Safety signs and their intrinsic features

Introduction

Safety Signs are the most effective tool to communicate and create health, safety, and environment relate information and awareness among the staff or workers at the workplace. It is also important to know that the installation of Safety signs is also a compliance requirement as it is considered as an essential part of the overall safety program in all standards and legislation. According to health and safety regulation 1996, the safety signs should be installed at the workplace where they could help in further reducing risk besides the other safety controls but it should not be considered as an alternative of the safety controls.

Safety Signs are classified into five categories by defining their intrinsic features as under; 

1. Warning Signs
2. Mandatory Signs
3. Prohibition Signs
4. Safe Condition Signs
5. Fire safety or Fire Equipment Signs

The identification of the above mentioned five types of safety signs can be done by the virtue of their intrinsic features that includes shape, and colour (background, text and image). Therefore, we will describe each type of safety signs in detail on the basis of its colour code, text and shape as internationally followed.

1. Warning Signs

Warning signs are safety signs which indicate immediate danger from a hazard or any hazardous condition. Or these signs are used to alert or caution the staff or worker from the hazard or hazardous condition.

The intrinsic features of warning sign are as under;

•  Background Colour = Yellow
• Shape = Triangle
• Shape Border Colour = Black
• Text or symbol or Feature image = Black

2. Mandatory Signs

Mandatory signs are safety signs which indicate important information which needs to follow by all staff or workers to perform their respective activity in the vicinity. The mandator signs indicate that work can not be done safely without compliance with the information given on the sign. For example, due to COVID - 19 the facemask becomes mandatory PPE where people work in groups and the sign use for communicating information is mandatory to sign.

 

The intrinsic features of mandatory signs are as under;

•  Background Colour = Blue
• Shape = Circle or Rectangle
• Shape Border Colour = Blue
• Text or symbol or Feature image = White

3. Prohibition Signs

Prohibition signs are safety signs which indicate forbidding of any act or behaviour in the signage vicinity. The prohibition signs also indicate that the prohibited action could create a hazardous condition if not followed and it applies to all persons who use or visit the signage vicinity. For, example prohibition sign of no smoking, no use of mobile phone, or no use of alcohol etc.

The intrinsic features of prohibition signs are as under;

•  Background Colour = White
• Shape = Circle
• Shape Border and Crossline Colour = Red
• Text or symbol or Feature image = Black

4. Safe Condition Signs

Safe condition signs are safety signs which indicate the action is permitted in the signage visibility or the facility is available for the persons to work or visit. Safe condition signs are the indicators of acceptable risk areas including welfare facilities, first aid facilities and smoking area.

The intrinsic features of the safe condition signs are as under;

•  Background Colour = Green
• Shape = Rectangle
• Shape Border Colour = White
• Text or symbol or Feature image = White

5. Fire Safety or Fire Equipment Signs

Fire Safety or Fire Equipment Signs indicate information and instruction about fire safety or fire equipment. As fire safety is itself a broader topic, therefore, it required special signages to indicate fire safety and fire equipment information. Fire safety and equipment signs may include fire warnings, fire alarm indicators, fire extinguishers operating procedures and fire exit directions, etc.

The intrinsic features of fire equipment signs are as under;

•  Background Colour = Red
• Shape = Triangle Or Circle
• Shape Border Colour = Red or White
• Text or symbol or Feature image = White

Conclusion

The blog is summed up with an important message which needs to be understood by each HSE professional that safety HSE Signs are not an alternative to safety controls and all persons must have awareness or training to understand the meaning of safety signs. Therefore, apply the safety controls as the risk-reducing agent must be the first priority at your workplace. Then to further reduce risk the safety signs and subsequent awareness can be done. Safety signs will add up the effectiveness of controls by creating awareness among staff or workers.

Lastly, the effectiveness of safety signs can be further improved by blending safety signs with technology, for instance, the emergency exit signs become more catchy when electronic features are added or make them illuminate.

For further information on health, safety and environment below blogs are recommended;

NFPA Hazard Identification System

How to conduct Health and Safety Induction

Hazard Types and their Identification

The Top 10 Responsibilities of Any Safety Officer