All businesses in Australia have to show signs of indoor safety wherever there is any hazard or PPE is required. This is not just a piece of advice but a mandate by law as per the Work Health and Safety Regulations. The regulation is set out in AS 1319:1994. No signage at all, worn-out signage, or misplaced signage automatically puts you in violation of the law.

I’m breaking down the truth about what AS 1319 actually demands from you, the rules around indoor sign sizing and placement, and why “I’ve already got signs up” is a trap that catches far more businesses than you’d think.

Key Takeaways

• Most workplaces must have emergency exit, fire safety, first aid, mandatory PPE, warning, and prohibition signs under WHS Regulations.
• AS 1319:1994 sets the benchmark for sign design, colour, shape, placement, and size in all Australian workplaces.
• Warning signs use a yellow triangle for potential hazards. Danger signs use red and black to flag an immediate and serious risk of death or injury.
• Faded or damaged signs must be replaced right away to stay compliant with AS 1319.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

Let’s talk numbers. A Category 1 offence under the Model WHS Act can hit your business with fines up to $3,312,000 for a corporation and $1,156,000 for individuals. And those figures go up. According to Safe Work Australia, penalty amounts are indexed annually to reflect CPI movement, so the cost of non-compliance keeps climbing each year.

Still think a few missing work safety signs don’t matter?

But here’s the part people miss. It’s not just fines. I’ve seen businesses lose insurance claims because non-compliant hazard and warning signage was flagged during incident investigations. You’re not just risking a fine. You could end up uninsured too.

What Does AS 1319 Actually Require?

Most businesses hear “AS 1319” and nod along. But very few actually understand what it requires. Let me be blunt about that.

AS/NZS 1319 is the Australian and New Zealand Standard for safety signs in the occupational environment. It sets out the correct colours, shapes, symbols, and wording for every type of workplace sign. 

The thing is, it’s technically a voluntary standard. But under WHS legislation, every PCBU has a legal duty to communicate workplace hazards clearly, and AS 1319 is the recognised benchmark for doing exactly that. Ignore it and you’ll struggle to defend your position when something goes wrong.

The 6 Types of Australian Safety Signs You Must Know

These are the 6 main types of safety signs that every Australian business must know. 

1. Prohibition Signs use a red color diagonal slash circle. No Smoking. No Entry. They say: you must not do this.
2. Mandatory Signs have a blue-coloured circle with a white symbol. They tell workers what they must do, whether that’s wearing PPE, washing hands, or following access rules.
3. Warning Signs sit inside a yellow triangle with a black symbol. Slippery Floor, Forklift Zone. They mean: be careful, a hazard may exist here.
4. Danger Signs use a red oval over a black header. High Voltage, Confined Space. These signal something far more serious. An immediate risk of death or serious injury.
5. Emergency Information Signs are white symbols on green. First Aid, Emergency Exit, Assembly Point. You know these ones.
6. Fire Safety Signs go above or beside every piece of fire equipment. Not negotiable. Not optional.

Warning Signs vs. Danger Signs

A warning sign says a hazard might exist. A danger sign says stop, this can seriously injure you. The colour and shape system works because workers should identify the hazard type before they even read the words. Using a warning sign where a danger sign is required is one of the most common SafeWork audit failures I’ve come across.

What Indoor Safety Signs Are Required by Law in Australia?

Most Australian workplaces must display specific indoor safety signs under the WHS Regulations. It’s a legal obligation, not a suggestion. 

That means clearly marked emergency exits, PPE signage wherever protective equipment is required, fire signs above or beside all extinguishers and fire blankets, first aid signs showing where kits or rooms are located, hazard signs near machinery or chemical storage, and prohibition signs controlling access and behaviour.

One thing worth flagging here. AS 1319 does not cover emergency exit signs used inside buildings. Those fall under AS 2293.1, which is a completely separate standard. If you’ve been relying on AS 1319 for your exit signs, you may have a gap right now.

Sign Placement, Size, and Materials: Where Most Businesses Fall Short

Getting the right signage is not a very big task, but where you put it and how big it is the real taks that matter. 

• Placement Rules

Signs must go at the point of the hazard and at entry points to any controlled area. Mount them at eye level, free from obstructions, and visible from the direction people are walking. A sign behind a shelf, behind an open door, or tucked in a corner is legally the same as no sign at all. 

• Size Requirements

Bigger space means bigger sign. That’s the rule. And I see it broken constantly. Pictograms need a minimum of 15mm height per metre of viewing distance, and lowercase text needs at least 4mm per metre. A sign read from 10 metres needs a 150mm pictogram and 40mm text at minimum. Poor lighting? Increase both by 50%. 

• Materials for Indoor Signs

For most indoor environments, self-adhesive vinyl, polypropylene, or metal all work. Quality vinyl used indoors can last several years, but the moment a sign starts peeling or fading, it’s non-compliant and needs to go. A sign that used to be compliant but is now cracked and unreadable offers you zero protection in an investigation.

Your WHS Indoor Safety Signage Compliance Checklist

1. Run through this before your next WHS audit. Be honest with yourself.

2. Every identified hazard has a corresponding sign at the actual point of risk

3. Warning signs are yellow triangles; danger signs are red and black; mandatory signs are blue circles; prohibition signs are red and white

4. Emergency exit signs comply with AS 2293.1, not just AS 1319

5. Fire safety signs are positioned above or beside every extinguisher and fire blanket

6. First aid sign is clearly visible and directs staff to the kit or room

7. All signs are at eye level, readable from the direction of approach, and free from obstructions

8. Sign size is based on actual viewing distance using AS 1319 sizing rules

9. Materials are in good condition with no peeling, cracking, or fading

10. Signs have been physically inspected in the last quarter

11.   Inspection records are documented and kept on file

Sign Materials: Indoor Environments at a Glance

People Also Ask

1. How high should I mount my indoor safety signs? 

The general rule is between 1500mm and 1800mm from the floor. This keeps them at eye level for most people. If you have tall shelving, you might need them higher.

2. Do I need a sign for a fire extinguisher? 

Yes. Every fire extinguisher must have a sign above it so it can be found quickly if smoke fills the room. This is a non-negotiable fire safety rule.

3. What happens if your business fails a WHS signage inspection? 

Inspectors can issue improvement notices, prohibition notices, and fines, or refer the matter for prosecution. Immediate rectification is usually required on the spot.

4. Where should emergency exit signs be placed indoors? 

Above every exit door and at key decision points along evacuation routes, following AS 2293.1 requirements. These sit under a separate standard from AS 1319, so don’t mix them up.

5. Can I use custom-designed safety signs and still be compliant? 

Yes. But custom work safety signs must still follow AS 1319 colour, shape, and text rules. You can change the wording. You cannot change the colours or shapes.

Final Words

Walk your space today. Pick three busy areas. Ask yourself one question: can every person walking toward a hazard see the correct sign clearly, without anything blocking it, from the direction they’re actually approaching?

If the answer is no even once, you’ve got a compliance gap. Fix it before a WorkSafe inspector finds it for you. Start with the checklist above. Get the right Australian safety signs on the right walls. Everything else follows from there.