California Prop 65 Environmental Exposure Warning Signs

California Proposition 65 Warning Requirements

California’s Proposition 65 (“Prop 65”) requires businesses to provide a clear and reasonable warning before knowingly and intentionally exposing anyone to a listed chemical, at anticipated exposure levels which pose a significant risk of cancer or cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.  California businesses can ensure they are in compliance with the warning requirements by posting a California Prop 65 Environmental Exposure Warning Sign that identifies the source of exposure and potential harmful effect.

Who Must Provide Environmental Exposure Warnings?

Using its knowledge of its business operations and the chemicals it uses, a business can review the Proposition 65 list to determine whether its operations or products are likely to expose people in California to any listed chemicals at required warning levels.

Businesses with less than 10 employees and government agencies are exempt from Prop 65’s warning requirements.

Required Warning Sign Content

New Prop 65 regulations, which require compliance no later than August 30, 2018, describe how businesses may provide required warnings.  Warnings can be communicated in several ways, including posting signs at the business facility or workplace.  Where a warning sign is used, the sign must:

1. provide the names of the chemicals,
2. list the sources of exposure,
3. identify the corresponding end point(s) (cancer, reproductive toxicity, or both),
4. include specified text,
5. include a warning symbol, and
6. meet certain size and format requirements.

To ensure compliance with Prop 65’s new environmental exposure warning requirements, a business may use one of the following bilingual Prop 65 Environmental Exposure Warning Sign which have blank spaces that allow the business to write in the specific chemical names and sources of exposure.  Choose from the drop-down menu above:

• #05245 – Prop 65 Environmental Exposure – Multiple Carcinogens Warning Sign
• #05246 – Prop 65 Environmental Exposure – Single Carcinogen Warning Sign
• #05247 – Prop 65 Environmental Exposure – Multiple Reproductive Toxicants Warning Sign
• #05248 – Prop 65 Environmental Exposure – Single Reproductive Toxicant Warning Sign
• #05249 – Prop 65 Environmental Exposure – Multiple Carcinogens/Reproductive Toxicants Warning Sign
• #05250 – Prop 65 Environmental Exposure – Single Carcinogen/Reproductive Toxicant Warning Sign

Where are Prop 65 Environmental Exposure Warning Signs Posted?

A Prop 65 Environmental Exposure Warning Sign must be posted in a conspicuous manner and under such conditions as to make the warning likely to be seen, read, and understood by an ordinary individual in the course of normal daily activity.  For indoor environments or outdoor spaces with clearly defined entrances, the warning sign must be posted at all public entrances to the affected area.  It may be appropriate in some circumstances to provide warnings in more than one location in a facility so that the warning will be clearly associated with the source(s) of exposure.

Penalties for violating Proposition 65 by failing to provide warnings can be as high as $2,500 per violation per day.

Need Other Prop 65 Warning Posters?

To view related specific product warnings, click on:

• California Prop 65 Consumer Product Exposure Warning Signs
• California Prop 65 Food Product Exposure Warning Signs