FEATURE THIS IS YOUR SIGN


Within the workplace, one of the best ways that businesses can look to mitigate the risk of on-site accidents is through the implementation of high quality and effective signage. According to the 2022/23 British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistic, there were 135 workers killed in work-related incidents, 561,000 injuries sustained at work, 1.8 million people affected with a work-related illness and 35.2m working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury.


Of course, safety signage is never a substitute for safe working practices but they do serve as a constant reminder to staff about the risks and protocols they must take, helping to decrease the chance of injury.


COMPLYING WITH THE REGULATIONS Published in 1996, the Health and Safety (Signs and Signals) Regulation Act still applies in England, Scotland and Wales, and states that safety signage should be used where there are significant risks and where other methods cannot control the risk.


The act provides guidance for employers, duty holders and others who have responsibility over the control of workplaces and for those operating equipment that requires verbal or non-verbal communications. The signs must be legible and used to highlight actions that are prohibited, warnings of a hazard, safeguards that must be followed and to direct towards fire exits/ equipment or first-aid equipment. Signs must also conform to the BS ISO 7010 standard in order to ensure consistency. Failure to meet these particular criteria can result in heavy fines, especially if there is an accident.


SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS Visibility is a crucial factor, as signs must be large enough to be seen easily and ensure a clear understanding, as well as showing where and what the hazard is. In addition, there should not be too many signs in the same space to help avoid confusion.


Pictograms, specifically those outlined in BS EN ISO 7010, help to communicate warnings in an immediate


Mandatory by law and essential to reducing the risk of accidents, the implementation of effective safety signage is crucial to any workplace. Here, Danny Adamson, Managing Director at Stocksigns, looks at how compliance with signage requirements can help to ensure a safer working environment.


and obvious manner by visually representing what the risk or hazard is clearly and consistently. Ambient lights used to illuminate the signs are also useful, especially in emergency situations.


UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT SIGNS There are five specific categories of safety signage, which each have specific ‘intrinsic features’ such as colour, shape and design to aid recognition. They are as follows:


Prohibition signs – round with red edging, a diagonal line and black pictogram – prohibits behaviour that would cause a hazard or impact health and safety e.g. do not touch.


Hazard/warning signs – triangular with a yellow background, black edging and a black pictogram – alerts people to a potential hazard or danger e.g. high voltage or dangerous materials.


Mandatory signs – round with a white pictogram on a blue background – Used for instructional signs and is used to direct behaviour to ensure safety e.g. eye protection must be worn.


Fire equipment signs – white pictogram on a red background – indicates the location of fire-fighting equipment.


Emergency escape and first aid signs – white pictogram on a green background – signs provide information designed to enhance safety by directing people to emergency exists, assembly point and first aid materials.


When choosing signage, it is important to select signage that is both compliant but also as effective as possible to ensure the highest levels of safety. This isn’t necessarily always easy to navigate, which is why seeking support and guidance from a specialist is advisable. Since 1955, Stocksigns has been delivering a variety of bespoke and standardised products and ensures a dedicated account manager for every client who can be on hand to offer essential guidance.


www.stocksigns.co.uk


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www.tomorrowshs.com


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