Decals are found all over material handling, industrial, and construction equipment. From forklifts and mobile elevating work platforms to skid steer loaders and telehandlers, these brightly colored markings play an important role in keeping your operator safe. The design and placement of every decal is carefully considered and critical for safe and proper machine operation. Here’s a quick refresher on both their meaning and when to replace them.

Understanding the Design

Decals rely on both symbols and color-coding to communicate their meaning.

Safety Alert Symbols – These symbols alert the operator to potential personal injury hazards, obeying these symbols will allow the operator to avoid possible injury or death.

Danger Decals – These decals combine a red header and a safety alert symbol; ignoring the hazardous situation identified by the decal will result in death or serious injury.

Warning Decals – These decals combine an orange header and a safety alert symbol; ignoring the hazardous situation identified by the decal will result in death or serious injury.

Caution Decals - These decals combine a yellow header and a safety alert symbol; ignoring the hazardous situation identified by the decal will result in minor or moderate injury.

Notice Decals – These decals have a green header and have a message regarding property damage.

Knowing When It’s Time to Replace Your Decals

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guides the use of decals on your equipment; including their visibility, placement, and durability. Regular inspection, maintenance, and replacement are imperative to keeping both your equipment and operator safe.

Inspection – Decals must be legible at all times and in the correct place on your machine. Scrapes, tears, or scratches can all make a decal hard to read. Inspecting all of your decals before your equipment goes out on any job and regularly while it’s in use will ensure your decals are always up to standard.

Maintenance – Decals should be cleaned with mild soap and water. Avoid using solvent-based cleaners as they can cause damage to the decal, thus making them unreadable. When painting your machine, either protect your decals from overspray or apply new ones after the fresh coat of paint is dry.

Replacement – If you’re wondering if it’s time to replace a decal, the answer is probably yes. Any damage that makes the decal hard to read means it’s time for a replacement. Failing to ensure your decals are up to standard can put you at risk for legal action in the event of an accident.

Shop TVH for all of Your Decal Needs

Proper decal maintenance is inexpensive but extremely important for the safe and proper operation of your equipment. TVH produces thousands of decals all in-house in our state-of-the-art production facility. In addition to replacement decals for your equipment, we also offer custom decals in both vinyl and Lexan®. Visit tvh.com or contact your sales representative for more information on the extensive line of decals we carry.