AS 1319 Safety Signs: A Practical Guide for Australian Workplaces

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What the standard covers (and what it doesn’t)

AS 1319:1994 sets out the design, layout and classification of workplace safety signs in Australia. This national consistency means a “Danger” sign in a Brisbane warehouse reads the same as one on a Perth construction site, improving recognition and response times.

The standard does not replace your legal duties under work health and safety (WHS) laws. It provides a common visual language that supports your risk controls and procedures. Selecting the correct category, symbol, colour and wording helps you meet duties to provide information, training and instruction.

AS 1319 doesn’t specify how many signs to use, exact sizes, materials or mounting heights. It also doesn’t cover public road traffic control signs (refer to the AS 1742 series) or the performance of illuminated exit signs (covered by AS 2293). Use AS 1319 for the visual system; determine the rest through risk assessment and site conditions.

Who should apply AS 1319 safety signs on Australian sites

Any workplace using safety signs to warn of hazards, mandate behaviours, restrict actions or indicate emergency and fire equipment should reference AS 1319. This includes construction, manufacturing, warehousing and logistics, mining, government and education, healthcare and facilities management. In WHS terms, this is relevant to PCBUs, officers and workers involved in site safety.

While AS 1319 is not legislation, regulators and industry guidance commonly expect alignment with it. Most procurement specifications, principal contractors and insurers also assume conformity to AS 1319 for workplace signage.

• Principal contractors and site controllers: set site‑wide sign standards and placements.
• WHS and facility managers: keep signs visible, legible and accurate as conditions change.
• Suppliers and contractors: use AS 1319 categories and colours when providing or requesting signs.

On larger projects, nominate one person to approve wording and pictograms across all trades. That single control prevents a patchwork of styles and mixed messages at site entries.

Categories and when to use them

AS 1319 groups workplace safety signs into consistent categories so people understand intent at a glance. The main categories are:

• Danger signs – warn of a particular hazard or hazardous condition that could be life‑threatening.
• Prohibition signs – indicate actions that are not permitted.
• Mandatory signs – specify an instruction that must be carried out (e.g., PPE requirements).
• Warning (hazard) signs – caution about a hazard or hazardous condition that is not likely to be life‑threatening.
• Emergency information signs – show the location of, or directions to, emergency‑related facilities (e.g., first aid, exits).
• Fire signs – identify the location of fire‑fighting equipment.

Use symbols (pictograms) wherever possible for fast recognition, supported by concise wording where needed. Avoid mixing categories (for example, don’t use a yellow warning style to deliver a blue mandatory instruction).

Typical use‑cases that help keep categories straight:

• Danger: live switchboards, confined space entry points, high‑voltage rooms.
• Warning (hazard): uneven surfaces, low head clearance, moving machinery areas.
• Mandatory: hearing protection in plant rooms, eye protection in grinding bays, hi‑vis in loading zones.
• Prohibition: no smoking near decanting stations, no entry for unauthorised persons, no mobile phones in hazardous areas.

Colour, shape and symbol rules

AS 1319 prescribes distinctive colour fields, shapes and symbol conventions so each category is instantly recognisable. While exact artwork is controlled by the standard, these principles apply:

• Consistent shapes (e.g., circular for regulatory, triangular for warnings, rectangular for emergency/fire) aid instant recognition.
• High‑contrast colour fields (e.g., red for prohibition and fire; blue for mandatory; yellow for warning; green for emergency) are used with black/white pictograms and text for legibility.
• Simple pictograms communicate quickly; text is brief and specific.

Keep clear space around the symbol and message so nothing competes with it — no product logos, QR codes or marketing badges on the face of a safety sign. If you need asset IDs or barcodes, place them subtly in a corner or on the reverse. Note: ISO 7010 symbols are not mandated in Australia; use pictograms consistent with AS 1319 intent across your site.

Linking AS 1319 safety signs to WHS duties and your risk assessment

WHS legislation requires you to manage risks and provide information, training and instruction so far as is reasonably practicable (SFAIRP). AS 1319 standardises how safety messages look, but it does not determine where to place signs or how many you need.

Determine locations, sizes and quantities through your risk assessment, considering viewing distance, lighting, obstructions, language needs and workforce familiarity. Use signs to reinforce controls — never as a substitute for eliminating or engineering out hazards.

Illuminated emergency exit signage performance is covered by AS 2293; use AS 1319 for general emergency information and other workplace safety sign categories.

• Placement height: for wall‑mounted signs, a practical centreline is often around eye level (about 1.4–1.7 m) so messages sit in the natural line of sight.
• Viewing distance: if people read the sign from more than ~10 m (warehouses, yards), step up to larger panels so the symbol and key words are legible at approach speed.
• Approach angle: place signs before the hazard, facing oncoming traffic or footpaths. A perfect sign at 90° to the approach is easy to miss.
• Low light and glare: avoid locations with backlighting from open roller doors or sun glare; consider retroreflective or illuminated solutions where night work occurs.
• Language support: use symbols first; add brief secondary text in additional languages where your workforce needs it.

