Mandatory Blue safety signs mean that a sign is mandatory and that specific behaviour or action should be carried out, such as wearing protective equipment. Green signs signal an emergency escape or first-aid available.

What are examples of blue safety signs?

These Regulations brought into force the EC Safety Signs Directive 92/58/EEC on the provision and use of safety signs. The safety signs directive was adopted by all European Union member states on 24 June 1992, which recognised the need for all workplaces to have easily recognisable signs and symbols relating to safety matters and encourage the standardisation of safety signs throughout the member states of the European Union so that safety signs, wherever they are seen, have the same meaning.

In this country, the Directive has been implemented through the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals Regulations) 1996. These regulations apply to all places of work covered by the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974. The Regulations cover various means of communicating health and safety information.

These include the use of illuminated signs, hand and acoustic signals, e.g. fire alarms, spoken communication and the marking of pipe work containing dangerous substances. These are in addition to traditional signboards such as prohibition and warning signs.

Fire safety signs, i.e. signs for fire exits and fire-fighting equipment are also covered. They require employers to provide specific safety signs whenever there is a risk that has not been avoided or controlled by other means, e.g. engineering controls and safe systems of work. Where a safety sign would not help to reduce that risk, or where the risk is not significant, there is no need to provide a sign.

The regulations, where necessary, require the use of road traffic signs within workplaces to regulate road traffic and also require employers to maintain the safety signs which are provided by them, explain unfamiliar signs to their employees and tell them what they need to do when they see a safety sign.

1. The Regulations apply to all places and activities where people are employed, but exclude signs and labels used in connection with the supply of substances, products and equipment or the transport of dangerous goods.
2. Categories of safety signs Safety signs are divided into categories according to the type of message they are intended to convey.

Each category is assigned a specific format and set of colours. Prohibition Signs These signs should he used to convey “Do Not” type commands for example, to indicate that smoking is not allowed or that, where a particular material reacts dangerously with water or water should not be used to extinguish a fire. In the workplace they should be used to reinforce instructions prohibiting dangerous activities.

Such instructions, however, should also form part of the employees training. Signs prohibiting an activity consist of a circular red band and single diagonal cross bar descending from left to right at an angle of 45 degrees. The background should be white with the pictogram indicating the nature of the command in black.

Warning Signs These signs should be used to make people aware of a nearby danger. For example, a flammable liquid store or a laboratory where radioactive substances are in use should have an appropriate warning sign near the entrance. These signs are required by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and in specific cases by the Dangerous Substances (Notification and Marking of Sites) Regulations 1990. These signs should he used to indicate actions that must be carried out in order to comply with statutory requirements. For example self-closing fire doors that must be kept closed to comply with the fire risk assessment should be labeled with “FIRE DOOR KEEP SHUT” signs.

An area of a construction site where hard hats should be worn should also have appropriate signs at the entry points. It should he noted that the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 do not apply to mandatory fire instructions but do apply to health and safety mandatory signs where pictograms are required.

The minimum regulatory requirement is for the sign to include an appropriate pictogram, There are no pictograms for fire safety instruction signs and although mandatory in the UK through inclusion in the requirements of workplace fire assessments, such signs are not considered as health and safety signs within these Regulations.

1. Thus the familiar white on blue fire safety mandatory signs using text only will remain in place and will not have to be changed.
2. Fire instruction notices, that is notices which list actions that occupants must carry out in the event of a fire are, by convention, written as white text on a blue background but not in the circular format.

The colours are used to convey the mandatory nature of the instructions but because of the amount of text normally needed a rectangular format is used. The general mandatory sign of a white exclamation mark on a blue circle may be used in conjunction with a fire instructions notice. These signs should be used to indicate escape routes, emergency exits, first aid equipment, emergency showers and the like. Safe condition signs consist of a green rectangle or square with the pictogram or text in white positioned centrally. In the same way as for mandatory signs some UK fire safety signs in this category are not required by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.

For example “PUSH BAR TO OPEN” is not required to comply and there is no pictogram with that meaning. Such signs are still needed for compliance with other UK legislation. Exit Signs In order to comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations, every doorway or other exit providing access to a means of escape, other than exits in ordinary use, should be provided with an exit sign.

Installation of signs conforming to British Standard 5499: Part 4: 2013 will satisfy both the Building Regulations and the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals Regulations) 1996. In general these Regulations will not require any changes where existing fire safety signs containing symbols comply with BS 5499: Part 4 : 2013 Fire safety signs, notices and graphic symbols.

1. This is because the signs in BS 5499, although different in detail to those specified in the Regulations, follow the same basic pattern and are therefore considered to comply with the Regulations.
2. Provision of exit signs The regulations place a duty on employers to ensure that safety signs are provided in circumstances where the risk to the health and safety of employees, identified through the risk assessment requirement contained with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 cannot be entirely, engineered or managed out of the workplace.

It should be noted that the Regulations do not require safety signs to be used where there are no significant risks to the health and safety of employees. The issue which then requires to be resolved is whether it is necessary to indicate exits with signs.

• In arriving at a decision the fundamental issue which will underpin the process is whether the risk of injury or death to employees from a fire within a particular premises is deemed to be significant enough to warrant the provision of signs indicating fire exit routes and final exits.
• If it is deemed that the risk is not significant then there is no need to install the signs.

Thus, for example, a small, single storey premises with one clearly visible exit should not require a fire exit sign because it would be obvious to staff that the door is their only means of access/egress and hence there should not be a significant risk to their health and safety from fire by not signing the door as an exit.

