Health and Safety Signs Advice and Support

Prevention is key when it comes to making sure employees, visitors and members of the public remain safe whilst on site. Most businesses have various working zones with each of these areas having their own unique safety issues and safety signage requirements. People need to be aware of hazards and dangers which is why it is a legal requirement for all businesses to ensure they have health and safety signage that is clear and legible.

At Arco, we have the knowledge and expertise to help you select the right mandatory signs in your workplace. We can provide expert guidance on the key considerations you need to make when choosing your signage, including viewing distances, standard sizes of signs and the materials used in their construction. In addition, we can help you understand the six types of safety signage specified by the British and European standards, including understanding hazard symbols.

Find out how to choose the right signage solutions for your workplace to ensure people remain safe.

Safety signs in the workplace should be used to clearly identify hazards, provide safety information, and identify safe routes/access around buildings to keep people safe.

For this reason, signs need to be as simple as possible and not contain more text or other elements than necessary. If someone cannot understand the sign and its meaning at first glance, then it will be judged to have failed in its purpose.

The design element of a health and safety sign can be made up of several different components, each of which plays an important role in conveying the message. Read on to discover the different elements involved in signs and what they are used for.

The size of safety signs used in a workplace is an important consideration. It is essential that any sign can be viewed by anyone who is likely to be affected by the hazard or need to know the message being relayed. This means that viewing distance needs to be an important consideration when choosing signs.

The graph below suggests the maximum viewing distances for different workplaces.

• Small offices, shops and factories generally require a maximum viewing distance of 17m
• Large offices, factories and shopping centres require a maximum viewing distance of 22m
• Larger warehouses, distribution centres and exhibition halls require a viewing distance of 30m

If you require further advice, please contact us.

The diagram below gives an idea of the different sizes and shapes of the common signs we supply.

The best material for a sign depends on its application. For example, the weather needs to be considered for outdoor use so that the sign does not fade in sunlight, be damaged by rain or blown away. Most of the time people pick the wrong material for the application.

• SAV Self-Adhesive Vinyl
• RPVC Rigid 1mm PVC Board (Non-Adhesive)
• PVC Self-Adhesive Semi-rigid PVC
• BAN Flexible PVC Banner
• BRG Brushed Gold Effect Laminate (Self-Adhesive)
• BRS Brushed Silver Effect Laminate (Self-Adhesive)
• CHR Polished Chrome Effect (Self Adhesive)
• CLG Window Cling Vinyl
• CRU Classic Roll-up Sign
• CRX Lightweight Corrugated Plastic
• DIB Dibond Aluminium Composite
• FLR(Ph) Anti-slip Laminated Floor Vinyl
• FMX 3mm Foamex Board ("Foamed" PVC)
• LAM Laminated Paper
• PAP Paper
• PB 1.5mm Polished Brass
• PHO 1.3mm Rigid Photoluminescent Board (Self-Adhesive)

• PHS/PHO Flexible Photoluminescent
• ACP Aluminium Composite
• STN Polyester Unprinted Stencil sheet
• TAK Reverse Printed and Moulded Taktyle Sheet
• POL Polished Gold Effect Laminate (Self-Adhesive)
• PP Polypropylene
• PSS 1.2mm Polished Stainless Steel
• PYC 2mm Vandal Resistant Polycarbonate
• QSN Q-sign, Temporary Moulded Plastic Sign
• SAP Paper (Self-Adhesive)
• SSE Stainless Steel Effect Laminate
• SSS Satin Stainless Steel
• TAKPh Taktyle Photoluminescent
• TAKVI Taktyle Vinyl
• TRU Triflex Roll-up Sign
• ZFM Zintec (in a mild steel frame)
• ZIN Zintec (without frame)

• Safety and fire equipment signs must be clearly visible in the immediate vicinity of the equipment
• Safety signs must not be placed on movable objects or adjacent to movable objects like doors or windows etc, which if moved will obscure the sign
• Faded, degraded, or damaged signs should be replaced immediately
• Install in a well-lit, easily accessible, in line of sight and not obscured by doors, racks or other objects
• Where light levels are poor, the signs should incorporate artificial lighting or reflective, or photo-luminescent material as appropriate
• Signs must not create a distraction or be a hazard in themselves

Health and safety signage, as specified by the British and European Standards, can be broken down into the following categories.

Mandatory Signs (White and Blue)

A blue circle containing a white image, denoting that a specific course of action must be taken.

These include signs that indicate the correct type of PPE to wear or doors which must be kept shut for fire safety purposes.

Mandatory signs should be fixed on or very near the relevant equipment or in a position of entry to an area to which the message relates to.

Prohibition Signs (Black, Red and White)

A red circular band crossed with a diagonal crossbar angled on a white background.

Prohibition signs indicate a course of action which is forbidden. These include signs that indicate an action to be prevented such as no smoking, no mobile phones or prohibited movement such as no entry.

Prohibition signs should be fixed on or very near the relevant area to which the message refers to or in a position of entry to an area which the message related to.

Hazard Signs (Black, Yellow and White)

A yellow triangle with a black border and a suitable symbol placed centrally on the triangle.

A hazard warning sign is used to inform of a nearby hazard. These include signs warning of electrical threats, flammable materials or wet floors that post a risk of slipping. These signs should be used to warn of a hazard to health or wellbeing if that hazard cannot be controlled by any other means.

Hazard Signs should be placed in a visible location, near to the hazard, or in a position of entry to an area to where the hazard is located.

Safe Condition Signs (White and Green)

A green rectangle or square covering with a white border with a suitable symbol or text centrally placed on the sign. Both the symbol and any supplementary text should be in white.

A Safe Condition sign provides vital information about an action to keep safe. These include signs that indicate escape routes, emergency exits or equipment such as first aid kits.

Safe Condition signs should be placed in a visible area to enable someone in need to locate and identify the equipment required quickly and correctly.

Fire Equipment Signs (White and Red)

A red rectangle or square with a white border with a symbol or text in white.

Fire Equipment Signs are used to provide vital information about the location and identification of firefighting equipment such as fire alarms, dry risers, and fire extinguishers.

These signs should be placed in a visible area to enable someone to locate and identify the equipment required quickly and correctly. In buildings where the equipment is not clearly visible, it may be important to indicate the location of equipment with further signage.

View our range of over 7,000 sign designs, plus custom signs to meet your business needs.