Safety signs and symbols: poisons

The skull-and-crossbones symbol, consisting of a human skull and two bones crossed together behind the skull, is used as a warning that there are poisonous substances present and that care should be taken to limit exposure to the poison through avoiding direct contact and ingestion.

This symbol may or may not be accompanied by the words ‘poison’ and may be a hazard sign with a black symbol on the yellow triangular background.

Alternatively the poison symbol and words may be presented on a danger sign that acts as a warning when a hazard or a hazardous condition is likely to be life-threatening. If this signage is used then the word poison or the poison symbol will be on a black white and red sign. The word ‘Danger’ will be featured inside a red oval that is inside a black rectangle.