A Guide to Warehouse Signage

Jul 09, 2021

Warehouses are fast-paced, inherently dangerous worksites, which means there needs to be clear, accurate signage that protects pedestrians and equipment operators alike. Strategic warehouse signage can also keep the facility well-organized and boost the productivity of employees.

Although those are just a few reasons to utilize warehouse signage, you should really invest in warehouse signage to stay compliant with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). 

Warehouse Signage Types

The type of signage you choose for your warehouse depends on the location it’s in and the purpose it’s used for. 

Safety: This is probably the most important warehouse signage category, used to inform visitors and employees of safety requirements and best practices.

Exit/Egress: When an emergency or a power outage happens in your warehouse, there needs to be clear and accurate signage that lets everyone know where to safely exit the building.

Aisles/Rows: Aisle and row identifiers should be large, bright, and well-located so employees can easily and quickly locate inventory and optimize the picking process.

Dock Doors: Drivers and workers need to know where to go to drop off or pick up inventory, and loading docks need clear signage to indicate where to do that.

Hanging: These signs hang from the ceiling of warehouses and have reflective barcodes that can be identified with long-range scanners to locate bulk items.

Benefits of Warehouse Signage

It makes warehouses safer: Even beyond the explicit signage designed for safety, increased awareness throughout the space helps employees move more safely and confidently throughout their workday.

It increases productivity: When employees know where to go and how to easily access inventory, their workflows are streamlined and their productivity is boosted. This is especially true for warehouses that rotate inventory on a seasonal basis. 

It improves warehouse efficiency: Clear signage can mitigate the risk of order fulfillment errors, increasing customer satisfaction and streamlining operations. Signage can also keep inventory well organized and orderly.

Think About OSHA

You’ll need to consult OSHA guidelines when choosing signage for your warehouse, but generally, it’s divided into different categories: Caution signs warn employees about potential safety hazards, safety instruction signs offer important guidance, and danger signs indicate immediate danger where precautions are necessary. 

In addition to colors, lettering, size, OSHA has some other requirements for warehouse signage:

  1. Sign Headers: OSHA prescribes sign headers to have a trigger word in block or capitalized letters that contrast with the background. Black is the universal color for header words.
  2. Sign Format: OSHA recommends that workplace safety signs have a specific format. That includes the trigger word or sign information category at the top, an ANSI-approved hazard symbol at the mid and lower left.
  3. Sign Font: Using the right font on warehouse safety signs is essential. OSHA recommends using a sans-serif font like Ariel, Verdana, or Helvetica which is easy to read, especially from a distance. Just as contrasting colors are essential, so is having a non-cluttered font that’s well-recognized.
  4. Sign Materials: OSHA recommends all workplace signs to have durable material that mounts well and withstands all environmental conditions. They recommend having rounded corners without sharp edges.
  5. Sign Visibility: As a rule, the common-sense approach is to increase the font size to correspond with the intended readable distance. For example, at 5 feet, the text size should be a quarter-inch tall. At 40 feet, it should be 1.6 inches high, and at 100 feet, the font needs to be at least 4 inches.

When it comes to keeping your warehouse safe, signage goes a long way — but so does maintaining your warehouse equipment. Benco Industrial Equipment has proudly served the material handling needs of customers in the St. Louis Metro Area and throughout the Midwest for over 15 years.

Whether you’re looking for equipment for your newly purchased warehouse or you’re looking to replace aging warehouse supplies, Benco Industrial Equipment can help. We are the best source for forklift service, repair, sales, and leasing in St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson County, and the surrounding areas!

We also provide MacroAir fans, warehouse doors and docks, warehouse racks and racking, floor sweepers, and much more! We respond in minutes, not days, to assure our customers always have the material handling equipment they need to keep their warehouses running smoothly. Our staff is experienced in handling all sorts of industrial equipment issues, from forklift repair to installing new warehouse doors, so no matter your need, our team of industrial equipment experts can help. 

