Everyone will agree with me that signs are representations, i hope.

Safety signs are representations aimed at ensuring that individuals and properties are free from harm.

You should know that whether or not they are free from harm is not majorly determined by the signs but the ability of people to adhere to the warning or any other messages the sign is aimed at passing across.

There are numerous types of safety signs ranging from road safety signs to occupational safety signs but in this context i will be using occupational safety signs (involving industrial employees and their environment) as case study.

Now, what are occupational safety signs?

These are representations (mostly pictorial) carefully placed at notable positions in a workplace environment to be strictly adhered to by employees and other individuals (visitors or any other visitors on site) in other to avoid catastrophic situations (accidents).

Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals Regulations) 1996

These Regulations brought into force the EC Safety Signs Directive 92/58/EEC on the provision and use of safety signs. The safety signs directive was adopted by all European Union member states on 24 June 1992, which recognised the need for all workplaces to have easily recognisable signs and symbols relating to safety matters and encourage the standardisation of safety signs throughout the member states of the European Union so that safety signs, wherever they are seen, have the same meaning. In this country, the Directive has been implemented through the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals Regulations) 1996. These regulations apply to all places of work covered by the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974.

The Regulations cover various means of communicating health and safety information. These include the use of illuminated signs, hand and acoustic signals, e.g. fire alarms, spoken communication and the marking of pipe work containing dangerous substances. These are in addition to traditional signboards such as prohibition and warning signs. Fire safety signs, i.e. signs for fire exits and fire-fighting equipment are also covered.

They require employers to provide specific safety signs whenever there is a risk that has not been avoided or controlled by other means, e.g. engineering controls and safe systems of work. Where a safety sign would not help to reduce that risk, or where the risk is not significant, there is no need to provide a sign. The regulations, where necessary, require the use of road traffic signs within workplaces to regulate road traffic and also require employers to maintain the safety signs which are provided by them, explain unfamiliar signs to their employees and tell them what they need to do when they see a safety sign.

The Regulations apply to all places and activities where people are employed, but exclude signs and labels used in connection with the supply of substances, products and equipment or the transport of dangerous goods

Safety signs are divided into four major categories according to the type of message they are intended to convey. Each category is assigned a specific format and set of colours.

1. Prohibition Sign

These signs as the name implies are used to convey “Do Not” type of commands For example, to indicate that smoking is not allowed or that, where a particular material reacts dangerously with water or water should not be used to extinguish a fire. In the workplace they should be used to reinforce instructions prohibiting dangerous activities.

Signs prohibiting an activity consist of a circular red band and single diagonal cross bar descending from left to right at an angle of 45 degrees. The background is usually white with the pictogram indicating the nature of the command in black.

2. Warning Sign

These signs are used to make people aware of a nearby danger. For example, a flammable liquid store or a laboratory where radioactive substances are in use should have an appropriate warning sign near the entrance. These signs are required by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and in specific cases by the Dangerous Substances (Notification and Marking of Sites) Regulations 1990.

Signs warning of a particular hazard consist of a black band in the shape of an equilateral triangle. The background within the band is usually yellow with the pictogram indicating the type of hazard in black positioned centrally on the sign.

3. Mandatory Sign

These signs are used to indicate actions that must be carried out in order to comply with statutory requirements. For example self-closing fire doors that must be kept closed should be labeled with FIRE DOOR KEEP SHUT signs. An area of a construction site where hard hats should be worn should also have appropriate signs at the entry points.

Signs indicating mandatory requirements consist of a blue circle, rectangle or square with the pictogram or text in white positioned centrally.

4. Safe Condition Sign

These signs are used to indicate escape routes, emergency exits, first aid equipment, emergency showers and the like. Safe condition signs consist of a green rectangle or square with the pictogram or text in white positioned centrally.

Now you understand safety signs and what they mean, so whenever you have a reason or two to visit an industry/factory, you should look out for safety signs, even if you don't understand the pictogram embedded on it, once you can identify it's shape and colour you should know what type of safety sign it is and ask a worker in the industry what the pictogram means, stay safe... Safety first...

Summary

References

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Books for study

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