Health Hazard Sign

Dangerous Goods Signs – Health Hazard Sign

Health Hazard Sign is generally used in metal fabrication or metal production industries where people often deal with toxic materials. Post the Health Hazard Sign near the chemical hazard area that can cause cancer, genetic defects, respiratory problems or organ toxicity.

Dangerous goods are products that place individuals, properties and the environment at immediate risk. Owing to the considerable risks involved with dangerous goods, all storage facilities used to store hazardous materials must be clearly labelled with dangerous goods sign.

A ‘Health Hazard Sign’ is valuable assistance to protect the health and safety of employees and is not an alternative to the required protective actions for eliminating or mitigating the hazards.

Compliance & guidance

• Aligned with GHS/HSNO for workplace chemical communication in NZ & AU.

• Supports duties under Health and Safety at Work (HSW) Act and WorkSafe NZ guidance.

• Size is measured corner-to-corner (diamond point to opposite point).

FAQ

Q1: What does the Health Hazard GHS sign cover?
It covers chronic health effects such as carcinogenicity, germ cell mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory sensitisation, target-organ toxicity and aspiration hazards.

Q2: Is this sign for transport placarding?
No. This is a GHS/HSNO workplace sign. For vehicles/transport placards, use the relevant UN Class signs (e.g., Class 6) as required by NZS 5433 and UN rules.

Q3: Which size and material should I choose?

• 250–400 mm: doors, rooms, small stores.

• 400–800 mm: warehouses, yards, long-view areas.

• Vinyl (laminated): smooth walls/doors; fast install.

• ACM or PVC (laminated): rigid, long-term outdoor.

• Magnetic: temporary steel surfaces (vehicles, racking, tanks).

How to choose the right mounting options.

Corflute: short term less than 2 years outdoors

Thin PVC: Medium term, more than 2 years

ACM: Long term 5 years or more

Supplied as a sticker:

long term digital print laminated for long term use. With a life of 5 years or more. We use a Hi Tac vinyl which allows it to be applied most surfaces.

Magnetic mounting option for the Health Hazard Sign

Flexible, vehicle-grade magnetic placards with the Health Hazard Sign printed on premium vinyl, laminated, and mounted to automotive magnetic sheeting. They stick to ferrous steel panels and remove without residue—ideal for vehicles that only carry DG sometimes.

Who they’re for

• Contractors / couriers who transport Dangerous Goods occasionally

• Hire or multi-use vehicles (no permanent signage)

• Sites that swap classes depending on load (quick changeover)

• Size: 250 × 250 mm (meets common road minimums).

• Magnet: vehicle-grade sheet, 0.8–1.0 mm thick (30–40 mil), high-energy.

• Face film: outdoor self-adhesive vinyl + UV laminate (gloss).

• Operating temp: suitable from winter cold to summer heat (typical automotive range).

• Print: high-contrast black/white with red border artwork.

Where they work (and don’t)

• Works on: painted steel panels that are flat, clean, and smooth.

• Doesn’t work on: aluminium, stainless, plastics, composites, heavy body filler; vinyl wraps, ceramic coatings, heavily textured paint.

• If customers have aluminium doors/ute trays, suggest self-adhesive or rigid ACM instead.

Fitment checklist

1. Clean & dry the panel (no wax/polish).

2. Warm, flat magnet—no curl.

3. Apply to flat steel only; press from centre out.

4. Do not bridge panel gaps, ribs or sharp curves.

5. Remove daily to clean/dry both surfaces; store flat.

6. In heavy rain/highway speeds, check edges haven’t lifted.

Care & maintenance

• Remove and wipe after wet weather; store flat (never rolled tight).

• Move position slightly each week to avoid differential fading.

• Avoid use on freshly resprayed paint (allow full cure).

Compliance note

• Magnet is a mounting method. The operator must ensure placards are the correct class, size, and securely affixed for the journey. Some carriers or site rules may require permanent/rigid placards—check your procedure.

For more information check out these links

• WorkSafe NZ – Hazardous Substances Management
  👉 WorkSafe NZ – Hazardous substances

• EPA NZ – HSNO Act guidance
  👉 EPA NZ – Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act

• United Nations GHS
  👉 UN – Globally Harmonized System (GHS)  

• Why you need the correct Hazard sign

Check out our: Complete Guide to Dangerous Goods Placards (NZ & AU)

Why you need the correct Hazard sign

 

NZS/AS 1319:1994 advocates simplicity and clarity in safety signage. To be effective, they should be easy to read and interpret at a glance.

The Standard is about the use of legible text and appropriate, simple symbols.

By simplifying the message, it reduces the risk of misinterpretation, which increases the chances of the sign’s warning or instruction being followed.

Enhancing the signs visibility through placement and colour

Placement and visibility will play a crucial role in the efficiency of safety signs.

The standard states that signs must be positioned near the hazard they are warning about, which ensures that the safety message is relevant. Also it advocates the use of contrasting colours for the background and lettering. This attention to the colour scheme will increase visibility and readability from a reasonable distance, which ensures the message is accessible.

The mission of Hazard Signs NZ is to provide quality-made safety signs to all of New Zealand. Our great prices and convenient online ordering platform make us a preferred supplier to many NZ businesses. All our signs are designed and manufactured in Invercargill to meet the workplace health and safety needs of all businesses and industries in New Zealand.

Please note. We make some of our safety signs to order and it may take 5 to 10 business days to receive. If you require your order urgently, please don’t hesitate to contact us to confirm an estimated delivery date prior to placing your order.

If you are not sure about what sign you need for your business, just contact us at +6432183350 or email us and we will make it ready for you.