OSHA Danger Do Not Enter When Equipment Is Operating Sign Stickers

This sign prohibits workers from entering the equipment zone while the equipment is actively operating. It communicates that entry is specifically dangerous during operation -implicitly acknowledging that entry may be permissible when the equipment has been properly shut down and locked out per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 procedures. This distinction makes the sign particularly useful at machine enclosure doors, safety gates, and guarded work cells where authorized maintenance entry is sometimes required.

Post on all access doors, safety gate entries, and perimeter panels for equipment zones where unauthorized entry during operation presents a serious hazard. This sign is most effective at guarded machine enclosures, automated work cells, and equipment bays where the operating/non-operating state of the equipment determines whether entry is safe. Post at eye level on the door or gate facing outward toward approaching workers.

A general Do Not Enter sign prohibits entry unconditionally. A Do Not Enter When Equipment Is Operating sign specifically prohibits entry during operation - implying that entry may be permissible when the equipment is de-energized and locked out. This distinction is important for maintenance compliance: it ensures workers understand that the prohibition is operation-conditional, not absolute, supporting proper lockout/tagout procedures when equipment service is required.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.212 (General Machine Guarding) requires that machine hazard zones be clearly identified and that workers be prevented from entering during operation. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 (Control of Hazardous Energy / Lockout Tagout) requires that equipment be de-energized and locked out before workers enter - and that this requirement be communicated through signage, training, and written procedures.

This sign is an administrative control and should be used in conjunction with physical safeguarding - not as a replacement for it. At minimum, pair this sign with physical safety interlocks, guarding, or gates that prevent inadvertent entry during operation. The sign communicates the prohibition; physical controls enforce it. Your machine guarding program should include both elements as required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.212.