Common Hazards in Your Warehouse (And How to Avoid Them)

08 Apr, 2024
Warehouses are the backbone of many industries, storing and distributing goods to keep the economy moving. However, behind the scenes of this logistical hub lurk various hazards that can pose severe risks to employees and property. Let's investigate some of the most common warehouse hazards and explore proactive mitigation strategies. Slips/Trips/Falls Slips, trips, and falls are among the most prevalent hazards in warehouse spaces. Spills, cluttered aisles, and uneven surfaces can easily lead to accidents if not adequately addressed. To prevent such incidents, warehouses should prioritize proper housekeeping, including regular cleaning and maintenance of floors. Additionally, using signage to highlight potential hazards and ensuring adequate lighting throughout the facility can significantly reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Fires Flammable materials and electrical equipment in warehouses make them susceptible to fires. Faulty wiring, improper storage of combustible materials, and lack of fire suppression systems can all contribute to the risk of fire outbreaks. Implementing preventive measures such as regular equipment maintenance, proper storage protocols for flammable materials, and employee training on fire safety procedures are crucial in mitigating this hazard. Harmful Substances Warehouses often house various chemicals and hazardous substances, which can pose risks to employees' health if not handled properly. Exposure to harmful substances can lead to respiratory issues, skin irritation, and other serious health problems. To mitigate this hazard, warehouses should properly store and label hazardous materials, provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), ensure adequate ventilation systems, and conduct regular training on safe handling procedures. Falling Objects With shelves stacked high with merchandise, falling objects present a significant hazard in warehouses. Poorly secured storage systems, improper stacking of items, and inadequate safety measures can all increase the risk of objects falling and causing injury. Warehouses can minimize this risk by adequately securing shelves and storage systems, using barriers or guardrails to prevent objects from falling, and conducting regular inspections of overhead storage areas. Overexertion The physical demands of warehouse work can lead to overexertion injuries if employees lack adequate training or don't perform tasks ergonomically. Lifting heavy objects, repetitive motions, and working in awkward positions can all contribute to overexertion injuries such as strains and sprains. To prevent such injuries, warehouses should provide comprehensive training on proper lifting techniques, encourage the use of mechanical aids such as forklifts and pallet jacks, and implement ergonomic workstations to reduce strain on employees' bodies.

Common Inventory Management Mistakes

08 Mar, 2024
Effective inventory management practices influence the success of each warehouse, the supply chain, and the business at large. Inventory management involves many moving parts and elements – everything from the product catalog to the warehouse space to tracked KPIs. Experienced warehouse managers know that no matter how fool-proof your inventory management systems are, there’s always room to improve and prepare for unexpected circumstances. Let’s discuss common inventory management mistakes (and what to do instead). Overstocking or Understocking One of the most prevalent inventory management mistakes is maintaining too much or too little inventory. Overstocking ties up valuable capital and warehouse space, leading to increased carrying costs and a higher risk of obsolescence. On the other hand, understocking can result in stockouts, backorders, and dissatisfied customers. Businesses should leverage historical sales data, market trends, and advanced forecasting techniques to accurately predict demand and optimize inventory levels. Inaccurate Demand Forecasting Businesses are prone to making costly inventory planning errors without precise demand forecasting. Relying on outdated data or flawed forecasting methods can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. By utilizing advanced analytics and predictive modeling, businesses can better anticipate shifts in demand, seasonal fluctuations, and emerging trends, allowing for more informed inventory decisions and improved responsiveness to customer needs. Lack of Inventory Visibility Poor visibility into inventory levels across multiple locations or channels can result in operational inefficiencies and errors. Without real-time data on stock levels and movement, businesses may struggle to fulfill orders on time, leading to customer dissatisfaction and lost sales. Implementing integrated inventory management systems that provide comprehensive visibility into inventory across the supply chain can help businesses optimize inventory allocation, reduce stockouts, and improve overall operational performance.

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