Safety Symbols Used on this Website.
Plus a few that are not represented on other pages

The tiny symbol at right is an attempt to re-create the symbol for corrosive substances on a 16 pixel x 16 pixel grid that is used for Favicons. This symbol has been used in the bottom right hand corner of pages that deal with various chemicals, some of these are not actually corrosive, but should be treated with as much respect as if they are corrosive.

The small flammability warning at immediate right was lifted by scanning a packet of Folbex VA and then creating a bitmap trace, which was subsequently turned into a .gif for use on the Folbex VA page.

There are cases, particularly when goods are transported by lorry, whereby the materials being transported fall into several different categories... In this case, or if no specific symbol exists then the generalised 'DANGER' sign is used.

The striped diamond is another generalised symbol. I am not sure whether the precise nature of the hazard is intended to be printed in the empty white space.

When I was producing the page about the product Apiguard I drew the small 'IRRITANT' symbol shown at right to mimic the one on the Apiguard packet. The larger one has it's cross smaller within the square and more boldly drawn (this one was picked up off the net). The same symbol exists with the legend 'Harmful' and I believe also, 'Harmful To Bees' or even 'Harmful To Bees And Fish'.

The yellow and black striped adhesive tape is sometimes called 'Hazard tape' and I have also know it to be called 'Lane Marking tape'. It can be used to denote obstacles and means 'caution/physical hazard'. There are also tapes with similar stripes, but of different colours, Black and White indicates traffic lanes or aisle markings. Red and White is used for fire equipment and often forms a border to a red painted area on a wall on to which a fire extinguisher is hung. Green and White serves a similar function, but indicates first aid or safety washing stations.

Some substances react badly to contact with water and can cause fires or explosions, metallic potassium being quite spectacular! as it splits the oxygen from the hydrogen in the water and the heat generated in the violent reaction causes ignition of the hydrogen which combines with atmospheric oxygen to form more water and potassium hydroxide. (Or at least that's what my 'memory' of school chemistry reckons.)

Hard hats, face masks,eye protection and ear protection must be worn' symbols have a blue background... The colour represented here is an approximation by myself as I have seen both lighter and darker blues used for such notices. (Maybe the lighter ones were faded, but they appeared to be even in colour and I would have expected fading to be patchy.)

Welding masks, lifejackets and high visibility clothing are mandated by this set of signs, the hand washing warning may not be universal, although the symbol depicted is easily identified.

These Flammability warnings are fairly obvious, but I would have liked to see the text against a white paneled background on the 'Flammable Solid' diamond as the inset shows (which to my mind makes it much more readable).

The two triangular signs are respectively a general warning... 'Exclamation Mark' and the warning road sign for 'men working'. The aspect ratio of these triangular symbols has been adjusted because pixels are 'square'. The men working symbol is used in places on this website to signify 'work in progress'.

These 'Emergency' signs have a green background. The green colour does not seem consistent from one example to another.

Various samples of the 'Corrosive' symbol can be found, but they all follow a similar graphic theme.

Radiation of various types have warning symbols that are visually descriptive of the radiation type depicted.

These symbols are backed up by text. The round signs are mandatory and failure to observe them can lead to the dismissal of employees.

The zig-zag flash is used for electrical warnings, sometimes with specific voltages mentioned. Other signs have both graphic and textual information in a similar fashion.

I have never understood the significance or symbolism that is used in the motif that indicates a 'Biological Hazard, Safety symbol'

Symbols indicating the explosive nature of a compound or product

The brightly coloured 'Environmental Hazard' symbol was found being used as a logo on one of the websites that I researched in order to locate other symbols for this page. Apart from the 'T' I have never understood the significance of the 'Toxic' symbol.

The storage of chemicals in separate locations to foodstuffs should be evident to anyone who has ever smelt the inside of a cupboard that has held something as innocuous as clothes washing powder.

Oxidising deserves a symbol all of its own, which combines the 'O' of oxygen with the flames of 'flammable'.

The 'Reactive'symbol is not self evident or particularly memorable (in my opinion).

These warning labels are all associated with gasses or airborne particles. The representation of the metallic pressure bottle or cylinder indicates that the gasses concerned are compressed to a high pressure.

The 'No Smoking' and 'No Pedestrians' symbols are rather like road signs. The 'Fork lift trucks operating' sign was found in my 'Temp' files folder and is included here rather than throw it away.

This Bee Crossing warning symbol, may seem trivial, but has considerable importance in some flat terrains that have pollinating bees, flying in large numbers at low levels. The Bee Exiting symbol is used by Ettamarie Peterson as a warning that bees from an observation hive are coming out nearby, note that it is a bumble bee depicted. The circular saw warning sign specifies that all guards should be in position, something that some of my beekeeping friends as well as myself should adhere to more often.

This one comes from the Nethelands... It means (in relation to toys) unfit for this age range (the range is fixed by law).