Overseas Occupational Safety and Health Signs

What is the most effective way to alert workers about various dangers in the workplace?
The answer is posting occupational safety and health signs.

Well-designed safety signs immediately capture attention and raise awareness of hazards in an intuitive way. Below are some interesting safety and health signs from overseas that convey their meaning at a glance.

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▣ Clothing Entanglement Hazard

This sign warns of accidents caused by scarves, mufflers, or other loose clothing getting caught and entangled in machines.

It would be particularly effective in workplaces where many machines are installed. The graphic clearly communicates what the hazard is and what situation workers should be cautious about.

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▣ No Slow Vehicles

At first glance, you might wonder why there’s a snail with an “X” mark over it. No, it doesn’t mean “snails not for sale” at a restaurant!

The snail represents slowness. By crossing it out, the message becomes clear: slow vehicles are not allowed on highways or expressways. For example, bicycles and motorcycles are prohibited from entering such roads.

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▣ Elephant Collision Hazard

This humorous yet effective sign can be found in a zoo. It warns visitors of the danger of being crushed or struck by elephants. The design is playful, but the safety message is instantly understood.

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▣ No Vomiting in Toilets

Perhaps the most unusual overseas safety sign: a prohibition against vomiting into toilets.

One might wonder—were there really so many cases of people vomiting in toilets that such a sign had to be created?

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▣ Head Collision Hazard (Serbia)

This Serbian sign warns of the danger of bumping your head. Even if you don’t understand the text “opasnost od udara glavom,” the illustration alone clearly conveys the risk.

In Korean, it would translate to “Danger of Head Collision.”

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▣ Hard Hat Required

A common safety sign at construction sites, particularly around apartment complexes.

It emphasizes the importance of wearing a safety helmet to protect against falling objects.

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▣ Finger Amputation Hazard

This striking sign warns of the risk of finger amputation when using machines with blades or saws, such as high-speed cutters or circular saws.

While Korean signs rarely depict hazards this graphically, the impactful design makes it worth referencing for stronger awareness.

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▣ Slip and Trip Hazard (Croatia)

This Croatian sign illustrates the risk of tripping on the same level surface.

It uses only a simple figure and a triangular obstacle, yet effectively communicates the danger. In Korean, the meaning would be “Slip or Trip Hazard on Flat Surfaces.”

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▣ Fall Hazard (Croatia)

Another Croatian sign, this one depicts a person falling backwards from a height.

It warns of the danger of falls, reminding workers and visitors to stay aware when near elevated edges.

These overseas safety and health signs show how visual design and creativity can powerfully convey critical safety messages across cultures and languages.

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