Watch Your Step Signs

Place a watch your step sign anywhere the floor changes unexpectedly, especially for changes too small to notice at a glance. Post a watch your step floor sign right at the elevation change and a wall sign at eye level on the approach, so people see the warning before they reach the hazard.

There's no single OSHA-mandated size — you size it to the viewing distance so it's legible before the hazard. Common wall sizes are 7" x 10", 10" x 14", and 12" x 18", with larger sizes for long approaches; floor signs and round decals run roughly 12" to 17". Bigger reads from farther, so match the size to how far away people first see it.

Yes. For steps, ramps, docks, and entrances exposed to weather, choose rust-proof aluminum with UV-durable or reflective vinyl so the sign holds color and reads in low light. For outdoor floor use, rubber-backed and beaded anti-slip floor signs grip wet or textured surfaces. Reflective grades help at night on exterior stairs.

For a built-in hazard like a step, ramp, or threshold that's always there needs a permanent floor or wall sign. A temporary hazard like a fresh spill, mopping, or ice needs a portable ConeBoss or fold-up floor sign, plus a wet floor sign after cleaning.

A posted warning sign limits liability by establishing a legal "notice" of a known hazard. In a premises-liability claim, courts look at whether the owner took reasonable steps to warn of a hazard they knew about — a clearly posted slip and trip warning sign at the step shows you did, shifting responsibility to someone who ignores it. It's a low-cost record that you acted to prevent the fall.

Yes. A custom sign lets you name the exact hazard or location, and bilingual English/Spanish versions reach every reader. Order any watch your step sign online, or for a facility-wide set — matched wall signs, floor signs, and cones — call our team at (800) 952-1457 (Mon – Fri, 8:00am to 7:00pm EST) or email customerservice@smartsign.com for a quote.