{"id":878,"date":"2021-09-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/compliance-signs.local\/stop-safety-sign-fatigue\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T16:57:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T21:57:44","slug":"stop-safety-sign-fatigue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.compliancesigns.com\/blog\/stop-safety-sign-fatigue\/","title":{"rendered":"Identify Safety Signs at Risk of Sign Fatigue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Safety sign fatigue happens when your employees stop consciously seeing a sign and receiving its message. It can happen for a few reasons. Here are some of the most common – and what to do about them:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Habituation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Habituation is a \u201cdecrease in responsiveness upon repeated exposure to a stimulus.\u201d In other words, when you are exposed to something over and over, you eventually stop paying attention to it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about it. Have you ever watched a TV show with the station\u2019s logo appearing in the corner of your screen? For the first few minutes it might drive you nuts, but eventually you don\u2019t even notice it’s there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That can happen to your workplace safety signs. If the same sign has been in the same place for a long time, workers may stop noticing it. And that means it\u2019s crucial message is not getting across. That’s safety sign fatigue.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fix<\/b>: Mix it up! Try changing up the colors or even the language on your signs. While there are OSHA sign standards<\/u><\/a> you must adhere to for workplace safety compliance, there is still a lot you can do to make your signs stand out. Consider creating your own, custom-branded signage<\/a> that uses your company\u2019s colors and language. They\u2019ll draw attention, stand out from the crowd – and may help reduce safety sign fatigue.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Fading or Damage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Signs can fade over time. In some cases they may get scratched, scuffed or splattered. It\u2019s normal wear-and-tear, but it leads to the sign becoming harder to read. If it\u2019s not easy to read, it most likely doesn\u2019t get read and once again the message is lost. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fix: <\/b>Look for signs that are showing signs of their age such as fading, scratches, or anything else that makes them difficult to read. The goal is to make them jump out from\u00a0 the background and be as easy as possible to read. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve identified those problem signs, order new signs to replace them, but don\u2019t be afraid to change up the size, shape, or colors to make them stand out even more! If you want them to last longer, use signs with protective coating and UV inhibitors on them to prevent avoidable scratching and fading.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Popular Safety Signs<\/h3>\n\n
\"NFPA<\/a><\/td>\"Red<\/a><\/td>\"OSHA<\/a><\/td>\"Red<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n

3. Poor Placement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If a sign is posted in a prominent, easy-to-see spot, it will eventually go unnoticed. At first, it may draw some attention even in a bad location because it\u2019s new and different so it will draw the eye. But, over time, it will fail to draw enough attention to do its job. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fix: <\/b>Simple. Just find a new spot to place your sign. It must still be somewhere easy to see and close to the area where it is needed, but there are usually a few options. Consider unconventional ideas like adding a floor graphic instead of a wall sign or a projector that can move the sign periodically.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Sign is Only as Good as Its Message<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your workplace safety signs play a vital role in protecting your employees from harm. When they stop getting noticed, your employees are at risk. It\u2019s worth a small investment to survey your safety signs for any issues that could lead to safety sign fatigue and replace those that have lost effectiveness. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know that employee fatigue can lead to accidents, and the same holds true for your workplace safety signs.  Find your signs that are at risk of safety sign fatigue and freshen up their look, language and location to keep your employees safe and working happy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safety Sign Resources:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n