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Safety Signage Information
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H&S A
HEALTH AND SAFETYAUTHORITY
O B L I G AT O R Y
SAFETYS I G N S
Y
€1
HSA Safety Signs Book Cover 6/8/02 4:55 pm Page 1
Introduction
This guidance booklet describes the safety signs and signals which must be usedat all workplaces when hazards cannot be avoided or adequately reduced. Theserequirements are set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Safety Signs)Regulations, 1995. These Regulations implement EC Directive 92/58/EEC whichbecause of the increasing mobility of labour within the European Community,established a uniform system of signs and signals intended to be immediatelyunderstood by all whatever their linguistic backgrounds.
The system for signs and signal boards is based on the familiar “traffic light”colours – red for prohibition, yellow for caution, green for positive action. A fourthcolour, blue, is used for mandatory signs and to convey information such as thelocation of a telephone. The shapes of the signs are also standardised: discs forprohibitions and instruction, triangles for warnings, squares and rectangles foremergency and informative signs.
The Regulations also have requirements governing signs on containers and pipes,on the identification and location of fire fighting equipment, signs for obstaclesand dangerous locations and for governing marking traffic routes, illuminated andacoustic signs, verbal communications and loud signals. The Regulations shouldbe checked for those details.
Employees must be provided with information and instruction on the meaning ofsafety signs and signals used and be consulted on the measures taken to complywith these Regulations.
This publication may be freely reproduced, except for advertising,endorsement or sale purposes.Please acknowledge the source as HSA. Published by the Health and Safety Authority.
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 2
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE SYSTEM OF SAFETY SIGNS1. General
1.1 The objective of the system of safety signs is to draw attention rapidly andunambiguously to objects and situations capable of causing specifichazards.
1.2 Under no circumstances is the system of safety signs a substitute for therequisite protective measures.
1.3 The system of safety signs may be used only to give information related tosafety.
1.4 The effectiveness of the system of safety signs is dependent in particular onthe provision of full and constantly repeated information to all personslikely to benefit therefrom.
2. Safety Colours and Contrasting Colours
2.1 Meaning of Safety Colours
— TABLE 1 —
(1) Counts as a safety colour only when used in conjunction with a symbol or words on a mandatory sign or informationsign bearing instructions relating to technical prevention.
SafetyColour
Meaning or Purpose Examples of Use
Stop signsEmergency shutdown devicesProhibition signs
Identification of dangers (fire, explosion, radiation,chemical hazards, etc.)Identification of steps, dangerous passages,obstacles
Identification of emergency routes andemergency exitsSafety showersFirst aid stations and rescue points
Obligation to wear individual safety equipmentLocation of telephone
StopProhibition
Caution !Possible danger
No dangerFirst aid
Mandatory signsInformation
Red
Yellow
Green
Blue(1)
This colour is also used to identify fire-fighting equipment
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 3
2.2 Contrasting colours and symbol colours
Safety Colour Contrasting Colour Symbol Colour
Red White Black
Yellow Black Black
Green White White
Blue White White
— TABLE 2 —
Geometrical form Meaning
Mandatory and prohibition signs
Warning signs
Emergency, information and additional signs
Shape
Colour
Red
Yellow
Green
Blue
— TABLE 3 —
— TABLE 4 —
3. Geometrical Form and Meaning of Safety Signs
4. Combinations of Shapes and Colours and their Meanings for Signs
Prohibition
Mandatory
Caution, possibledanger
Fire-fighting equipment
No danger Rescue Equipment
Information or instruction
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 4
SPECIAL SYSTEM OF SAFETY SIGNS1 – PROHIBITION SIGNS
PART A
No smoking
Pedestrians forbidden
Not drinkable
Smoking and naked flamesforbidden
Do not extinguish with water
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 5
PART B
Do not extinguish with water
No access forunauthorised persons
Do not touch
Not drinkable
No access forindustrial vehicles
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 6
2 – WARNING SIGNS
PART A
Flammable matter Explosive matter Toxic matter
Corrosive matter Radioactive matter
Beware, overhead load Beware, industrial trucks Danger, electricity
General danger Laser beam
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 7
PART B
Oxidant material Non-ionising radiation Strong magnetic field
Obstacles Drop
Biological risk Low temperature Harmful or irritantmaterial
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 8
3 – MANDATORY SIGNS
PART A
Eye protection must be worn Safety helmet must be worn
Ear protection must be worn Respiratory equipment must be used
Safety boots must be worn Safety gloves must be worn
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 9
PART B
Safety overalls must be worn Face protection must be worn
Safety harness must be worn Pedestrians must use this route
General mandatory sign(to be accompanied where necessary by another sign)
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 10
4 – EMERGENCY SIGNS
PART A
First aid post
Emergency exit/escape route
This way –(supplementary information)
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 11
PART B
This way – (supplementary information)
Emergency exit/escape route
Stretcher Safety shower Eyewash
Emergency telephone for first-aid or escape
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 12
5 – FIRE FIGHTING SIGNS
PART A
Fire hose
This way – (supplementary information sign)
Ladder
Emergencyfire telephone
Fireextinguisher
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 13
6. Design of Safety Signs
6.1 Prohibition Signs.Background: white – Symbol or Wording: black. The safety colour red mustappear around the edge and in a transverse bar and must cover at least 35%of the surface of the sign.
6.2 Warning, mandatory, emergency and information signs.Background: safety colour – Symbol or Wording: contrasting colour. A yellow triangle must have a black edge. The safety colour must cover atleast 50% of the surface of the sign.
6.3 Additional signs.Background: white – Wording: black
or
Background: safety colour – Wording: contrasting colour.
6.4 Symbols.The design must be as simple as possible and details not comprehension must be left out.
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 14
7. Yellow/Black Danger Identification
Identification of permanent risk locationssuch as:
– locations where there is a risk ofcollision, falling, stumbling or of fallingloads.
– steps, holes in floors etc.
(Proportion of safety colourat least 50%)
HSA Safety Signs Booklet 3 6/8/02 5:04 pm Page 15
HEALA
O B L
SAS I
HEALTH AND SAFETYAUTHORITY OFFICES
HEADQUARTERS:10 Hogan Place,Dublin 2.Tel. (01) 614 7000Fax. (01) 614 7020email: info@hsa.ie
Athlone Regional OfficeGoverment Buildings,Pearse Street,Athlone,Co. Westmeath.Tel. (0902) 92608Fax. (0902) 92914email: pjm@hsa.ie
Cork Regional Office3rd Floor,!A South Mall,Cork.Tel. (021) 251212Fax. (021) 251217email: patricia@hsa.ie
Galway Regional OfficeOdeon House,Eyre Square,Galway.Tel. (091) 563985Fax. (091) 564091email: orla@hsa.ie
Limerick Regional OfficeGround Floor,Park House,1-2 Barrington Street,Limerick.Tel (061) 419900Fax. (061) 419559email: carol@hsa.ie
Sligo Regional OfficeGoverment Offices,Cranmore Road,Sligo.Tel. (071) 43942Fax. (071) 44078email: brenda@hsa.ie
Waterford Regional Office2nd Floor,St. John’s Hall,Catherine St.,Waterford.Tel. (051) 875892Fax. (051) 870610email: maura@hsa.ie
© Health and Safety Authority 01/02 AW/S
HEALTH AND SAFETYAUTHORITY
website
01-614 70 10safety questions answered
You can also find uson the internet –our website is athttp://www.hsa.ie
HSA Safety Signs Book Cover 6/8/02 4:56 pm Page 1
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