HEALTH & SAFETY
with machinery, being struck by a moving or falling object and exposure to an explosion. Taking appropriate physical precautions—safety covers on machinery, the erection of barriers—and implementing clear rules on safe working practises are all key to reducing risk, but equally important is the provision of clear information and guidance. If there’s a trip hazard, people should be aware of it. If first aid materials are available, their location should be clearly signposted. If working with a particular piece of machinery carries certain risks, it should carry visible warnings of that risk along with instructions on best practice: ‘Wear ear protectors when operating this machine’, ‘Dust hazard. Wear appropriate dust mask in this area.’
In short, people should be alerted to potential danger before incidents occur. They should know where to go in the event of an emergency, and it should be made clear if certain actions or areas are prohibited to unauthorised personnel. All this comes under the terms of the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, which states that safety signage should be used where there is a significant risk to health and safety that cannot be controlled or removed by other means.
Certain signage is required by law across all factories, regardless of size. These signs, which include health and safety law posters and fire extinguisher signs, must be displayed and clearly apparent to all on-site and must conform to the BS ISO 7010 standard to ensure consistency. Failing to do so can lead to companies being fined, particularly if an accident were to occur.
Although these particular regulations do not place any duty on an organisation or business to provide signs to warn non-employees—such as visitors—of risks to their safety, the use of effective signage will certainly help in terms of compliance with broader legislation covering the health and safety of those ‘not in their employment.’
In general, signage is split into five specific colour coded categories:
Red (circle with diagonal line): Prohibition signs
Red (circle with diagonal line): Prohibition signs
These are used to prohibit behaviour likely to increase or cause danger or otherwise be detrimental to health and safety, e.g., No access for unauthorised persons, No smoking or naked lights, Do not use mobile phones
Red (square): Fire equipment signs
Red (square): Fire equipment signs
These indicate the location of fire flighting equipment.
Yellow: Hazard/Warning signs Blue: Mandatory signs
Yellow: Hazard/Warning signs These are used to alert people to a potential hazard or danger, e.g., Danger – High Voltage, Caution – Fork lift trucks, Mind the step.
Blue: Mandatory signs These are instructional signs, used to prescribe specific behaviour to ensure safety, e.g., Keep this door closed, Fire exit keep clear, Eye protection must be worn.
Green: Safe conditions
Green: Safe conditions These signs give information designed to enhance safety, e.g., Emergency exit, First aid kit, Eyewash, Assembly point etc.
Today, of course, there is another category that has to be taken into account: COVID-19. Responsible business will have signs providing clear instructions in terms of social distancing, handwashing and rules relating to face coverings. There might be a need for signs pinpointing the location of sanitiser dispensers, floor graphics to promote one-way traffic, or information advising visitors of what is expected of them (such as in a factory shop).
Most, if not all of these signs are readily available off the shelf, but it is one thing sourcing them, another knowing which are mandatory, which are advisable, what size they need to be and where they should be located. Larger companies may employ someone whose responsibility it is to know this, but even then, it is not always easy keeping up with the latest legislation and how it affects different industrial sectors.
This is where companies like Stocksigns come in. As well as manufacturing and supplying the signs ourselves – and ensuring that they are fully ISO 7010 compliant – an accredited signage specialist can provide the right guidance and support to ensure that every step has been taken to make sure a factory environment meets all relevant legal obligations. This can take the form of professional advice or more detailed recommendations based on a site survey. The signs we have looked at so far can be supplied in a range of materials. Self-adhesive vinyls are the most widely used and are an extremely versatile
option, with materials available for indoor or outdoor use. The same graphics can be applied to reflective material, aluminium, rigid plastic, lightweight plastic acrylic, high-impact polycarbonate, sustainable eco-friendly board and more. Just as the manufacturing sector is incredibly diverse, so too are the environments in different areas of a facility. Functional and practical is usually the objective on the factory floor, but a boardroom, reception area or multimedia presentation suite might require a different approach entirely.
Another option is illuminated signs. These are generally used to indicate escape routes and fire exits and require emergency lighting back up. An alternative to some applications is the use of photoluminescent signs. These self-charge in ambient light so, in the event of a power failure or poor visibility, the signs will illuminate and create a clear guide to the nearest exit or fire extinguisher. As always, it is imperative to place signs in a clear, obvious area so that they are easily visible to everyone.
All these signs are designed to support the many other activities that go into creating a safe working environment, but in many cases, they simply represent the minimum requirement. New technologies and innovative products can be used to raise health and safety activities to another level. One example of this is the industrial LED safety display. Also known as Lost Time Injury boards, these offer a permanent, high-visibility reminder for staff, raising levels of safety consciousness on- site, reducing the number of avoidable workplace accidents. Similar LED technology can be used to display dynamic messaging such as warnings and other visual alerts, and these single line, bi-line or multi-line displays can be controlled and updated wirelessly. Another application for LED signs on-site would be variable speed limits for different areas of the facility, such as goods in/out, or warehousing. An article like this can only begin to scrape the surface of the legislation covering the use of health and safety signs and the breadth of products available. It is the job of companies like ours, manufacturers of high quality safety signs since 1955, to provide the market expertise companies like yours are looking for.
For more information about Stocksigns’ range of signage, please visit:
Stocksigns
www.stocksigns.co.uk
FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS | FEBRUARY 2022 31
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