26 Hazard Signs That Are So Mesmerizing They’ll Lead Straight to Your Death
A hazard sign should communicate one message above all: “RUN.” Yet, there’s all varieties of them to tell you exactly what you’re in danger from. Which sure, is nice information to have, but sometimes illustrating said threats makes the signs a little too interesting. I feel like you should make sure that they’re as boring as they’re informational, in order to keep people moving.
Unstable Cliff
Public Domain
Very “*record scratch* that’s me” energy here. Nice one, idiot!
Surfing
Public Domain
What is this, a warning not to bring my girlfriend here?
Breathing Hazard
Public Domain
This looks like the death of an unlucky guard who was supposed to watch one of the evil X-Men.
Roof Avalanche
Public Domain
Angry ice wizard hates trespassers!
Falling Ice Spikes
Public Domain
This should be stuck under a golden idol in a tomb somewhere.
Injury From Automated or Remote-Controlled Vehicles
Public Domain
Laugh all you want, this is our future.
Bull
Public Domain
Well, it does what it says on the tin, I guess. Good warning for people who regularly enter large, dusty rings without a care in the world.
Rapid Movement of Workpiece in Press Brake Machine
Public Domain
Neither the description or image give me any idea why my face and shoulders are in danger, but apparently someone is going to ricochet some sort of necrotic blast into them.
Hand Injury in Press
Public Domain
The hand artist really snapped (no pun intended) on this portrayal of someone’s paw getting absolutely pulped by a press.
Corrosive Substance
Public Domain
This is like when someone tells you something smells bad and you ask for a whiff. Gimme one drop on my off-hand! I can take it!
Sharp Implement
Public Domain
I love the storytelling of the bandages here, like “JERRY! NOT AGAIN!”
Crushing by Moving Parts
Public Domain
The narrative tension here is unbelievable. This guy is about to get turned into a human, blood-covered bust, and he has no idea.
Automatic Start-Up
Public Domain
Ah, yes, automated machinery. Definitely what I think when I see this, and not “portal opening?”
Toxic Material
Public Domain
A classic, but suffers from the innate issue of skull-and-crossbones being cool as hell.
Overhead or Suspended Load
Public Domain
There’s no possible way you don’t see this and then immediately look straight up, only to be crushed Looney Tunes style.
Guard Dog
Public Domain
Ah! Shadow puppets ahead!
Magnetic Field
Public Domain
Okay, I’m clearly in some sort of puzzle room from a PlayStation 1 game.
Explosive Materials
Public Domain
The “explosion” part comes through, but it also definitely looks like the threat here is “aliens destroying our planet.”
Volcano
Public Domain
Pretty straightforward. Pretty sick.
Tornado Zone
Public Domain
Again, hard to make something that scary about an inherently cool kind of disaster. Minus the death, of course, et cetera.
Substance or Mixture That Can Cause an Environmental Hazard
Public Domain
We got a whole ass little landscape in here! Thing’s halfway to a Dali painting. Plus, if fish ever get that big, maybe the environment needs some hazards.
Substance or Mixture Presenting a Health Hazard
Public Domain
If I see this sign, I assume whatever’s past it has a really good chance of giving me superpowers.
Alligators, Caimans and Crocodiles
Public Domain
Nice of them to include caimans in here. They don’t get enough credit. Big win for the caiman community.
High Surf or Large Breaking Waves
Public Domain
DANGER: You have angered Poseidon! You will be brought to the court of Atlantis for judgment!
Shark
Public Domain
No way “how to draw shark adobe illustrator” wasn’t typed into Google somewhere here. At least it helpfully tells you that these sharks are underwater.
Hot Steam
Public Domain
Put this in front of a middle schooler, or a 33-year-old freelance writer, and they’re immediately thinking, “lol, fart zone.”