Adventures of a Japanese construction worker

July 5, 2010 by Juergen Specht · 6 Comments 

Adventures of a Japanese construction worker

I love the signs at Japanese construction sites. They just show too vivid the dangers and adventures which await the army of construction workers on their daily duty. While the signs often sport the same text, the illustration always differs ever so slightly. Here is just a small part out of my collection with translations and more commentary.

Pretty easy to understand: Watch your head

Pretty easy to understand: “Watch your head”.

This sign is a common view, but the workers attitude differs quite a lot from sign to sign: 'Sorry for the inconvenience! Please excuse us (for working), but safety comes first!'

This sign is a common view, but the workers attitude differs quite a lot from sign to sign: “Sorry for the inconvenience! Please excuse us (for working), but safety comes first!”.

A pretty strict warning sign saying 'Workers only. No admittance!'

A pretty strict warning sign saying “Workers only. No admittance!”.

This sign is more internal in construction sites and is a reminder of 'Cleanliness and Cleaning'

This sign is more internal in construction sites and is a reminder of “Cleanliness and Cleaning”.

An unusual sign, because it sports a female worker and says 'Drive safe, check front, back, left and right'

An unusual sign, because it sports a female worker and says “Drive safe, check front, back, left and right”.

This is technically not a sign, but a poster and says 'Prevent electric shock'. The text on the top is the date (Heisai 18) and the bottom is the name of a safety organization

This is technically not a sign, but a poster and says “Prevent electric shock”. The text on the top is the date (Heisai 18) and the bottom is the name of a safety organization.

A faded sign with an anonymous silhouette of a worker saying 'Watch your head!'

A faded sign with an anonymous silhouette of a worker saying “Watch your head!”.

The construction worker suddenly turned into some kind of green animal and oracles 'Attention, do not enter because its dangerous!'

The construction worker suddenly turned into some kind of green animal and oracles “Attention, do not enter because its dangerous!”.

A friendly looking construction worker advising to 'Use a safety belt'

A friendly looking construction worker advising to “Use a safety belt”.

Definitely 'Watch your head!'

Definitely “Watch your head!”.

And the next one is 'Watch your step!'

And the next one is “Watch your step!”.

The guy who tips his hard hat says 'Anybody without safety helmet cannot enter!'

The guy who tips his hard hat says “Anybody without safety helmet cannot enter!”.

This construction worker is serious warning you 'Dangerous, please don't enter', while the lower one just says 'Wear a safety helmet'

This construction worker is serious warning you “Dangerous, please don’t enter”, while the lower one just says “Wear a safety helmet”.

The hammering guy fixes a nail sticking out, because 'If you notice danger, repair (it) immediately'

The hammering guy fixes a nail sticking out, because “If you notice danger, repair (it) immediately”.

Another female worker points out 'Everybody is responsible for safety'

Another female worker points out “Everybody is responsible for safety”.

This weirdly shaking man says 'Sorry for the inconvenience! Please excuse us (for working), but safety comes first!'

This weirdly shaking man says “Sorry for the inconvenience! Please excuse us (for working), but safety comes first!”.

A construction worker couple informs us about 'Sorry for the inconvenience! Please excuse us, but safety comes first!'. One of the more unusual signs I have seen

A construction worker couple informs us about “Sorry for the inconvenience! Please excuse us, but safety comes first!”. One of the more unusual signs I have seen.

The falling man warns us to 'Prevent falling down'

The falling man warns us to “Prevent falling down”.

A sign at the exit of a construction site says 'Thank you for working hard together!'

A sign at the exit of a construction site says “Thank you for working hard together!”

This is not a no smoking sign, but much more specific, saying 'Don't have a lit cigarette in your mouth while working'

This is not a no smoking sign, but much more specific, saying “Don’t have a lit cigarette in your mouth while working”.

The big eyed construction worker informs us about 'Workers only! No admittance!'

The big eyed construction worker informs us about “Workers only! No admittance!”.

Another internal construction site sign reminding of 'Keep everything in order'

Another internal construction site sign reminding of “Keep everything in order”.

Easy to understand why, it says 'Do not put anything on the scaffold'

Easy to understand why, it says “Do not put anything on the scaffold”.

This needs a bit more of an explanation. Most workers learn an effective technique to acknowledge the individual steps required to get their work done, they acknowledge individual things by pointing and saying 'yoshi'. So this sign says simply 'Point and acknowledge: Yoshi!'. It helps them to remember to check parts of their checklist

This needs a bit more of an explanation. Most workers learn an effective technique to acknowledge the individual steps required to get their work done, they acknowledge individual things by pointing and saying “yoshi”. So this sign says simply “Point and acknowledge: Yoshi!”. It helps them to remember to check parts of their checklist.

For some reason or the other, on power lines usually a parrot warns 'Attention: do not climb up!'. Plus a more conventional worker warns his colleagues 'Lumbers, be aware of power lines!'

