Health and safety signs in the workplace

As an employer, you have a responsibility to your workers to always keep them safe. This means carrying out risk assessments, creating a safe working environment, and the inclusion of a safety sign where required.

As per the regulations, ensuring health & safety signs are in the correct areas is a legal requirement - failure to do so can lead to prosecution with heavy fines to pay. And more importantly, you're gambling with your employee's health.

In this guide, we'll discuss what a safety sign is, what each colour means, and where they should be situated in your company.

The importance of health and safety signs in the workplace

Health & safety signs are extremely important for keeping employees, employers and customers safe.

Safety signs and signals make people on site aware of any potential dangers and can send a clear message through just a picture. Commuicating an essential safety message that can almost certainly be understood by all who see it.

They are a highly effective way of controlling the risk of accidents taking place and lessening the likelihood of an accident or a fire taking place.

As an employer, you have a duty to keep everyone safe, and a sign is one of the best ways in doing so.

Are health & safety signs a legal requirement in the UK?

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 mandates the use of safety signs in workplaces.

The regulations state what type of safety sign should be installed and in what type of area. So, it's crucial you understand which ones you should have around your workplace.

The law states:

• Safety signs are required where a significant risk to the health and safety of workers remains, despite the use of other safety measures

• Signs must be clear and legible

• Clearly communicate the safety message such as ‘no access’

• Signs should not cause confusion

Different types of health & safety signs

In order to keep your employees safe, it's crucial you fully understand the different types of signage that you must put up.

Once you understand the meaning of each safety sign, you can make sure you lower the chance of accidents in the workplace.

Prohibition signs

Prohibition signage are signs prohibiting a behaviour in a certain area that's likely to increase the risk of danger.

Prohibition signs should be used to tell people to not do something and are typically made up of a red circle with a red diagonal line through the middle in front of a white background.

Examples of when to use prohibition signage

Common examples of when prohibition signs should be used in your workplace are as follows:

• No unauthorised people can enter a certain area

• No entry

• No smoking is allowed in this area

• No parking allowed

• Do not operate a certain piece of equipment

Mandatory health and safety signs

Mandatory signs are used to tell an employee to do something, for example, personal protective equipment must be worn.

These signs are used to comply with any assessments done through your workplace, for example, a part of a construction site where hard hats must be worn.

Mandatory signs consist of a circle with a blue circle, blue background and an image in the middle.

Examples of mandatory signs

Common examples of when mandatory signs should be used in your company are:

• PPE must be worn such as eye protection or ear protectors

• The fire door must always remain closed

• Authorised personnel access only

Hazard warning signs

Warning signs are used to warn people of hazards or danger in a certain area, such as flammable liquids.

These signs are used to protect your staff from dangerous substances and to be aware of the potential hazards surrounding them.

Warning signs consist of a yellow triangle; with the hazard it's warning of in the middle in black.

Yellow is seen as an effective and essential colour to grab people's attention and protect them from potential danger.

Examples of warning signs

Common examples of when you should use a warning sign in your workplace are as follows:

• Warning high voltage

• Beware of the fragile roof

• Caution floor is slippery

• Mind the step

• Caution hot water

Emergency or safe condition signs

Emergency or safe condition signs are typically used to point people in the direction of safety. For example, pointing someone in the direction of a fire exit or pointing to the first aid equipment to help the first aiders.

You must make these signs as clear as possible, as time is of the essence for your first aiders in an emergency.

These are green signs, with a white image in the middle showing a clear message.

Examples of safe condition signs

You should use emergency signs for the following:

• To signal an emergency escape or to signal that first aid is available

• To signal a fire escape

• To signal an assembly point during a fire

• To signal push bar to open

• To signal emergency stop

Fire safety signs

Fire equipment signs have one main purpose, to point people in the direction of fire safety equipment - such as fire extinguishers.

Fire equipment signs are usually in a red rectangle, with a white picture in the middle stating wording surrounding fire safety. They are essential for fire safety in the workplace.

Examples of fire safety signs

The following are common examples of when fire safety signs should be used:

• Showing where a fire extinguisher is

• Showing where the fire door is

• Showing where the fire alarm control panel and call point are

• Showing the message "for fire use only"

Harmful substances signs

This form of safety sign is in place to warn people of the danger surrounding substances hazardous to health.

These signs typically consist of a white diamond with a red outline with a picture in the middle.

The picture helps to show the substance which is being used might be a danger to health if not managed correctly.

Examples of a harmful substances sign

The following are the different types of hazards where you should use these information signs:

• Explosives

• Flammables

• Corrosive

• Acute toxicity

Who enforces health & safety signs in the UK?

In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive ensures that safety sign regulations are enforced. Their main aim is the safety of all workers in your business.

If you breach the strict health and safety regulations, they put in place - you can find yourself with a large fine to pay.

More information on the Health and Safety Executive can be found on their website.

Penalties for failing to use safety signs in the workplace

Failing to use adequate safety signage can result in serious accidents at work. Potentially to workers and your employees but also to pedestrians and visitors too.  

For example, where a safety sign does not indicate the use of hot water, an employee may burn their skin, resulting in serious scalding.

The Health and Safety Executive have the power to issue hefty fines. In very serious cases businesses can face criminal prosecution. As a result, the company’s reputation could be at risk.

Get help with health and safety signs with BrightHR

As an employer, you have a duty of care to keep your staff safe. The use of signs can go a long way in doing this. From prohibition signs to fire safety signs.

You have a responsibility to ensure you have the correct sign in place in line with the safety signs and signals regulations. But ensuring that your communication is clear and employees are not left confused.

This includes all industries, such as construction sites – where certain workplace accidents occur more often.

If these are neglected or an employee suffers from an accident, or medical care, you could face heavy fines to pay and even criminal prosecution.

BrightHR can help you manage health and safety with our BrightAdvice helpline. Our team of health and safety experts are on hand to take your calls 24/7, so you can be sure your business is compliant with the latest health and safety legislation in the UK.

Give us a call today for more information or book a free demo of our health and safety software to discover more from BrightSafe.