Safety Signs & Signals
Safety Signs
Employers, duty holders and others who have a responsibility for the workplace.
Safety Signs and Signals are required in any workplace environment, even though you have other measures in place like your Company Health and Safety Policy and RAM`s. (Risk Assessment & Method Statements).
Safety signs are essential for preventing accidents and injury and all signs must follow BS EN ISO 7010:2020.
The symbols have been agreed globally to ensure all safety signs are consistent and clarity that is understandable across different languages, cultures or settings.
You will notice that all of the safety signs have no words and the symbol takes no more than 50% of the area of design.
All signs must be clean and legible and must be able to be seen at a distance and under different environmental conditions.
All signs should be sufficient size and located in a prominent position to comply with the regulations.
See the following example below
The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations give the Colours and Shapes for all safety signs.
The employer must make sure during this Site Induction that they cover the four main safety signs.
Warning Signs
Corrosive
Warns you of something dangerous
Shape: Triangular
Black pictogram on a Yellow Background with black edging
the Yellow part to take up at least 50% of the area of the sign.
Prohibitory Signs
Do Not Touch
A sign prohibiting item behaviour likely to increase or cause danger.
Shape: Round
Black pictogram on White Background, Red Edging and Diagonal Line
The Red part to take up at least 35% of the area of the sign
To see more selections of Prohiditory Signs, click on this text
Mandatory Signs
Wash Hands
A sign prescribing specific behaviour
Shape: Round
White Pictogram on a Blue Background
The Blue part to take up at least 50% of the area of the sign
To see more selections of Mandatory Signs, click on this text
Emergency Escape or First-aid Signs
Emergency Exit
Gives information on Emergency Exit
Shape: Rectangular or Square Shape
White Pictogram on a Green Background
The Green part to take up at least 50% of the area of the sign.
To see more selections of Emergency Escape or First-aid Signs, click on this text
Supplementary ‘This way’ signs for emergency exits/escape routes
This way
First-aid Signs
Emergency Shower
First Aid
Emergency Shower
Emergency Telephone
Fire Equipment
This post is being designed at the moment
Fire Extinguisher
Indicates the location of Firefighting Equipment
Shape: Oblong or Square
White Pictogram on a Red Background
The Red part to take up at least 50% of the area of the sign
Supplementary ‘This way’ signs for firefighting equipment
This way
CLP Regulation
A graphical composition that includes a Symbol plus other graphic
elements, such as a border, background pattern or colour that is
intended to convey specific information on the hazard concerned
(CLP Article 2(3)).
For example, this pictogram indicates an oxidising substance or
mixture:
Further information can be found at the Global Harmonized System
Oxidising
A General Signals
Coded signals to be used
The following set of coded signals is without prejudice to other codes applicable at the Community level, used for the same manoeuvres in certain sectors:
Meaning
Description
START
Attention
Start of command
Both Arms are extended horizontally with the palms facing forwards.
Meaning
Description
STOP
Interruption
End of movement
The Right Arm points upwards with the palm facing forwards.
Meaning
Description
END of the operation
Both Hands are clasped at chest height.
B Vertical Movements
Meaning
Description
RAISE
The Right Arm points upwards with the palm facing forward and slowly makes a circle.
Meaning
Description
LOWER
The Right Arm points downwards with the palm facing inwards and slowly makes a circle.
Meaning
Description
VERTICAL DISTANCE
The Hands indicate the relevant distance
C Horizontal Movements
Meaning
Description
MOVE FORWARDS
Both Arms are bent with the palms facing upwards and the forearms make
Slow movements towards the body.
Meaning
Description
MOVE BACKWARDS
Both Arms are bent with the palms facing downwards and the forearms make Slow movements away from the body.
Meaning
Description
RIGHT
to the signalman
The Right Arm is extended more or less Horizontally with the palm facing downwards and Slowly makes small movements to the Right.
Meaning
Description
LEFT
to the signalman
The Left Arm is extended more or less horizontally with the palm facing downwards and Slowly makes small movements to the Left.
Meaning
Description
HORIZONTAL
DISTANCE
The Hands Indicate the relevant distance.
D Danger
Meaning
Description
DANGER
Emergency stop
QUICK
SLOW
Both Arms point upwards
with the palms facing
forwards.
All movements faster.
All movements slower.
