The Law and Safety Signs: What You Should Know

The laws governing safety signs complement the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2006, which mandates a “responsible person” to “take such general fire precautions as will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of any of his employees.” This person must ensure that any non-automatic fire-fighting equipment is easily accessible, simple to use and indicated by safety signs.

The law protects your well being at work. Your employer has a responsibility to protect you, so far as is reasonably practicable, and keep you informed about health and safety. You have a duty to take care of yourself and others. This article is a short guide to health and safety law. Discuss any problems with your employer or safety representative, if you have one.

It is an employer’s responsibility under the law to ensure the safety and welfare of their employees and the general public, and they fulfil part of this responsibility by installing safety signs. Under UK Health and Safety laws it is an employer’s duty to:

• Make the workplace safe and without risks to health to employees and the public – the use of safety signs can alert people to hazards, and show safety procedures.
• Ensure plant and machinery are safe and that safe systems of work are set and followed – correct signs can show safe working rules and regulations.
• Ensure articles and substances are moved, stored and used safely – your signage can immediately notify persons of any substance hazard.

There are a number of styles for safety signs. The use of a certain type depends on the message that the sign carries. For example, blue circles are called “mandatory” signs. These signs give orders: you need to do whatever is written on the sign. Yellow triangles are called “caution” signs. These should be used if something dangerous needs to be brought to people’s attention. Red signs are known as “fire safety” signs. They are used only for showing the location of fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment.

When there is a hazard that has not been avoided or controlled by other means, for example by engineering controls or safe systems of work, the Health and Safety Regulations 1996 require employers to provide specific safety signs. Where the risk is not significant, or where safety signs would not help to reduce the risk, there is no need to provide a sign.

You also need to have fire exit signs, and signs that show where your fire extinguishers are located. Known as “photoluminescent,” some signs are available in glow-in-the-dark finishes. From the straightforward “no smoking” label to the photoluminescent “safe passage” sign, keep in mind that all signs for every situation must incorporate a visual symbol by law.

In order to satisfy the current Health and Safety regulations, you need to exhibit the current “Health and Safety Law, What You Need to Know” poster, available from the HSE. Posters that tell people what to do in the event of an emergency, such as the fire action poster, which gives instructions on what to do if there’s a fire, must also be displayed. Many places of work now require both posters and health and safety signs by law.

You should already know that once you’re an employer you have a legal duty to carry out a risk assessment pertaining to health and safety of your employees, contractors or visitors, and to provide safety signs on any workplace risk that is not adequately controlled by other means. If you are an employee then by now you should have come across safety signs of one type or another at your place of work.

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