Health & Safety Signs & Signals

Date:               October 2023

Issue:              No. 5

Subject:          Health & Safety Signs & Signals

This document forms part of the National Ice Centre’s organisational written safety policy arrangements. 

Departments, services or teams may consider it appropriate to develop additional guidance and systems of work on specific work related activities. 

Where proposals, additional guidance or changes to systems of work will have an impact on health, safety and welfare, this will be discussed and agreed at the Health & Safety Committee.

If you have any questions or require further information or support on the contents of this document, please contact the NIC Health & Safety Advisor or Corporate Safety Advice.

To comply with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations, managers must ensure that specific safety signs are in place whenever there is a risk that has not been controlled by other means e.g. engineering controls and safe systems of work.

Where a safety sign would not help to reduce the risk, or where the risk is not significant, there is no need to provide a sign.

Managers must ensure that signs are in place for effective traffic management using the correct road traffic signage.

Managers need to ensure that the safety signs are kept in a suitable condition and are clear and easy to understand.

Where the signage may be specialised or there is a need to clarify what the signage is in place for, colleagues must be informed of the purpose of the signage.

These regulations not only cover signage but also other means of communicating health and safety information including acoustic signals (e.g. fire alarms), spoken communication and the use of hand signals.

Text Only Signage

The use of text only signs is not acceptable.

All signs must have pictograms and text where necessary to aid clarity.  Managers need to ensure that all signs comply with this requirement.

Other Signs and Signals

These additional signs and signals that may be utilised can include:

the requirement for illuminated signs where necessary e.g. fire warning systems and emergency exit locations.
hand signals for mechanical handling and directing vehicles.
dangerous locations (e.g. slips, falling from heights) and traffic routes need to be marked.
where evacuation is needed, the fire alarm signal should be continuous. Where hearing impairment may be an issue, the provision of a visual alarm should be considered

There are various types of sign, each having there own particular style and requirements.

The pictograms should also be accompanied by text identifying relevant information.

Prohibition Signs

This signage identifies a situation or task that is specifically prohibited.  Typical signs include “no smoking”, “no access for unauthorised persons” and “not drinking water”.

1. round shape
2. black pictogram, white background, red edging and red diagonal line

Warning Signs

This signage identifies a hazard and gives a warning such as “slippery floors”, “fragile roof” or “fork lift trucks present”.

1. triangular shape
2. b) black pictogram on a yellow background with black edging

Mandatory Signs

This signage demands that this particular action MUST be carried out within the designated hazardous area.

These signs include “wear hearing protection”, “fire door-keep shut” and “eye protection must be worn”.

1. round shape
2. white pictogram on a blue background

 Emergency escape or first-aid signs

This signage identifies a safe condition or route.

Typical examples will include directional signage showing the location of the ‘Fire Exit’ and where a ‘First Aid box’ may be located.

1. rectangular or square shape
2. white pictogram on a green background

Fire-fighting signs

All fire fighting equipment and call points must be identified by this type of signage:

1. rectangular or square shape
2. white pictogram on a red background

Fire Action Notices

Although not covered directly by the legislation, completed fire action notices adjacent to key fire alarm call points may be required to ensure colleagues and visitors are informed about the premises’ fire procedures.

1. Rectangular shape
2. White text on a blue and red square with blank spaces that need to be completed by the management

Managers must ensure that the blank boxes are completed and that the information remains legible.

Although the Regulations specify a code of hand signals for mechanical handling and directing vehicles, they permit other equivalent codes to be used such as:

• BS 6736:1986 Code of practice for hand signaling for use in agricultural operations
• BS 7121:Part 1: 1989 Code of practice for safe use of cranes

Managers must ensure that a clear set of precise hand signals must be identified and understood by both vehicle / equipment controller and signaller prior to directing vehicles or other equipment.

The signaller’s duties whilst directing manoeuvres must be exclusive to that task. 

The signaller must wear distinctive clothing or other identifiable items and there is a guide that shows a list of the coded hand signals as identified within the regulations: