4 key tips for displaying safety messages on your LED screens

LED screens have become an essential tool for safety communication in a wide range of environments, from construction sites to shopping centres. With vibrant displays and dynamic messaging capabilities, digital displays are an ideal medium for alerting people to potential hazards or sharing crucial instructions. It’s an area we’re strongly familiar with here at Scanlite – our outdoor displays and Lost Time Accident Boards are regularly used to convey safety messages in worksites and public spaces.

However, creating effective safety messages for LED screens requires a surprising amount of careful planning, to ensure that they have the right impact, and they’re easily understood at a glance. So, with that in mind, here are four practical tips to make your safety messages on LED screens as clear and effective as possible.

Clear and concise language

With all the possibilities that LED digital displays offer, it can sometimes be easy to forget that safety messages always need to convey critical information in the simplest way possible. A message that takes too long to read or uses overly complex language may lose its audience or, worse, fail to communicate the urgency of the situation. That means it’s always crucial to use short sentences, avoid jargon, and prioritise clarity. For example, “Caution: Wet Floor” is more effective than “Attention: This area may be slippery due to recent cleaning activities.”

It’s also key to bear in mind the context of the environment where the screen will be viewed. In fast-paced settings, such as transport hubs or industrial sites, people may only have a few seconds to absorb the information, so messages need to be designed accordingly. In some cases, adding icons or symbols alongside the text can also enhance understanding, as many people process visual cues faster than written words. (That’s the principle that governs the design of almost all road signs, after all.)

Finally, if you’ve got the option, it might be a good idea to test the phrasing of your messages with different groups to ensure they are universally understood, particularly in environments with diverse audiences.

Make sure to choose the right colour contrast

Another one that’s easy to overlook – the choice of colours plays a critical role in the visibility of your safety messages. Poor colour combinations can make text difficult to read, especially in outdoor settings or under bright lights. High-contrast pairings such as black text on a yellow background or white text on a red background are widely recognised for safety messaging.

However, it’s also a good plan to consider the ambient lighting where your LED screen will be placed. For instance, screens in dimly lit areas might require a brighter colour scheme, while those in direct sunlight may need adjustments to prevent glare from obscuring the message. The size of the text also interacts with colour contrast; a larger font may be slightly more forgiving, but smaller text demands higher clarity.

It’s also important to consider colour blindness, which affects a significant portion of the population. Avoid relying solely on colour to convey meaning, as it opens up a major risk if there’s a possibility that certain people can’t discern the message. For example, use both red text and a caution symbol to indicate danger, ensuring the message is accessible to everyone. For this reason alone, it’s generally best to adhere to standardised colour codes for safety – such as yellow for warnings or green for safe conditions – to align with expectations and reduce confusion.

And of course, once your screen has been installed, it’s never a bad idea to regularly inspect the screen’s output to ensure the chosen colours maintain their effectiveness over time.

Place screens where they maximise visibility

The effectiveness of a safety message depends not only on its content but also on where the LED screen is positioned. That means screens need to be located where they’re most likely to be seen, such as entrances, walkways, or high-risk areas.

Visibility can be influenced by several physical factors, such as the layout of the space, the flow of foot traffic, and potential obstructions like walls or equipment. The height of your LED screens involves making a surprisingly precise choice – if it’s mounted too low it might be blocked by furniture or machinery, while if it’s positioned too high may be missed by people passing through quickly. It may be a good idea to evaluate the typical movement patterns of your audience, and install screens where they naturally look.

For environments with multiple LED screens, ensure there’s no overlap that might confuse the viewer. Consistent placement – such as at eye level or aligned with key sightlines – can improve recognition and retention of your messages. And of course, don’t forget to consider the proximity of your screens to the hazards in question; a warning message placed too far from the danger it refers to might not provide adequate time for individuals to react.

Update messages regularly

Static or outdated safety messages risk becoming effectively invisible to viewers over time – seeing the same message over and over again can reduce its impact, causing it to fade into background noise. That’s why it’s so important to update the content on your LED screens – it ensures the information remains relevant, and also keeps your audience engaged. Messages about seasonal hazards in particular (such as icy walkways in winter) will need to be updated to reflect current conditions.

While some basic safety rules remain consistent, rotating in new wording or graphics can make them feel fresh. For example, a construction site might alternate between reminding staff to wear helmets and emphasising the importance of checking equipment before use.

Think about timing, too. It’s always a good plan to tailor messages to peak activity times, such as during shift changes or busy hours. This strategic rotation prevents the “message fatigue” that can occur when people see the same content repeatedly. For larger areas or those that see notably high levels of foot traffic, you may want to monitor the effectiveness of your messages and adjust them if they fail to achieve the desired impact. Don’t be afraid to solicit feedback – when it comes to safety, you’ll generally find that the public (or your staff) will be only too happy to tell you what they think!

Those are just some of the most universal tips – if you need any more specific advice, or you’re ready to safety LED display of your own, you’re in exactly the right place. We tailor each of our solutions to your specific requirements here at Scanlite, and with more than four decades of experience behind us, we know our digital signage solutions inside out. To find out more how we can help you, feel free to give us a call today on 01253 302723. We’re always happy to help!