ISO 7010:2019 / ISO 3864-1
ISO P070 Do not put finger into the nozzle of a hydromassage Sign
ISO P070 Do not put finger into the nozzle of a hydromassage Sign means the insertion of a finger into the nozzle of a hydromassage fitting is forbidden: whirlpool jets and suction openings move water with forces far beyond what a person can pull against, and a probing finger can become wedged in the fitting or held by the pump's draw. It should be used where the cited standard, facility risk assessment, SDS, emergency plan, or written safety procedure requires this hazard or safety message to be communicated.
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Reference artwork: Wikimedia Commons · License: Public domain
Technical Data
| Legal Standard | ISO 7010:2019 / ISO 3864-1 |
|---|---|
| Color Codes | #FF0000 / Closest practical match: RAL 3020 Traffic Red |
| Viewing Distance | 50 mm: close equipment or package label; 100 mm: approximately 5 m; 200 mm: approximately 10 m; 300 mm: approximately 15 m; 400 mm: approximately 20 m. |
| Review Status | approved / last reviewed 2026-07-07 |
| Jurisdiction Scope | Global, United States, European Union |
| Keywords | p070, iso 7010, prohibition, not, put, finger, into, nozzle, hydromassage, prohibit, putting |
Standard Dimensions Table
| Sign Size | Recommended Visibility |
|---|---|
50 mm | close equipment or package label |
100 mm | approximately 5 m |
200 mm | approximately 10 m |
300 mm | approximately 15 m |
400 mm | approximately 20 m. |
Where This Sign Is Used
Hotels, cruise ships, fitness clubs, and rehabilitation facilities with whirlpool spas, hot tubs, and hydrotherapy pools display it where a seated bather can see it, at the spa edge, on the surround, or beside the entry steps. It complements engineering controls: rated anti-entrapment covers kept intact and fastened, accessible pump shut-offs, and taking the spa out of service when a cover is missing.
In-Depth Guidance
What ISO 7010 P070 Prohibits
P070 forbids inserting a finger into the nozzle of a hydromassage fitting — the jets and openings found in whirlpool spas, hot tubs, and hydrotherapy pools. The ISO register phrases the function as prohibiting putting a finger into the nozzle of a hydromassage, and the pictogram shows a hand with an extended finger approaching a nozzle opening, struck through by the red bar.
It is among the most specific prohibitions in the ISO 7010 catalogue, and that specificity reflects incident history rather than pedantry. Spa fittings move water under real force, in both directions, and the openings sit at exactly hand and body height for a seated bather — an invitation to probing fingers, especially children's.
The Entrapment Hazard Behind the Sign
Hydromassage systems pump water out through jets and draw it back through suction fittings, and both ends of that circuit can hurt a bather. A finger pushed into an opening can become mechanically wedged in the fitting, and on the suction side the pump's draw can hold it there; the water forces involved in pool and spa suction are far beyond what a person can pull against. Degraded or missing nozzle covers make the openings larger and the risk worse.
Suction entrapment is a recognized cause of serious injuries and drownings in pools and spas, involving not just fingers but hair, limbs, and jewelry, and it has driven dedicated regulation — in the United States, federal law requires anti-entrapment drain covers on public pools and spas following child entrapment deaths. P070 addresses the behavioral side of the same problem: keeping body parts out of the fittings in the first place.
Using P070 in Spas and Hydrotherapy Facilities
Post the sign where the bather can see it from inside the tub — at the spa edge, on the surround, or beside the entry steps — because the prohibited act happens while seated in the water, not on the way in. Hotels, cruise ships, fitness clubs, and rehabilitation facilities with hydrotherapy tubs are the typical installers, often adding supervision rules for young children alongside it.
Signage complements, and never substitutes for, engineering controls. Operators must keep every jet and suction cover intact, correctly rated, and tightly fastened, and should take the spa out of service immediately if a cover is broken or missing. P070 handles the curious finger; compliant fittings, accessible emergency shut-offs for the pumps, and routine cover inspections handle everything the sign cannot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a sign about putting fingers in hot tub jets?
Because spa nozzles are a documented injury source. ISO 7010 P070 prohibits inserting a finger into hydromassage fittings, where it can wedge mechanically or be held by pump suction — forces a bather cannot overcome by pulling. Children seated at jet height are the usual victims, so spas post the pictogram where it is visible from inside the tub.
What is suction entrapment in a pool or spa?
It is when pump suction holds part of a bather — a finger, hair, a limb, or the body itself — against or inside a drain or fitting. The circulating pump keeps pulling until it is shut off, and the force can exceed anything a rescuer at the waterside can counter. It has caused drownings and disembowelment injuries, which is why modern rules require anti-entrapment covers, emergency pump cut-offs, and behavioral signs like P070.
Is P070 enough, or do spa operators need other protections?
The sign alone is nowhere near sufficient. Operators must fit and maintain compliant anti-entrapment covers on every suction outlet, provide an accessible emergency stop for the circulation pumps, inspect fittings routinely, and close the spa whenever a cover is damaged or missing. In the US, federal legislation mandates certified drain covers on public pools and spas. P070 addresses user behavior; the engineering controls address the hazard itself.