Key Features of Mandatory Safety Signs

Mandatory signs are instantly recognisable by their blue circle and white pictogram, often accompanied by text. They serve as instructional guides to highlight actions that are essential for safety, such as:

• Now Wash Your Hands: Frequently used in kitchens, healthcare, and food preparation areas to encourage hygiene compliance.
• Report All Accidents Immediately: Found in warehouses, construction sites, and offices to emphasise the importance of prompt incident reporting.
• Use Handrail: Commonly displayed near staircases or walkways to reduce the risk of slips and falls.
• Pedestrian Route: Used in factories and warehouses to demarcate safe walking zones away from machinery and vehicles.
• Permit to Work Must Be Obtained: Found in high-risk sectors like construction or energy to ensure controlled access to hazardous tasks.
• Guards Must Be Used: Displayed near machinery to enforce the use of safety guards and reduce injury risks.
• Please Wash Only Food Equipment Here: Ensures hygiene standards in food production and catering areas.

These signs are more than just visual aids - they are tools to create a safer and more organised environment, reducing risks and reinforcing workplace protocols.

Compliance and Standards

All our mandatory safety signs adhere to the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, which require clear communication of instructions to prevent accidents and injuries. As part of the ISO 7010 standard, these signs use globally recognised symbols to ensure easy comprehension regardless of language barriers.

This standardised approach ensures that mandatory safety signs deliver effective and reliable messaging, contributing to a safe and compliant workplace.

Placement and Maintenance

Mandatory safety signs should be positioned in areas where their instructions are most relevant:

• At entrances to specific zones: For example, “Permit to Work Must Be Obtained” near hazardous work areas.
• Along staircases or walkways: “Use Handrail” signs to prevent falls.
• In hygiene-sensitive areas: “Now Wash Your Hands” or “Please Wash Only Food Equipment Here” signs in kitchens or laboratories.

Regular inspections are recommended to ensure signs remain legible and in good condition. Damaged or faded signs should be replaced promptly to maintain compliance and effectiveness.

Supporting High-Risk Industries

Mandatory safety signs are critical in high-risk sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and logistics, where specific actions are required to maintain safety. For example:

• Construction sites: Reinforcing the use of permits, PPE, and safe work procedures.
• Healthcare settings: Promoting hygiene and safe equipment use.
• Factories and warehouses: Directing pedestrian traffic and ensuring machinery safety compliance.

Enhancing Safety with Visual Management

To complement mandatory safety signs, consider our Workplace Safety Information Boards, which combine critical safety messaging with site-specific information. These boards can be customised to highlight mandatory instructions alongside hazards, emergency procedures, and PPE requirements, providing a centralised resource for maintaining compliance and fostering a culture of safety.

At SafetyBuyer, we provide reliable solutions for workplace safety. Browse our extensive range of mandatory safety signs or contact us to discuss bespoke options tailored to your needs.

For more information, call us on 0800 043 0161 or email sales@safetybuyer.com