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The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

Definitions – Reg 2

Safety sign’ means a sign referring to a specific object, activity or situation and providing information or instruction about health and safety at work by means of a signboard, a safety colour, an illuminated sign, an acoustic sign, a verbal communication or a hand signal.

‘Signboard’ means a sign which provides information or instructions by a combination of geometric shape, colour and a symbol or pictogram and which is rendered visible by lighting of sufficient intensity.

‘Hand Signal’ means a movement or position of the arms or hands or a combination, in coded form, for guiding persons who are carrying out manoeuvres which create a risk to the health and safety of people at work.

‘Acoustic signal’ means a coded sound signal which is released and transmitted by a device designed for that purpose, without the use of a human or artificial voice.

‘verbal communication means a predetermined spoken message communicated by a human or artificial voice

Provision & maintenance of safety signs – reg 4

The regulations require employers to use and maintain a safety sign where there us a significant risk to health and safety that has not yet been avoided or controlled by other means i.e. engineering controls or safe systems of work and where the use of a sign can help reduce risk.

They apply to all workplaces and to all activities where people are employed, but exclude signs used in conjunction with transport or the supply and marketing of dangerous substances, products and equipment.

The regulations require, where necessary, the use of road traffic signs in workplaces to regulate road traffic.
Information, instruction & training – Reg 5

Every employer shall ensure:

Comprehensible and relevant information on the measures to be taken in connection with safety signs is provided to each employee

Each employee receives suitable and sufficient instruction and training in meaning of safety signs
Function of Colours, Shapes & Symbols in Safety Sign

1. Red
Red is a safety colour and must be used for any:
- prohibition sign concerning dangerous behaviour. Prohibition signs must be round, with a black pictogram on a white background with red edging and a red diagonal line. The red part must take up at least 35% of the area of the sign.
- danger alarm concerning stop, shut down, emergency cut out devices, evacuate
- fire fighting equipment
Red and white alternating stripes may be used for marking surface areas to show obstacles or dangerous locations.

2. Yellow
Yellow (or amber) is a safety colour and must be used for any warning sign concerning the need to be careful, take precautions, examine or the like (eg. The safety colour on hazard signs, such as for flammable material, electrical danger, etc.) Warning signs must be triangular with a pictogram on a yellow (or amber) background with black edging. The yellow part must take up at least 50% of the area of the sign.
Yellow and black alternating stripes may be used for marking surface areas to show obstacles or dangerous locations

3. Blue
Blue is a safety colour and must be used for any mandatory signs requiring specific behaviour or action (eg. Safety helmets must be worn sign) Mandatory signs must be round, with a white pictogram on a blue background. The blue part must take up at least 50% of the area of the sign.

4. Green
Green is a safety colour and must be used for: emergency escape signs (eg. Showing emergency doors, exits and routes) and first aid signs (eg. Location of first aid equipment). Escape and first aid signs must be rectangular or square, with a white pictogram on a green background. The green part must take up at least 50% of the area of the sign. So long as the green takes up at least 50% of the area, it is sometimes permitted to use a green pictogram on a white background, for example where there is a green wall and the reversal provides a more effective sign than one with a green background and white border; no danger (eg. For ‘return to normal)

Other colours
White
White is not a safety colour but is used; for pictograms or other symbols on blue and green signs; in alternating red and white stripes to show obstacles or dangerous locations; in continuous lines showing traffic routes.
Black
Black is not a safety colour but is used: for pictograms or other symbols on yellow signs and, except for fire signs; in alternating yellow and black stripes to show obstacles or dangerous locations.

Shapes

• Round signs must be used for any prohibition (red) sign; mandatory (blue) sign.
• Triangular signs must be used for any warning (yellow or amber) sign
• Square or rectangular signs must be used for any emergency escape sign and any first aid sign.