Safety Signs Buying Guide
When Should Safety Signs Be Displayed?
According to the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, employers must ensure safety signs are installed and maintained when there is a significant health and safety risk that cannot be eliminated or controlled by other measures.
Employers need to evaluate the results of their risk assessments to determine when and where to use safety signs. These assessments should identify hazards, associated risks, and viable control measures. Safety signs should be used to alert employees to significant residual risks that cannot be otherwise mitigated, as well as mandate or prohibit specific actions in the interests of safety.
Employers must ensure that employees understand the meaning of safety signs. While most signs are intuitive, some may be less familiar, especially to newer or less experienced staff. Therefore, training should be provided to clearly explain each sign’s meaning and any supplementary text when necessary.
Safety signs should not replace other risk control measures. If a risk can be eliminated through safer working methods, a sign should not be used as a substitute for such actions.
Lastly, even when no significant risks are present, certain fire safety signs such as fire exit and fire door signs are always required as per fire safety regulations.
Safety Sign Standards
Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 mandate that safety signs must comply with standardized designs to ensure they are easily recognized and understood. This includes the use of specific shapes, colors, and graphical symbols as prescribed by ISO 7010. For example:
Prohibition signs
Red circles with a diagonal line, indicating actions that should not be taken.
Mandatory signs
Blue circles, indicating actions that must be carried out.
Warning signs
Yellow triangles, indicating potential hazards.
Safe condition signs
Green rectangles, indicating safety procedures or escape routes.
Types of Safety Signs
Safety signs are colour-coded and fall into specific categories. Multiple sign types can be combined to create a ‘multi-message’ sign for communicating more than one hazard or required action.
Prohibition Signs (Red)
Prohibition Signs indicate actions that must not be taken. They feature a red circle with a diagonal line and a black pictogram. Supplementary text must be white on a red background.
Mandatory Signs (Blue)
Mandatory Signs indicate actions that must be carried out. They feature a blue circle with a white pictogram. Supplementary text must be white on a blue background.
Hazard Warning Signs (Yellow)
Hazard Warning Signs indicate potential hazards. They feature a yellow triangle with a black border and pictogram. Supplementary text must be black on a yellow background and lead with “Danger,” “Warning,” or “Caution,” depending on the severity of the hazard.
Safe Condition Signs (Green)
Indicate safety procedures or escape routes. These include first aid and emergency escape signs, guiding individuals to safety.
Multi-Message Safety Signs
Different categories of safety signs can be combined in a single sign, but the sign should not mix categories within a single message. All multi-message signs follow the BS EN ISO 7010:2020 design principles for maximum comprehension.
Photoluminescent Fire Safety Signs
Photoluminescent Fire Safety Signs store energy from light sources and glow in the dark, aiding evacuation during blackouts or in smoke-filled environments. Ensuring safety signage is visible in blackout conditions can be critical during an evacuation, helping guide people to exits and essential equipment.
Sign Materials
We offer a wide range of materials for indoor and outdoor use, each with their own benefits. We have a created a comprehensive guide summarising the advantages of each of the materials on offer, so you can easily choose which one will best suit use on your premises.
Self-Adhesive Vinyl
- Cost-effective
- Easy to affix
- For flat or curved non-porous surfaces
- Gloss finish
- Indoor use only
- Guaranteed for 4 years indoor use
1mm & 2mm Rigid Plastic
- Flexible and less likely to snap
- Comes with adhesive pads
- Lightweight
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
- Guaranteed for 4 years outdoor use
Eco-Friendly Self-Adhesive Vinyl
- Plastic-free, paper-based material
- Durable and eco-friendly
- Easy to affix
- For flat or curved non-porous surfaces
- Indoor use only
Glow In The Dark Self-Adhesive Vinyl
- Photoluminescent material
- Charges via light
- Easy to affix
- Indoor use only
- Guaranteed for 4 years indoor use
Eco-Friendly Rigid Plastic
- Made from recycled plastic
- Shatter resistant, durabl, semi-flexible
- Comes with adhesive pads
- Indoor and outdoor use
Glow In The Dark 1mm Rigid Plastic
- Photoluminescent material
- Charges via light
- Comes with adhesive pads
- Indoor and outdoor use
- Guaranteed for 4 years indoor use
Aluminium Composite
- Rigid and lightweight
- Hardwearing and aesthetic
- Rust and corrosion resistant
- Indoor and long-term outdoor use
- Option for anti-graffiti coating
3mm Brushed Aluminium Composite
- Rigid, lightweight, superior finish
- Hardwearing and aesthetic
- Rust and corrosion resistant
- Indoor and long-term outdoor use
- Option for anti-graffiti coating
- Guaranteed for 7 years outdoor use
Window Stickers
- Forlimited wall space
- Self-adhesive front
- Suitable for glass surfaces
- Indoor use
Super-Tough Rigid Plastic
- Durable and shatterproof
- Stronger than acrylic
- 100% recyclable
- Comes with adhesive pads
- Indoor and outdoor use
- Guaranteed for 5 years outdoor use
Removable Vinyl
- Repositionable
- Easy to remove and re-stick
- Suitable for flat or curved non-porous surfaces
- Indoor use only
- Guaranteed for 3 years indoor use
Why Buy From Safety Signs From VSafety?
Safety signs are essential for all organizations to fulfill basic health and safety requirements. Ensuring compliance doesn't need to be difficult or costly, and we strive to simplify the process for our customers.
All our safety signs use official ISO symbols and comply with HSE Signs & Signals regulations, ensuring high standards unlike some competitors.
We provide over 25 material options, various fixings, and finishes, all available for quick ordering, offering a complete signage solution in seconds. Our signs are made from high-quality, durable materials with UV-stabilized inks, guaranteeing long-lasting performance.
By manufacturing our signs in Poole, Dorset, we enable customers to save money by purchasing directly from a UK manufacturer.
Here are just some of the benefits of buying your safety signs from VSafety:
Fast & Easy Ordering - Choose from over 50,000 fully compliant signs
Customise your signs in seconds using our online builder
24 Hour Despatch – Order Before 4:30pm
Free Delivery On All Orders
30 Day Money Back Guarantee
Instant Credit – UK businesses pay on invoice
Exceptional Prices With Bulk Buy Discounts Available
'Made In Britain' - Buy Direct From An Accredited Manufacturer