In a world that is 71% water, it is important to always have water safety on the mind. Every day ten people die from unintentional drowning and drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death of all ages. From boiling hot to not safe to drink water, we need to be aware of the types of water that surround us - especially in the working environment. From working at a swimming pool or an industrial warehouse, there is a high chance water will be involved in some part of your job. 

We know how important water safety is here at Label Source, which is why we have a wide range of water safety labels suitable for a variety of different workplaces. 

Here's a quick look at some of our range: 

Not Drinking Water Symbol Water Safety Sign

Water can be contaminated in many environments, so ensure those around you do not drink possibly harmful water with this quick and simple not drinking water safety sign. This sign is sure to keep water-related illnesses at bay. 

Risk of Slipping Symbol Water Safety Sign

This water safety label is especially helpful near pools or in an environment which often requires the flooring to be washed. By placing this water safety sign near the dangerous areas, all workers will be sure to take care not to slip when walking past. 

Life Jackets Must be Worn Water Safety Sign

If you're working on the water, this is an essential sign to ensure all customers or workers stay as safe as possible when near water. This sign is especially helpful when there are children on board, as it will remind parents and individuals to wear their life jacket at all times to ensure water safety. 

Caution Hot Water Safety Sign

This bright yellow water safety sign is an essential label for any workplace that provides hot water. If the water you supply can reach high temperatures, this sign is important for your company. Notifying your workers that the water will be hot is a good way to ensure water safety in the workplace. 

We have plenty more water safety signs in stock for you to browse if none of the above is what you're looking for. If you have any questions feel free to call us 0800 3761 693!

It's the height of summer, the sun is shining, school is out and life is good. We all love making the most of summer, especially here in the UK, but that doesn't mean letting the heat go to your head! In terms of health and safety, the summer months (especially during the school holidays) are always a tough time for the emergency services. There's just something about the euphoria and freedom of the season, combined with unusually warm weather, that tends to make people neglect common sense, and forget health and safety. 

One of the biggest dangers to the public, vulnerable children and strong swimmers alike, is water. Whether it's an inland waterway, the beach, or even a public swimming pool, each of these spaces present their own unique hazards. To protect the public, it is essential that holidaymakers, day trippers, and even those just looking for a way to cool off, are reminded of the dangers posed by water,  whether it's the open ocean or a pleasure pool.

Here are a few of the water safety signs we stock at Label Source, along with their corresponding hazards:

No Swimming 

For some reason, the combination of heat and too much free time always drives people to swim in places they shouldn't. This is highly dangerous to even the most confident of swimmers, and is especially lethal to more vulnerable individuals, such as children and the elderly. Whether it's the threat of strong currents, thermal sock from exposure to cold water, or even the risk of illness from polluted water, certain areas should be made completely off-bounds to the public, as they are far too hazardous and unpredictable to guarantee a safe swimming experience. 

Do Not Run

Whether it's a poolside walkway or lakeside deck, water presents just as much of a hazard for those of us on dry land, as it does to those actually in the water! Anyone who's ever seen a lifeguard furiously whistling at a group of unruly children legging it to the pool, knows that the risks of slipping are ever-present around damp areas, and are even magnified if the flooring is shinny or covered in alge! To combat this, and reduce the chances of someone falling and injuring themselves, there should always be clear messages to warn individuals against rapid movements in slippery areas.

No Inflatables 

Some spaces just aren't suitable for certain types of aquatic equipment, and if this is the case, signs should be displayed to prevent members of the public from mistakenly taking them into the water. Inflatables, for example, can present a unique set of hazards in both open and enclosed bodies of water. If used in the sea, with the risk of wind and strong tidal changes, swimmers can soon be carried out to open water, where even experienced divers can come unstuck. In relation to small pools, the water may simply be too shallow to accommodate them, leading to accidents if people trip or fall from them. Their use could even cause the crowding and obscuring of water in small areas, which could make it difficult to spot an individual in distress. 

Lifejacket Warning Sign

Watersports are always popular during warmer months, and while enjoyable, they also present a plethora of health and safety hazards that must be addressed. From hitting rocks, to falling in open water, there are many risks to an individual's safety when taking part in water-based activities. This is why participants and activity providers should always be reminded of how important it is to be equipped with a lifejacket, which can act as an invaluable lifeline when things go wrong in unpredictable situations, which can go from fun to fatal in a matter of minutes. 

Don't forget to stay water-safe this season! Browse our full range of water safety signs here.

Signs are an important part of any health and safety initiative, and one police officer has been demonstrating just how much difference a few safety signs can make with an inspirational safety campaign in Cambridgeshire.

Photograph from www.huntspost.co.uk

Sergeant Mike Jackman was one of the first officers on the scene when a 15-year-old boy named Rony John drowned in the River Great Ouse in July 2014. Sgt Jackman's first-hand experience of this tragedy prompted him to come up with a means of making Cambridgeshire's waterways safer, particularly for young people - when accidents do happen around large bodies of water, children and teenagers are the most common victims.

One year on from the drowning incident that claimed Rony John's young life, Mike Jackman has unveiled a new safety sign scheme of his own devising that makes it easy for people to get help in the event of an accident. The usual water safety signs are in place, of course...

...but Sgt Jackman has also added some signs of his own. These signs are positioned underneath the standard safety signs, and each one provides instructions on what to do in an emergency. For example:

In an emergency, dial 999 and say you are at site K

The thinking behind this system is quite simple: if a young person is drowning in a river or another large body of water, their friends are frequently unable to accurately identify their location to the 999 operator. Mike Jackman's signs make it easy for youngsters to specify exactly where they are when phoning for help, allowing emergency services to get there quicker and save the person or people in danger.

Every second counts in an emergency situation, and we think that Sergeant Jackman's signage system is quite ingenious. With summer now upon us, the temperature is high throughout the UK, and more and more people will be tempted to use rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other large bodies of water to cool off. It is at this time of year that water safety is most crucial, so please obey safety signs at all times and, if you are responsible for public health and safety, consider going above and beyond with your signage system like the Cambridgeshire Police have!

Visit our Water Safety Signs page to browse and buy our comprehensive range of signs and notices for potentially hazardous bodies of water.