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.

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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)

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)

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)

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

These 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.

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