information can be found on the A-Z safety and health topics pages for personal protective equipment and highway work zone safety.