For some reason or the other, on power lines usually a parrot warns “Attention: do not climb up!”. Plus a more conventional worker warns his colleagues “Lumbers, be aware of power lines!”.

A friendly looking worker says 'Attention: Do not enter'

A friendly looking worker says “Attention: Do not enter”.

Easy to understand, it says 'Don't throw, don't drop'

Easy to understand, it says “Don’t throw, don’t drop”.

Truck drivers, 'Be aware of pedestrians, stop once'

Truck drivers, “Be aware of pedestrians, stop once”.

A deep bow and 'Sorry for the inconvenience!'

A deep bow and “Sorry for the inconvenience!”.

Again a poster instead of a sign saying 'Prevent falling accidents'

Again a poster instead of a sign saying “Prevent falling accidents”.

Uh, oh, whats going on? 'Attention, do not enter'

Uh, oh, whats going on? “Attention, do not enter”.

He is not scratching his head, instead he says 'Anybody who doesn’t wear a safety helmet cannot enter, because its dangerous'

He is not scratching his head, instead he says “Anybody who doesn’t wear a safety helmet cannot enter, because its dangerous”.

Rather drastic sign saying 'High voltage. Do not enter! Do not touch!'

Rather drastic sign saying “High voltage. Do not enter! Do not touch!”.

Another 'Sorry for the inconvenience! Please excuse us (for working), but safety comes first!'

Another “Sorry for the inconvenience! Please excuse us (for working), but safety comes first!”

He looks a bit spaced out and announces 'Do not enter this radius'

He looks a bit spaced out and announces “Do not enter this radius”.

Roger, we know it means 'Danger, no entrance'

Roger, we know it means “Danger, no entrance”.

Not a warning sign, but a 'Smoking spot'

Not a warning sign, but a “Smoking spot”.

Something must have gone wrong in their relationship, just look how she watches him. But the sign simply states 'Cleanliness! Clean!'

Something must have gone wrong in their relationship, just look how she watches him. But the sign simply states “Cleanliness! Clean!”

From left to right  'Watch your head, working above' and 'Do not enter, dangerous'

From left to right “Watch your head, working above” and “Do not enter, dangerous”.

This mouse begs 'Sorry for your inconvenience, please be cooperative'

This mouse begs “Sorry for your inconvenience, please be cooperative”.

'Safety First'

“Safety First”.

Another one of the 'Point and acknowledge: yoshi' signs

Another one of the “Point and acknowledge: yoshi” signs.

A cluster of signs from the left: 'Keep everything in order', 'Use safety belt', 'Do not enter without a helmet', 'Wear all protection gear' and 'Safety first, beware of accidents'

A cluster of signs from the left: “Keep everything in order”, “Use safety belt”, “Do not enter without a helmet”, “Wear all protection gear” and “Safety first, beware of accidents”.

Looks familiar: 'No entrance, workers only'

Looks familiar: “No entrance, workers only”

The female construction worker found a new boyfriend, who reminds her to 'Keep everything in order'

The female construction worker found a new boyfriend, who reminds her to “Keep everything in order”.

I am sure he is lying and totally stoned, protecting a rave party with a 'Do not enter, workers only' sign

I am sure he is lying and totally stoned, protecting a rave party with a “Do not enter, workers only” sign.

And more at once saying 'Watch your head', 'Do not enter without safety helmet', 'Keep things in order, sort trash' and 'No smoking'

And more at once saying “Watch your head”, “Do not enter without safety helmet”, “Keep things in order, sort trash” and “No smoking”.

Not so nice looking guy stopping us with a 'Do not enter. Workers only' sign.

Not so nice looking guy stopping us with a “Do not enter. Workers only” sign.

And again many at once: 'Careful check before operating', 'Remember you can get hurt even at your familiar job' and 'Check the procedure of the operation again'

And again many at once: “Careful check before operating”, “Remember you can get hurt even at your familiar job” and “Check the procedure of the operation again”.

Even more grumpy: 'Do not enter, workers only'

Even more grumpy: “Do not enter, workers only”

'Do not enter'

“Do not enter”.

'Watch your head'

“Watch your head”.

Another stoner telling us 'Do not enter, its dangerous!'

Another stoner telling us “Do not enter, its dangerous!”.

And finally they also let dogs rendered in 3D work as construction workers while informing us about the 'Entrance and exit for construction vehicles'

And finally they also let dogs rendered in 3D work as construction workers while informing us about the “Entrance and exit for construction vehicles”.

Comments

6 Responses to “Adventures of a Japanese construction worker”
  1. Edward says:

    What a fantastic collection

  2. Marfil says:

    Great collection of signs! They are kawai~

  3. WOW amazing . Good job , and nice photos you have rlly amazing

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  4. lomodeedee says:

    this is so so cute… tnx for sharing!