Whenever you go into a commercial building or site, you will see health and safety signage. Whether you’re going out to dinner at your favourite restaurant, visiting a client in their office or at a building site, health and safety signs can help you to reduce risks and give workers and visitors vital information about their surroundings.
Health and safety signage is bold to attract attention, and follows a universal format so that people know what to look for. Its entire purpose is about communicating and reducing risk, giving direction and providing information. Read on to find out why it is so important, and what forms health and safety signage can take.
Why Are Health And Safety Signs Important?
There are two big reasons why all commercial spaces need health and safety signage.
Firstly, it’s the law. The Health and Safety Executive states that employers must provide safety signs if there is a significant risk which can’t be avoided or controlled in any other way. For example, low ceilings or steep steps cannot be altered, and so safety signs will need to be displayed to warn people. Employers are also required to maintain the safety signs they provide, and explain any unfamiliar signs to their employees, so they know what to do when they see them.
The second reason is fairly simple – to keep people safe! That’s the whole point of health and safety signs really. To make sure that anyone who visits or uses the site knows of any risks there may be, and what they need to do to avoid them. They can also be used to direct people towards emergency resources or tools in the event of an accident, such as emergency eyewash stations.
Health and safety signs can be displayed in a variety of ways, from being wall-mounted fixed signage, individual door notices, floor notices and even ceiling-mounted hanging signs. Whatever fits your site and needs best.
What Health And Safety Signs Does Your Business Need?
Most health and safety signs are fairly self-explanatory and simple, although some businesses will need to display more complex signage. There are generally 6 types of health and safety signs:
Mandatory Signs
These signs show employees something they must do in that area. A mandatory sign will be a circle with a white outline and a blue background, and contain an image showing employees what to do. They include things like:
- Wearing eye or ear protection
- Walking a particular route
- Wearing a helmet or gloves
On top of this, any spaces with glazing and glass partitions are required to have a protective film, also called a manifestation, applied to it. This can take the form of a full frost film, patterns, logos, spots – anything that makes the glass visible. These are required by The Disability Discrimination Act, and are needed anywhere there is a risk of human impact into clear glass. We mostly provide glass manifestations to office workspaces, hospitality, and retail environments.
Warning Signs
Warning signs are designed to show employees that there is a specific hazard or danger in the area. They take the form of a triangle with a black outline and a yellow background, along with an image showing what employees need to be aware of. This could be things like:
- Explosive or corrosive material
- A steep drop
- Industrial vehicles
Prohibition Signs
These signs tell employees not to do things that could cause or increase danger in the area. They will be displayed as a red circle with a diagonal line through the middle, and a black image showing what’s prohibited. This includes activities like:
- Smoking or using a naked flame
- Touching something dangerous
- Accessing somewhere as a pedestrian or with a vehicle
Emergency Escape or First Aid Signs
A sign that shows employees and visitors where they can exit the premises in an emergency, or where they can find medical help urgently. These are usually rectangles or squares with a white outline and green background, with a white image showing where to find the exit or medical help.
- Emergency escape signs will usually have an arrow pointing in the direction of the exit
- First aid signs will point towards any form of medical help, including a stretcher, eyewash or an emergency telephone
Firefighting Signs
Fire safety signs show employees where the equipment they can use to fight a fire is located. This includes:
- Fire extinguishers
- A fire hose
- A ladder
- Emergency telephones
Construction Site Signage
Construction sites are a bit more unique. There are generally a lot more risks and dangers on construction sites, and so there’s a lot more signage site managers need to display. While they will vary from site to site, some examples of construction signs include:
- Signs telling visitors to report to the site office
- Warning signs for electrical risks or incomplete scaffolding
- Signs restricting access to pedestrians or vehicles
- First aid signs for workers to get medical help
On top of these 5 mandatory signs, there are 3 other types of health and safety signs your business may want to display. These are:
Wayfinding: Directional signs to make sure employees or visitors don’t get lost. These are very important on larger sites, such as office buildings, hospitals and schools. They’re often found on corners or junctions, and directional signs can even take the form of coloured lines on the floor.
Informational: These signs give general information about the whole site, rather than just a specific area. One example would be a map of the site, with markers for important areas and facilities. This gives people the information they need while navigating your site.
Directional: Helping people get to where they need to go. These are best used at junctions and areas without a clear traffic flow. The key to their success is continuity, so anyone who gets lost can find their way again quickly.
At Signwrite Studios we can provide a wide range of custom printed health and safety signs for all commercial spaces. Whether that’s custom health and safety templates to slot into your business where needed, or branded solutions to add a personal touch. Our experienced sign makers can work with you to make sure your health and safety obligations are met, and your business looks good while doing it. For more information, just contact the team here and book your free consultation.