What font or readability guideline should be used for FLSE materials?

• A. Times New Roman, 12–14 pt, high contrast, plain language; avoid jargon
• B. Sans-serif fonts, 12–14 pt, high contrast, plain language; avoid jargon
• C. Comic Sans, 8 pt
• D. Any font; readability doesn't matter

Answer: (B)

Readability and legibility are the priorities when creating FLSE materials. The best practice is to use a sans-serif font in a comfortable size, with high contrast, and to keep the language plain and free of jargon.

Sans-serif fonts have clean, simple letter shapes that read quickly and clearly, especially on posters, handouts, or screens where information is scanned at a glance. This reduces the time it takes for someone to recognize words and extract the message. A font size in the 12–14 point range is large enough to be easily read by most people, including those with vision challenges or when materials are viewed from a distance or in varied lighting. High contrast between text and background makes the content stand out and minimizes reading effort, which is crucial in safety education where quick comprehension matters. Plain language and avoiding jargon ensure the material is understandable on first reading, so audiences of all ages and literacy levels can grasp the safety instructions without confusion.

Times New Roman is a serif font, which is generally less optimal for quick readability in instructional materials and signage. Comic Sans at 8 pt is too small and informal for safety communications. Saying any font is acceptable and that readability doesn’t matter contradicts the goal of clear, accessible safety education.