Workplace Safety Signage Requirements for WA Businesses

29 June 2026

If you run a business in Western Australia, safety signs aren’t just good practice; they’re part of your legal duty to keep people safe. The rules changed in 2022, and getting signage right matters for compliance, for your workers, and for anyone visiting your site. Here’s what WA businesses need to know about workplace safety signage and how to get it right.

Key Takeaways:

• WA’s Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and Regulations commenced on 31 March 2022 and are enforced by WorkSafe.
• Safety signs in Australia follow AS 1319, which sets the standard colours, shapes, and meanings.
• Signs fall into four groups: regulatory, hazard, emergency information, and fire.
• Signage must be legible, durable, and maintained, with Traffolyte and engraved metal suited to industrial sites.
• Signage supports your risk controls; it does not replace fixing the hazard itself.

Are safety signs a legal requirement in WA?

Yes. Under Western Australia’s Work Health and Safety Act 2020, every person conducting a business or undertaking has a duty to manage risks to health and safety, and safety signage is part of meeting that duty. The WHS Act and its regulations commenced on 31 March 2022 and are enforced by WorkSafe. WA has adopted the national model WHS laws, so the same framework applies across most of Australia. Where a hazard can’t be removed, clear signage helps warn workers and visitors and direct them to safety.

Which standard governs safety signs in Australia?

Safety signs in Australian workplaces follow AS 1319-1994, Safety signs for the occupational environment. This standard sets out the design, colours, symbols, wording and placement of signs so they’re understood at a glance, wherever someone works. Using compliant signs matters. A sign that uses the wrong colour or shape can confuse people at the moment that clarity counts most, and it can leave gaps in your safety system.

What are the main types of safety signs?

AS 1319 groups safety signs into four categories, each with its own colours and shapes, so the meaning is instantly recognisable. Knowing which is which helps you specify the right sign for each hazard. The table below sets out the main types you’ll use across a WA workplace.

Sign type	Colour and shape	Means	Example
Prohibition	Red ring with diagonal slash, white background	Do not do this	No smoking, no entry
Mandatory	White symbol on a blue disc	You must do this	Wear eye protection, wear a hard hat
Warning	Black symbol in a yellow triangle	Caution, possible hazard	Forklifts operating on a slippery surface
Danger	White ‘DANGER’ on red, black panel below	Life-threatening hazard	Danger, high voltage
Emergency information	White symbol on green	Where safety equipment or exits are	First aid, emergency exit
Fire	White symbol on red	Fire equipment location	Fire extinguisher, fire hose reel

Where do WA workplaces need safety signage?

Signage is needed wherever a risk assessment identifies a hazard that can’t be fully removed. Common places include site entrances, areas with moving plant or forklifts, electrical switchrooms, chemical and dangerous goods storage, confined spaces, and anywhere personal protective equipment is required. You also need clear emergency information signs marking exits, first aid stations and firefighting equipment. Construction and industrial sites usually carry the most signage because they carry the most risk.

What material should safety signs be made from?

Choose a material that survives the conditions and stays legible for years. For offices and sheltered areas, printed or laminated signs are fine. For industrial sites, plant rooms and outdoor areas, hard-wearing materials last far longer. Engraved Traffolyte labels and signs are an Australian industrial standard for control panels, switchboards and equipment tags because the lettering is cut into the material and won’t rub off. For larger signs, engraved or laser-cut metal handles sun, heat and washdowns. Our in-house engraving services cover both, and if you’re weighing finishes, it’s worth reading digital printing vs traditional engraving before you order.

How do you keep your signage compliant?

Compliant signage is current, legible and in the right place. Review your signs whenever you do a risk assessment or change a process, and replace any that are faded, damaged or out of date. Keep them unobstructed and at a height people can see. Make sure new signs match AS 1319 colours and symbols so they read consistently with the rest of your site. If you’re unsure what you need, a supplier who makes custom safety signs can help you specify the right type, material and wording.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are safety signs a legal requirement for WA businesses?
Yes. Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, WA businesses must manage risks to health and safety, and signage is part of that duty. Signs are required wherever a hazard cannot be removed, and people need to be warned or directed.

What standard do Australian safety signs follow?
Australian safety signs follow AS 1319-1994, Safety signs for the occupational environment. It sets the colours, shapes, symbols and wording so signs are understood at a glance in any workplace.

What do the safety sign colours mean?
Red marks prohibition, danger and fire; blue means a mandatory action; yellow is a warning or caution; and green shows emergency information such as exits and first aid. The colour and shape together signal the meaning instantly.

What is Traffolyte, and why is it used for safety signs?
Traffolyte is a layered rigid plastic used widely in the Australian industry. The text is engraved into it, so it won’t wear off, which makes it ideal for switchboards, control panels and equipment labels that need to stay legible for years.

Can I get custom safety signs made in Perth?
Yes. Talbot Walsh designs and makes custom safety signs, Traffolyte labels and engraved plates from our Carlisle workshop, with Australia-wide delivery. We can match AS 1319 requirements and your specific site needs.