Workplace Safety Signs: What Employers Need to Know

HSE guidance L64 explains how to comply with the Regulations. It says signs and signals are needed when, after all other relevant measures are in place, a significant risk to health and safety remains. Signs are the last step, not the first.

Under regulation 4 of the Regulations, the employer must provide and maintain the appropriate safety signs where a risk assessment shows that a risk cannot be avoided or adequately reduced by other means. The guidance is for employers and others who control workplaces.

HSE also says to avoid too many signs, because they can cause confusion.

HSE says signs should be used for prohibited actions, safeguards that must be followed, hazard warnings, and directing people to fire exits, fire equipment or first aid. The Regulations set colours and shapes for each:

• Prohibition: round, with a black pictogram on white, red edging and a red diagonal bar. Example from HSE: no access.
• Warning: triangular, with a black pictogram on yellow and black edging. Example: corrosive material.
• Mandatory: round, with a white pictogram on blue. Example: ear protection.
• Safe condition (emergency escape and first aid): rectangular or square, with a white pictogram on green.

Fire-fighting equipment signs are rectangular or square, with a white pictogram on red.

HSE refers to fire exit and fire equipment signage, and lists the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 as related fire legislation. The Order applies in England and Wales, and HSE lists the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 for Scotland.

Under the Order, emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs. The Order also covers fire risk assessment, which is a separate duty from providing signs.

The Regulations ask for more than putting a sign up.

• Maintain them: signs must be cleaned, checked, repaired and replaced when necessary, so they stay clear. Poor condition reduces how well a sign works.
• Use suitable materials: signboards must be made of shock- and weather-resistant material suitable for their surroundings.
• Remove old ones: a sign must come down once the situation it refers to no longer exists.
• Explain them: employees must be given comprehensible and relevant information on the measures connected with safety signs, and suitable and sufficient instruction and training in what the signs mean.

• Outdoors: flat aluminium composite signboards are 3mm printed aluminium composite for outdoor use, from £16.00 including VAT.
• Indoors: flat Foamex signboards suit indoor use, from £10.50 including VAT.
• Site entrances and car parks: a post and panel sign stands on its own, which suits entrances and car parks.
• Car park bollards: bollard covers are printed Correx sleeves that carry safety messaging.

You supply the wording and artwork, and we print it. Check that your design follows the colours, shapes and meanings above. Our guides to sign materials compared and indoor and outdoor signs help you choose.

Our office plaques and safety category is made to order and quoted per job. Use it when you need a particular size, material or quantity, or a set of signs for a site. Tell us what you need on our quote page. For ideas by sector, see signage for construction sites, warehouses, offices and car parks.