THE HEALTH AND SAFETY SIGNS AND SIGNALS …



THE HEALTH AND SAFETY SIGNS AND SIGNALS REGULATIONS 1996

INTRODUCTION

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 replaced the Safety Signs Regulations 1980. The new Regulations came into effect on 1 April 1996 and apply to all workplaces and activities where people are employed. They require employers to use safety signs whenever there is a risk to health and safety, and where the risk cannot be eliminated or controlled to an acceptable level by other means. (Regulation 4).

A safety sign is one which gives a message about health and safety by means of a combination of geometric form, safety colour and symbol or text (words, letters, numbers) or both.

The Regulations also require;

- The specific marking of containers and pipe-work containing dangerous chemicals.

- The marking of areas used for the storage of significant amounts of dangerous chemicals

- The marking of traffic routes.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE REGULATIONS

The new regulations impose minimal changes to existing safety signs that already comply with British Standard BS 5378 or to BS 5499 (Fire Signs). Where previously acceptable fire safety signs do not meet the new requirements (ie incorporating a pictogram, directional arrows and text, where necessary), these signs must be amended or be changed to meet the requirements of the new regulations. In all other cases (e.g. erecting new signs) the signs must meet the requirements of the new regulations.

It must be noted that signs are not considered to be a substitute for other controls and are only provided to warn of residual significant risks and instruct employees of the measures to be taken to protect themselves, (e.g. signs showing where flammable substances are stored; where excessive noise or dust is being created by work activity which cannot normally be controlled by other means, and requesting the use of ear defenders or masks).

Signs should be large enough and be securely fixed at a height so that they can be easily seen. Signs should similarly be removed if the circumstances change or no longer exist. Arrangements should also be made to ensure that the signs are properly maintained.

There are FOUR types of safety signs:

• Prohibition and fire.

• Mandatory.

• Caution.

• Safe Condition.

There are NINE parts to schedule 1 of the Regulations, giving minimum requirements for:

• Safety signs and signals at work.

• Signboards.

• Signs on containers and pipes.

• Identification and location of fire-fighting equipment.

• Signs used for obstacles and dangerous locations and marking traffic routes.

• Illuminated signs.

• Acoustic signals.

• Verbal communication.

• Hand signals.

The overall duty to ensure that safety signs are in place rests with the Council. However, in many situations this may mean that whoever is in control of the place of work will have this responsibility, including ensuring compliance with the Regulations.

TRAINING

An important consideration in the provision of signs and signals is that people to whom the signs are aimed at understand why they are needed and precisely what they mean. This can only be achieved by providing appropriate information, instruction and training. This is of particular importance when new or unfamiliar signs are being used, or when individuals are new to the workplace. (A requirement of Regulation 5).

FIRE SAFETY SIGNS

The use of text-only fire safety signs, (eg ‘Fire Exit’ signs), has not been legal since 24 December 1998 and those in existence must be replaced or supplemented to include the use of a pictogram.

Directional arrows are a supplement to form a complete sign and should not be used alone.

Requirements for safety signs

|Safety colour |Warning purpose |Examples of use |

|RED |Stop |Stop signs |

| | | |

| |Prohibition |Identification, |

| | |colour of emergency shut-down devices |

| | | |

| | |Showing fire hose, |

| |Fire-fighting |Ladder, emergency |

| | |telephone |

| | |fire extinguisher |

|YELLOW |Caution, risk |Identification |

| |of danger |of hazards |

| | |(fire, explosion, chemical, |

| | |radiation etc) |

| | |Warning signs |

| | |Identification of thresholds |

| | |Obstacles |

| | |Risk of collision |

|BLUE |Mandatory action |Obligation to wear |

| | |PPE |

| | |Mandatory signs |

|GREEN |Safe condition |Identification of safety showers, |

| | |First Aid points |

| | |Emergency exits signs |

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