ISO 7010 · W-series · Warning

W001 General warning sign

Our drawing, not ISO’s artwork.

A hazard is here, and a supplementary sign or text says which. On its own the exclamation mark names no particular hazard.

ISO 7010 reference: W001
Registered title: General warning sign ISO Online Browsing Platform, ISO 7010 - W001, General warning sign, reference number and registered title
Colour and shape: Yellow triangle with a black border, black symbol: Warning: a hazard is here

What the yellow triangle with a black border means

In HSE’s guidance on the UK Safety Signs and Signals Regulations 1996, a warning sign has a triangular shape Health and Safety Executive (HSE), L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition), Part 2, warning signs, intrinsic features (a), page 14 and a black pictogram on a yellow background with black edging (the yellow part to take up at least 50% of the area of the sign) Health and Safety Executive (HSE), L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition), Part 2, warning signs, intrinsic features (b), page 14

Its colour stands for: Warning sign, Be careful; take precautions; examine Health and Safety Executive (HSE), L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition), Table 1, yellow or amber, meaning or purpose (page 12)

In the UK: HSE L64

General danger Health and Safety Executive (HSE), L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition), name under the warning signs in Schedule 1, page 15
The “General danger” warning sign must not be used to warn about hazardous substances or mixtures, except for cases where the warning sign is used to indicate stores of a number of hazardous substances or mixtures Health and Safety Executive (HSE), L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition), Schedule 1, Part II, paragraph 2.3
Stores containing a number of different substances may be indicated by the ‘general danger’ warning sign. Health and Safety Executive (HSE), L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition), paragraph 63

In the US: OSHA

No OSHA general-industry rule we read names this sign or its subject. US signs follow OSHA 1910.145 and ANSI Z535; how the US sign classes work.

Signs people confuse with it, or find beside it

Other warning signs

Sources

ISO 7010 is a paid standard. Its OBP entries are free to view, but they are a script-driven app, so the title and reference number above are copied from the entry's own heading as it lists them (read 2026-09-29), not from the paid text. Other lines in quotation marks are HSE’s or OSHA’s words.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE): L64 Safety signs and signals: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations (third edition) (published 2015). Used here: name under the warning signs in Schedule 1, page 15; Schedule 1, Part II, paragraph 2.3; paragraph 63; Part 2, warning signs, intrinsic features (a), page 14; Part 2, warning signs, intrinsic features (b), page 14; Table 1, yellow or amber, instruction and information (page 12); Table 1, yellow or amber, meaning or purpose (page 12). www.hse.gov.uk Checked 2026-09-29.
ISO Online Browsing Platform: ISO 7010 - W001, General warning sign (registered safety sign entry). Used here: reference number and registered title. www.iso.org Checked 2026-09-29.