The Standardization of Safety Signs and Signals

A Summary of The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

The basic methods of conveying information about health and safety are by signs, signals and speech. The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 bring illuminated and standard safety signs into line with European Union recommendations and also refer to the use of acoustic signals, hand signals and spoken communication.

The demands of the Regulations

Employers must supply appropriate safety signs where there is a risk that cannot be ignored, or managed in another way. This relates to all environments and activities where there are employees.

The Regulations oblige employers to

keep their signs in good condition;
tell their employees what unfamiliar signs mean; and
describe the action to take when employees encounter a safety sign.

Exclusions

There is no need to provide a safety sign if it does not help to lessen a risk, or if the risk is not significant. The Regulations also exclude any mention of signs or labels associated with the supply of materials, equipment and products, or the conveyance of hazardous goods.

General safety signs

Examples of general safety signs covered by the Regulations are those for

no access;
no smoking;
warnings about the proximity of industrial vehicles; and
road traffic.

Others include the signs warning employees to wear protective equipment such as helmets, masks and safety glasses.

Fire safety signs

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The majority of existing fire safety signs, showing exit routes from buildings, complied with the requirements of the new rules. The signage details appear in BS 5499: Part 1: 1990 Fire safety signs, notices and graphic symbols.

Pipework

Pipework that has a corrosive, flammable, explosive or toxic material running through it must have appropriate markings at all discharge and sampling points.

Other dangerous substances

Stores and areas where there is less then 25 tonnes of dangerous substances must also use pipework signage. Sites with 25 tonnes or more come under the marking system of the Dangerous Substances (Notification and Marking of Sites) Regulations 1990.

Signals

Evacuation

For the evacuation of a building, the alarm signal must be continuous. The nature of the signal must meet BS 5829: Part 1: 1988 Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings and can take the form of an electronic alarm or a manual warning such as a handbell.

Hand signals

The Regulations give details of acceptable hand signals for directing transport and mechanical handling, but also allow the signals contained in British Standards such as BS 7121: Part 1: 1989 Code of practice for safe use of cranes.

Dangerous locations

The Regulations explain the markings for areas where people may fall, slip or have to negotiate low headroom. The actual legal requirements, however, are contained in the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

Article by Kevin Watson.

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