Safety signs are a crucial aspect of workplace health and safety practices, communicating vital warnings and safety messages to everyone on-site in a visually impactful way. The colour and shape of health and safety signs are a key part of that visual communication - but many might be unaware of exactly what purpose these design elements serve.

Workplace safety rules from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) dictate that every workplace needs safety signs to ensure that everyone knows what to do to keep safe. However, it is also essential that all members of staff are able to understand the meaning of these signs, and that no time is wasted in an emergency having to explain unfamiliar signs to workers - which is why the shapes and colours of safety signs are standardised.

It is your responsibility as an employer to ensure that all of your workers understand any safety symbols and fire safety signs on-site at a glance, to ensure that potential hazards are identified and rules are followed. Fortunately, the differences between the signs are clear and easy to remember.

What are the main types of safety signs?

In total, there are five main types of health and safety signs, using different colours and shapes to draw the viewer’s attention and offer an indication of their meaning without needing to read the words.

Prohibition signs

Circular red safety signs are otherwise known as prohibition signs, used to highlight potentially dangerous behaviour or activities that must be avoided.

Prohibition signs feature a thick red circle with a black pictogram in the middle and a red diagonal line through the central image, demonstrating the dangerous behaviour the sign is there to prevent. Examples include signs that forbid entry to certain areas, or notices that instruct those working nearby to avoid lighting a cigarette or using their mobile phones.

When you see a red prohibition sign, it simply means that you need to read the notice and ensure that you avoid the prohibited activity.

Warning signs

Warning signs feature a triangular border and a yellow background. They are designed to draw workers’ attention to a specific nearby danger or hazardous situation in the area.

Rather than prohibiting a specific action, warning signs are designed to remind the reader to keep the hazard in mind. For example, yellow or amber signs may be used to warn workers about caustic chemicals or high-voltage equipment; they can also be used as signs warning about slippery or uneven surfaces, or extreme temperatures.

When you see warning safety signs, you should take extra care to ensure you are able to avoid the nearby hazard.

Mandatory signs

Mandatory signs depict a specific behaviour or instructions of a mandatory nature, which must be followed when entering the area. These signs are circular with a blue background, using text, pictograms and safety symbols to provide the necessary instructions.

Common examples of mandatory signs include the “Keep Shut” warnings that appear on fire doors, or the notices used on construction sites to remind workers to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as safety goggles and hard hats. Blue safety signs are also often used to remind people to avoid littering the area.

When you see mandatory signs, you should read them carefully and follow the instructions closely to make sure you are adhering to health and safety regulations.

Safe condition signs

Safe condition signs are important safety signs with a green background and a rectangular or square shape, featuring a white pictogram. These signs are used to highlight safe routes or mark out essential safety facilities that can be accessed when necessary.

Look out for these signs marking out where to find the nearest fire door, emergency exits, safe assembly points and first aid kits; they can be positioned directly over the location in question, or along escape routes, using large white arrows to point the way.

When you see green safety signs, you should follow them to safety, or make a mental note of their location so you’ll know where to head when an emergency arises. Often, these will be illuminated signs, to ensure they are highly visible at all times.

Fire safety signs

Like prohibition signs, UK fire safety signs are also red, but can be distinguished by their rectangular or square shape and white pictograms. These crucial fire safety instruction signs provide information and mandatory fire instructions to ensure everyone on site knows what to do in case of a fire, including where to find the nearest fire alarm, extinguishers and other equipment.

Fire equipment signs are one of the most common types of fire instructions notice, and are used to not only mark out the location of fire blankets, extinguishers and other equipment, but also information on how to use them correctly.

When you see a red fire safety sign, you should remember its location in case of fire - it could help to save lives.

The importance of proper maintenance

Responsible businesses will have plenty of these signs all across their workplace, but proper health and safety stewardship needs to go beyond simply buying the appropriate signs.

It is essential to ensure that all members of staff understand what all of the signs mean - not only by providing proper training, but also by making sure that their messages and pictograms are self-explanatory. Businesses also have a responsibility to keep these notices clearly displayed, unobstructed and well maintained, as a hidden or damaged sign could pose a significant danger to staff wellbeing if an emergency situation occurs.

By taking the importance of health and safety signs seriously, companies in all sectors can ensure their workforce are well-informed on what to do in any situation, meaning they will be able to manage their own safety and wellbeing in a way that is self-sustaining.

If you’re looking for safety signs for your workplace, SafetyBuyer offers a wide range of products to suit all requirements. To find out more, call us on 0800 043 0161.