There’s no doubt that safety signs are key to the health and safety procedures of any workplace or public space. That being said, upholding high safety sign standards is not just about having all the appropriate signage and ensuring the design is clear and accessible. If you fail to follow the correct signage installation procedure, even the best signs won’t be fit for purpose.
Here, we’ve put together a brief guide to safety sign regulations to help you avoid common pitfalls and make sure your space is health and safety compliant.
Safety Sign Regulations
Before you even make a start on installing your signage, it’s important to make sure you fully understand the safety sign regulations which apply to your workplace or public venue.
UK safety sign standards are dictated by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 – a directive issued to ensure British safety sign regulations align with the BS EN ISO 7010 European standards for colour and symbol usage. This guarantees signage messaging is universally clear, recognisable, and easy to understand without additional clarifications.
The main installation requirement under this legislation is concerned with positioning signs near the areas where each hazard is most likely to occur. Failing to meet these safety sign regulations can not only risk causing confusion and accidents, but also cause potential legal action to be taken against you.
Signage Installation Procedure: Common Mistakes
Improper Placement
Safety signs should always be placed in a way that ensures they can be easily seen. However, public spaces and workplaces often have their safety signage placed too high, or obstructed from view.
Safety sign standard best practices advise installing signs at eye level where applicable, and ensuring they are not hidden by machinery, other furniture, or doors. It’s also crucial that signs are placed at key points around the building, such as entrances and exits, as well as next to any potentially hazardous areas or equipment.
Poor Visibility and Clarity
In addition to proper height and lack of obstruction, safety signs should always be placed on a clear surface (without any busy patterns), where they can easily stand out. To avoid ‘sign blindness’, where people ignore all signage, you should try not to weigh down any single area with too many signs.
Where possible, signs should also be well-illuminated. If safety signs are needed in more dimly lit areas, consider reflective signs or additional lighting.
Incorrect Sign Selection
Even if you’ve kitted out your building with all the necessary signs, if they aren’t the best fit for the space, they won’t be as effective. Poorly lit areas, or places at risk of power outages, for instance, might require photoluminescent signs. Outdoor spaces, meanwhile, are best served by high-visibility signs made from weather-resistant materials.
Not Following Signage Installation Procedure
As well as meeting safety sign standards from an accessibility perspective, there are some technical elements of the safety installation procedure you should follow to avoid issues down the line.
For optimal installation, make sure you’ve cleaned the surface thoroughly before mounting the sign and check that you’re using the appropriate tools based on the sign materials and the surface you’re installing on.
Once the signage has been installed, check that it’s secure and level, and remember to regularly inspect your building’s signs for wear and tear.
How to Remain Compliant with Safety Sign Standard Regulations?
The best way to stay compliant with safety sign standards is to make sure you regularly inspect and maintain your signage. Even if you’ve followed all the proper signage installation procedures, with time, signs can become worn and dated.
For optimal effectiveness and compliance, schedule ongoing checks to make sure your signs are in good physical shape, and still relevant to the latest safety sign regulations.
Meeting Safety Sign Standards with Label Source
The proper installation of safety signs is a key pillar of health and safety in workplaces and public spaces. You can create a more secure environment and steer clear of common pitfalls by having a good grasp on safety sign regulations and adhering to expert signage installation procedure advice.
Clearly visible, pertinent, and well-looked-after signs will help you protect visitors and employees while also keeping you compliant. Browse our range of safety signs for all the essentials you might need, or contact us with any questions.
