Importancia de la señalización de seguridad en la prevención de accidentes laborales: análisis en el sector de la construcción.

Abstract

Abstract: The construction industry accounts for a disproportionate rate of serious workplace accidents, where safety signage, although regulated, suffers from application flaws that limit its effectiveness. This systematic review (PRISMA 2020) analyzed scientific evidence (2015-2025) to answer the question: What evidence exists on the effectiveness of this signage in preventing accidents in construction? It was hypothesized that its effectiveness depends on the synergy between technical standards, psychosocial adaptation, and operational management. After a search of specialized databases and rigorous screening, nine studies were analyzed. The results show that the effectiveness of safety signs varies according to type: warning signs are more effective, in contrast to mandatory signs, which are generally not easy to understand. Furthermore, it was determined that factors such as position, the presence of dynamic elements, and participatory design improve the impact of safety signs on accident rates. In parallel, it became evident that problems exist with visual recognition and the actual understanding of the preventive message. Also, some authors reported that non-compliance with signage use was frequent on construction sites. Consequently, from these findings, it is concluded that simply installing signage in compliance with regulations is insufficient to reduce workplace accidents. To prevent accidents, evidence-based design must be integrated with operational management that ensures maintenance, correct placement, and, crucially, continuous training that internalizes the risk among workers.