Gefahrnote

Gefahrnote is a German term used in safety management to denote an annotation indicating a hazard or risk factor in a workplace or process. It is not a formally defined technical term with a codified standard; rather, it is a descriptive label used in various organizations to draw attention to dangers that require precautions.

Applications include internal safety notes, work instructions, maintenance logs, risk assessments, or labeling on equipment and in facility areas. A danger note typically specifies the hazard, the affected operations or materials, and the recommended precautions, such as required personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls, or emergency actions. The wording should be clear and unambiguous to facilitate quick recognition by workers.

Relation to formal documentation: In official standards and regulations, formal terms include Gefahrenhinweise (hazard statements), Warnhinweise (warning notices), and the information in Sicherheitsdatenblättern (safety data sheets) and machine instructions. "Gefahrnote" thus often operates as an informal or organizational supplement rather than a formal classification.

Best practices: Use consistent language, keep notes up to date, limit content to essential information, avoid duplicating content from formal documents, and place danger notes where they are most likely to be seen by affected personnel. If a hazard is addressed, remove or amend the note to prevent misinformation.

See also: Gefahrenhinweis, Warnhinweis, Sicherheitsdatenblatt, Risikobewertung, Arbeitsschutz.