AS 1319 safety signs specification pitfalls: mistakes to avoid

• Mixing categories: e.g., using a warning (yellow) style to state a mandatory instruction (blue).
• Overloading signs: too much text or multiple instructions reduce legibility and compliance.
• Inconsistent symbols: avoid ad‑hoc icons; use recognised pictograms aligned with AS 1319 intent.
• Poor placement: signs hidden behind doors, at incorrect heights or in low‑light zones are ineffective.
• Wrong materials: temporary corflute used outdoors long‑term, or unlaminated decals in harsh cleaning regimes, will fail early.
• No periodic review: signage that no longer reflects current site rules undermines safety culture.
• Branding on safety faces: company logos and marketing elements distract from the message — keep them off the sign face.
• Cluttered noticeboards: stacking five different messages at one doorway leads to none being read. Prioritise the most critical instruction.

Choosing the right material and finish for your site

Select materials based on environment, expected lifespan and fixing method. At Sign Portal we manufacture safety signs on common substrates including aluminium, aluminium composite panel (ACP), foam PVC, corflute and adhesive vinyl for application to smooth surfaces. We print in‑house and can drill or route panels for easy installation.

• Indoor dry areas: foam PVC or adhesive vinyl on smooth walls, doors or equipment.
• Outdoor exposed: aluminium or ACP for rigidity and durability; consider UV‑resistant inks and protective laminate for abrasion.
• Temporary works: corflute for short‑term notices (site inductions, temporary traffic flow inside compounds).
• Equipment labels: adhesive vinyl, optionally laminated for chemical cleaning tolerance.

Fixings vary by substrate: screws with wall plugs, rivets to metalwork, cable ties to fencing (via eyelets), or surface bonding with suitable tapes/adhesives. Always ensure the mounting surface is clean and stable.

Common thicknesses we supply and specify in practice:

• Aluminium: 0.55–0.8 mm for small labels; 1.2–1.6 mm for gates/fences; thicker where posts are used or wind load is high.
• ACP: 3 mm for most wall or fence applications; lightweight, flat and durable.
• Foam PVC: 3 mm for small indoor panels; 5 mm where extra stiffness helps (corridors, amenities).
• Corflute: 5 mm for general temporary use; 8–10 mm for windy compounds with frequent handling.
• Adhesive films: standard or high‑tack vinyls; add a matte, UV or anti‑graffiti laminate where abrasion or cleaning chemicals are expected.

How Sign Portal manufactures and supplies AS 1319 safety signs

Sign Portal manufactures signage in‑house at our approximately 480 m² facility with clean, specialised print rooms. For safety signage we use direct UV printing on rigid sheets and wide‑format printing for self‑adhesive films, followed by precision cutting and finishing.

• Printing: Two Mimaki JFX EX flatbed UV printers for rigid substrates; Roland VG‑640 wide‑format printer/cutter for roll media.
• Cutting and finishing: MultiCam SM2412 CNC router for ACP/aluminium and panel profiling; Trotec Speedy 500 laser and a large‑format 230 W CO2 laser for plastics; drilling and edge finishing as required.
• Production quality: Digital colour‑managed workflows; optional lamination; panel registration for multi‑sign batches.
• Project delivery: Australia‑wide shipping including regional and remote; Veteran‑Owned business with Local Buy credentials.

Provide your sign list, artwork or a brief describing the hazard, required behaviour and preferred wording. We will manufacture to AS 1319 sign categories and design conventions; final compliance on site depends on appropriate selection, placement and maintenance under your WHS processes.

If you’re replacing or extending an existing set, tell us the previous panel sizes and finishes so we can colour‑match and keep mounting holes consistent. Numbering the backs of panels to match your site plan also speeds installation.

AS 1319 safety signs FAQs

Is AS 1319 safety signs compliance mandatory by law?

No. AS 1319 is not a law in itself. WHS legislation requires you to manage risks and provide information and instruction, and AS 1319‑aligned signage is widely accepted good practice to meet those duties.

How do I choose the right category?

Match the sign to the control intent from your risk assessment: prohibit an action (red), mandate a behaviour (blue), warn of a hazard (yellow), identify life‑threatening hazards (Danger), or show emergency/fire equipment (green/red). When in doubt, check whether you are telling someone what not to do (prohibition), what they must do (mandatory), or what they need to be careful of (warning).

What size should they be?

AS 1319 focuses on design and recognition. Choose size based on viewing distance, lighting and obstructions so information is unambiguous and legible where it is needed.

• Small rooms and doorways: A4–A3 works if read within a few metres.
• Workshop or warehouse aisles: step up to A2 or 450 × 600 mm where viewing is 8–12 m.
• Yards and compounds: use larger formats (e.g., 600 × 900 mm or bigger) for 15 m+ viewing or vehicle approach.

Can I put multiple instructions on one sign?

Avoid it. Keep one clear instruction per sign for fast recognition. If more than one is unavoidable, preserve hierarchy and legibility.

Do I need both symbols and text?

Symbols enable quick recognition, especially for diverse workforces. Add concise text where needed for clarity (e.g., specifying the PPE type or hazard).

Can Sign Portal help with site‑wide rollouts?

Yes. We produce batch runs with consistent colours, panel sizes and fixings, pack by location where requested, and ship Australia‑wide including regional and remote projects.

How often should I review signage?

Include signage in routine workplace inspections and after any change to plant, processes, layout or emergency procedures. A formal annual review helps catch weathering, damage and superseded instructions.