Safety Sign

Displaying a safety sign could make the difference between complying with health and safety regulations and not complying, or worse still jeopardising the health and safety of others. The Health and Safety (Safety signs and signals) Regulations 1996 and the European Safety Signs Directive (92/58/EEC) seek all signs in Europe to be understood by all languages so that there is no risk of a safety sign being misinterpreted by a non English speaking person in the event of an emergency. The directive requires that safety signs are to employ widely understood pictograms. According to the directive, all employers should use a safety sign whenever a health and safety or fire risk cannot be controlled by other means.

Employees and visiting guests should be able to comprehend the characteristic colour and shape of your displayed safety sign as well as the detail of any symbol employed in the sign. For fire exit signs, you should use supplementary directional safety signs rather than using just one larger sign. British Standard BS 5499-4 code of practice for escape routes recommends the right mounting site and location for an escape sign. The recommendations go along these lines: Fire exit and exit signs should be evenly spread and constantly positioned at the same elevation so that the evacuee can speedily estimate the position of the next safety sign within the escape route. You should ensure that your safety sign cannot be covered by an open door.

A wall mounted sign should be sited approximately 1.7m to 2.0m from the floor to the base of the sign to ensure that they are easily noticed. You should position your sign for the greatest impact. A safety sign should be located away from any other signs or similar looking items. Safety signs should not be placed in locations where colour contrast is poor, for example, a blue sign on a blue door.