It refers to labels designed to meet the specifications in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145, the standard that governs accident-prevention signs and tags in industry. These labels follow the format, signal words, and color coding that OSHA inspectors look for when evaluating a facility's safety communication program.

They overlap significantly. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145 sets the requirement. ANSI Z535 is the standard that most modern OSHA-compliant labels follow. Labels designed to ANSI Z535 are widely accepted as satisfying the OSHA requirement and current OSHA-style labels follow the ANSI format.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910 applies to industry, which covers manufacturing, warehousing, processing, utilities and most non-construction workplaces. Construction falls under an OSHA standard (29 CFR 1926) which has its own signage requirements. Most facilities with workers on-site need compliant safety labels somewhere in the operation.

DANGER in red for the severe hazards WARNING in orange for serious hazards CAUTION in yellow for lower-severity hazards and NOTICE in blue for informational content. Each has a defined color and format under ANSI Z535 that makes the severity immediately recognizable.

Yes. Proper safety labeling is one of the things inspectors check. Having the right labels posted in the places shows that hazards have been identified and that workers are being actively informed about them, which is part of what OSHA inspectors expect of employers under the General Duty Clause.

The waterproof vinyl and UV-resistant print hold up well in several conditions. Replace them when they become faded or difficult to read or when the equipment or hazard they describe changes.