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SafetySignsandSignals
Lastreviewedon18/04/201311:38

ThispagegivesadviceontheimportanceofSafetySignsandSignals,wheretheyshouldbedisplayedorheard,
andthemeaningsofcommonsignfeatures.
YouwillalsofinddetailsoflegaldutiesandobligationsrelatingtoSignsandSignals,andlinkstofurther
information.

Quicklinks:
WhyareSafetySignsandSignalsimportant?
LegaldutiesandobligationsaroundSignsandSignals
FireSafetySigns
GoodpracticearoundSafetySignsandSignals
SummaryofSigntypes
FurtherinformationonSafetySignsandSignals

WhyareSafetySignsandSignalsimportant?
SafetySignsandSignalsareoneofthemainmeansofcommunicatinghealthandsafetyinformation.
Thisincludestheuseofilluminatedsigns,handandacousticsignals(e.g.firealarms),spokencommunicationand
themarkingofpipeworkcontainingdangeroussubstances.
Traditionalsignboards,suchasprohibitionandwarningsigns,signsforfireexits,FireActionPlannotices(fire
drills)andfirefightingequipmentarealsoconsideredtobeSafetySigns.
Inviewoftheirimportance,itiscriticalthatallSafetySignsandSignalscanbeeasilyunderstood.

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LegaldutiesandobligationsaroundSignsandSignals
TheHealthandSafety(SafetySignsandSignals)Regulations1996Theseregulationsrequireemployerstoprovide
specificSafetySignswheneverthereisariskthathasnotbeenavoidedorcontrolledbyothermeans,e.g.by
engineeringcontrolsandsafesystemsofwork.
WhereaSafetySignwouldnothelptoreducethatrisk,orwheretheriskisnotsignificant,thereisnoneedto
provideaSign.
Therearespecificrequirementsfortheshape,colourandpatternofSafetySigns.
Anysignmustcontainasymbolorpictogramandbeofaspecifiedcolourwhichclearlydefinesitsmeaning.
Weusecookiestohelpimprovethiswebsite.
Supplementarytextmayalsobeusedtoaidunderstanding,buttextonlysignsarenotpermitted.
Youcanchangeyourcookiesettingsatanytime.Otherwise,we'llassume
you'reOKtocontinue.
Formoreinformationonstandarddesignsfeaturesandtheirmeanings,seethesummaryofSigntypes.
Don'tshowthismessageagain
WhereSignsareusedemployersmustensure:
signsaremaintained.Anydefectiveorfadedsignsshouldbereplaced.
explainunfamiliarsignstoemployeestoensuretheyunderstandthemeaningandactionstobetakenin
connectionwiththem.
TheRegulationsapplytoallplacesandactivitieswherepeopleareemployed,butexcludesignsandlabelsusedin
connectionwiththesupplyofsubstances,productsandequipmentorthetransportofdangerousgoods.
Toviewthefulltextoftheabovelegislationonline,pleasefollowthelinksunderLegislation.

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FireSafetySigns
AdviceontheuseofFireSafetySignscanbeobtainedfromyourenforcingauthorityforfiresafety(e.g.yourlocal
FireandRescueService).
Ingeneral,theRegulationswillnotrequireanychangeswhereexistingFireSafetySignscontainingsymbols
complywithBS5499:Part1:1990FireSafetySigns,noticesandgraphicsymbols(perhapsinordertocomplywith
therequirementsofafirecertificate).
ThisisbecausethesignsinBS5499,althoughdifferentindetailtothosespecifiedintheRegulations,followthe
samebasicpatternandarethereforeconsideredtocomplywiththeRegulations.
Formoreinformationonfiresafety,visitourtopicpageonFire.

http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/workequipment/healthsafetysigns

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GoodpracticearoundSafetySignsandSignals:
roadtrafficsignsmustbeusedwherenecessary,toregulateroadtrafficwithintheworkplace
specifictypesofsignshouldbeusedindangerouslocationse.g.wherethereisariskofslipping,falling
fromheight,orwherethereislowheadroom
ensureemployeesusethestandardhandsignalsfordirectingvehiclesandfordangerousmanoeuvres(see
videoofBanksman'sSignals(externalsite))
SafetySignsshouldbeprovidedwherenecessarytowarnofhazards,topreventdangerouspractices,and
toindicatesafeexitroutesandsafepractices
ensureallFireSafetySignsandotherSafetySignscomplywithcurrentregulations
ensurealltextorwordsignsarereplacedwithpictogramsigns(withtextwherenecessary)
ensureallemployeesunderstandthemeaningofthesignsdisplayedandtheactionstobetaken.

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SummaryofSigntypes
Colour:Red
MeaningorPurpose:Prohibition/DangerAlarm
InstructionandInformation:Dangerousbehaviourstopshutdownemergencycutoutdevicesevacuate
IntrinsicFeatures:Roundshapeblackpictogramonwhitebackgroundrededginganddiagonallinered
parttobeatleast35%oftheareaofthesign
Colour:YelloworAmber
MeaningorPurpose:Warning
InstructionandInformation:Becarefultakeprecautionsexamine
IntrinsicFeatures:Triangularshapeblackpictogramonyellowbackgroundwithblackedgingyellowpartto
beatleast50%oftheareaofthesign
Colour:Blue
MeaningorPurpose:Mandatory
InstructionandInformation:Specificbehaviouroraction,e.g.wearpersonalprotectiveequipment
IntrinsicFeatures:Roundshapewhitepictogramonbluebackgroundblueparttobeatleast50%ofthe
areaofthesign
Colour:Green
MeaningorPurpose:EmergencyescapefirstaidNodanger
InstructionandInformation:DoorsexitsescaperoutesequipmentandfacilitiesReturntonormal
IntrinsicFeatures:Rectangularorsquareshapewhitepictogramongreenbackgroundgreenparttobeat
least50%oftheareaofthesign
Colour:Red(Firefightingsigns)
MeaningorPurpose:Firefightingequipment
InstructionandInformation:Identificationandlocation
IntrinsicFeatures:Rectangularorsquareshapewhitepictogramonredbackgroundredparttobeatleast
50%oftheareaofthesign

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FurtherinformationonSafetySignsandSignals
Emailyourquerynow
CallourAdvicelineon08000192211
Banksman'sSignals(externalsite)ThisonlinevideopresentationfromtheHealthandSafetyExecutive
demonstratesstandardhandsignalsforvehiclemanoeuvresandliftingoperations.
PricedSafetySignsandSignalsguidancefromtheHealthandSafetyExecutiveNotealllinksaretoexternal
pagesontheHSEwebsitegivingoptionstoordertheseresources:
Safetysignsandsignals.TheHealthandSafety(SafetySignsandSignals)Regulations1996.Guidanceon
RegulationsL64(externalsite)
BritishStandardsThefollowingstandardscanbedownloadedororderedonlinefromBritishStandardsOnline
(externalsite):
SafetySignsandColours.1993.BS5378.(externalsite)
FiresafetySigns,NoticesandGraphicSymbols.1993.BS5499(externalsite)
SpecificationfortheIdentificationofPipelineandServices.1989.BS1710.(externalsite)

Legislation
http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/workequipment/healthsafetysigns

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ViewTheHealthandSafety(SafetySignsandSignals)Regulations1996(externalsite).

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