Contents
Health and safety signs in regulations and standardsNeed help related to this topic?
ul. Przemysłowa 10
40-020 Katowice
PL9542792700
The appearance and location of health and safety signs is a legally regulated issue, and failure to comply with the regulations can result in fines and even closure of the workplace. After all, occupational health and safety signs play a very important role - they prevent dangerous situations, and in the event of danger they help protect the health and lives of those in the workplace. So let's find out what types of OSH signs are and what they look like.
Safety signs contain information or instructions regarding safety and/or health in the workplace. Depending on the circumstances, they can be represented by a board, color, light, acoustic signal, verbal message or hand signal. Safety and health signs should be used wherever hazards cannot be avoided or reduced by collective protection measures or organizational methods and procedures.
The basic document on EU grounds that provides the necessary information regarding safety signs is Council Directive 92/58/EEC of June 24, 1992. The provisions of the directive have been implemented in Polish legislation. The issue of what types of safety signs are and how to use them is regulated, among other things:
Safety signs are used in every workplace, especially in office buildings, warehouses, factories. Health and safety signs are also seen in public spaces, i.e. schools, offices, churches, cultural institutions, underground garages and medical care centers, among others. With properly placed signs, the risk of accidents that result from ignorance or unsafe behavior can be reduced. In addition, health and safety signs make it easier to move around the facility, which becomes especially important when there is an imminent threat to health or life.
What are the types of health and safety signs? Here one can distinguish:
Signs in this group facilitate evacuation of building users at the time of an emergency (i.e. fire, chemical spill, terrorist attack). Thanks to them, people on the premises can find the shortest way to the exit, making it easier for the services to carry out the rescue operation and avoiding crowd panic. Evacuation signs must not lead to areas of potential danger and must be located primarily in those places where the direction of exit is not clear. Illuminated and photoluminescent signs are used to ensure efficient evacuation even in low-light conditions. Evacuation signs are distinctive green boards with a white or bright yellow pictogram.
Fire protection signs are part of a building's fire protection system. They are characterized by a red background with a light yellow (now white) pictogram. Signs in this group indicate the location of firefighting equipment (e.g., fire extinguisher, hydrant), other firefighting equipment (e.g., fire ladder), fire roads and the alarm system. Illuminated or photoluminescent signs should also be used in this case.
Even without knowing what types of health and safety signs are, you can easily recognize their meaning. This is because signs in buildings look very similar to signs used in traffic. Prohibition signs have a circular shape and a distinctive color scheme: a red border, white background and a black pictogram crossed out with a red line. The design is quite clear - for example, a crossed-out cigarette means no smoking, while a crossed-out human figure means no trespassing. For less obvious pictograms, descriptive information can be used, such as "unauthorized entry prohibited," "drone flying prohibited."
Imperative signs tell you how to behave in a designated area. Similar to traffic signs, the signage is in the form of a blue circle with a white pictogram. What are the types of health and safety signs with prescriptive content? Here you can distinguish between a general sign (exclamation mark) and specific signs, such as an order to read instructions (open book with the letter "I"), an order to use hearing protection (face with headphones) or an order to use head protection (head with helmet). When in doubt, directional signs with a description can be used, which include a verbal message in addition to the pictogram, such as "wear safety glasses", "use a dust mask".
Warning signs are designed to inform of potential danger. They are placed, for example, at premises where radioactive material or flammable substance is present. Warning signs can also be used to mark slippery or hot pavement, storage areas in warehouses or equipment that can cause electric shock. Such signage is most often in the form of a triangle with a black border and a black pictogram. General signs with an exclamation point and verbal description are also used, as well as stickers affixed to machinery and equipment.
Information signs become more important in emergency situations, when an accident has already occurred and it is necessary to quickly call for help or attempt to save health or life. They most often take the form of a green square with a white pictogram. In addition, there may be descriptive information underneath. What are the types of health and safety signs from the information group? Among others, a first aid sign (symbol of an equilateral cross), an emergency telephone sign (symbol of a telephone handset) and a first aid kit sign (symbol of a snake and cup) are used.
Safety signs should be used in such places as:
In manufacturing plants and logistics centers, the places requiring signage can be very numerous. They can be made with the help of a modern solution, such as LED sign projectors in OSH. Projectors are used here, which project the image of a health and safety sign (standard or personalized) on a flat surface. A luminous sign will work well wherever traditional signs quickly deteriorate or cannot be used. The overhead projector can also be equipped with additional functions (motion sensor, pulsating light), which make OSH signs even more visible and thus ensure greater safety on the work site.