• However, those buildings with more complex internal layouts incorporating multiple exits, some of which may not be readily visible nor frequently used, or where large numbers of the public congregate, will require fire exit signs.
• They should be complete with directional arrows, if there is a significant risk of individuals not being able to find their way to a place of safety in the event of a fire.

Supplementary information signs These are signs used to provide additional information. In the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 these are confined to directional arrows. However BS 5499 : Part 4 : 2019 includes various text messages as well as arrows under the description of supplementary signs.

• To comply with the Regulations where a direction indication is needed the minimum requirement is for a supplementary sign in the form of an arrow.
• The supplementary text messages in the British Standard such as “Water as an extinguishing agent prohibited” will be acceptable under the regulations only if accompanied by an appropriate pictogram.

This is entirely consistent with the philosophy of the British Standard. Supplementary signs consist of a square or rectangle in the appropriate colour with the pictogram or text in white and positioned centrally. The colour should be green where the information supplements a safe condition sign, red where it supplements a fire equipment sign or yellow to supplement a warning sign.

• There is a minor conflict between the British Standard and the regulations on the permitted colour of supplementary signs.
• BS 5499: Part 4: 2019 allows text to be in black on a white background or white on the appropriate colour.
• The colour alternative is the only option permitted in the Regulations.
• Thus the Regulations can be complied with by adhering to this option in the Standard.

Illumination of signs Exit signs should be legible at all material times. In premises where emergency lighting has been considered necessary for means of escape purposes, such signs should be illuminated by the emergency lighting supply in the event of a failure of the normal lighting.

Lamps external to the sign but providing adequate illumination of it Lamps contained within the sign, internally illuminated signs Self-luminous signs requiring no external power source

Reference should be made to the British Standards where appropriate. Photoluminescent Signs The visible areas of these signs are manufactured from photoluminescent materials. These materials contain chemicals that are able to absorb and store energy from daylight or artificial lighting.

When the source of energy is removed the chemicals are able to release the energy in the form of light. Several companies produce photoluminescent signs with pictograms complying with these regulations although the colours may not exactly match the specifications within the regulations. The properties of these signs make them useful to supplement normal signs in some situations.

For example, they perform well as signs under the reduced light levels provided by emergency escape lighting operating on failure of the normal supply. There is no objection to the use of this material to supplement emergency lighting, but it is not acceptable to use it as an alternative to emergency lighting.

This type of material is often used in strips at low level to highlight the contours of escape routes. The same material also finds a use in wayfinding systems. Photoluminescent systems should be installed in compliance with the Code of Practice for the installation in Premises of Emergency Way-finding Guidance Systems, Produced from Photoluminescent Materials, Safety Signs and Markers.

This Code is published by the Photoluminescent Safety Products Association, Fire Fighting Equipment Signs These signs are used to mark the location of fire fighting equipment and fire alarm activation points. However, where possible, fire equipment should be positioned where it is clearly visible. Red to be used as the identifying colour for fire fighting equipment.

If the equipment itself is red this will satisfy the requirement. Where it is not red then highlighting the position of fire fighting equipment by colouring background behind the equipment red may be enough to comply. Fire equipment signs consist of a red rectangle or square with the pictogram in white positioned centrally on the sign.

Provision of fire fighting equipment signs The same general process outlined above is applicable to this section. Again it is assumed that because there is a possibility of a fire occurring in the premises then fire fighting equipment will be needed. Whether this equipment also requires to be identified by means of a sign will depend on the physical environment in which the fire risk assessment takes place.

• In other words the features of the workplace, the activities carried on there and any other circumstances deemed to be pertinent must be taken into account.
• For example, in a building where the internal layout is such that the extinguishers provided are clearly visible to employees there should not be a requirement to further indicate the position of the fire fighting equipment with a sign, or by colouring the background red.

Alternatively, in more complex building layouts, for example where it is not always possible to ensure that fire extinguishers are in the line of sight of employees, for example due to the nature of the work process or where hose reels are installed within cabinets or where fire fighting equipment is contained within recessed fire points then it would be pertinent to provide signs indicating the position of the equipment complete with directional arrows where applicable.

1. It is important to highlight that the process by which a decision is reached regarding the necessity or otherwise of providing fire fighting equipment signs should be based on whether a significant risk exists as a consequence of the particular location of such equipment.
2. If it is deemed that a significant risk does not exist then there is no requirement to provide the signs.

Summary of Safety Signs The pictograms are as shown in the regulations and the completed sign must be in accordance with the appropriate colours. Fire warning systems Where evacuation from buildings is needed, the Regulations require the fire alarm signal to be continuous.

Fire alarms conforming to BS 5839 Part 1: 2017 Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings do not need changing, nor do other acceptable means such as manually operated sounders, e.g. rotary gongs or hand bells. Pictograms The regulations require that all signs should use graphic symbols or pictographs to convey their message but it does not prohibit the use of supplementary text.

It indicates the intrinsic features required and some are indicated below:

The shape and colours of signboards are set out, in accordance with their specific object (signboards indicating a prohibition, a warning, a mandatory action, an escape route, an emergency or fire-fighting equipment) Pictograms must be as simple as possible and should contain only essential details The pictograms used may be slightly different from or more detailed, provided that they convey the same meaning and that no difference or adaptation obscures the meaning The dimensions and colorimetric and photometric features of signboards must be such that they can be easily seen and understood

It also illustrates a list of single pictograms that should be used for exit signs the five are shown below. As the result of this flexibility there are at least two exit signs available in the UK and there could be more throughout the EC. Because of this the EC directive 92/58 has failed in its principle aim to have common standard throughout the member states.

However a new European standard has been proposed and ISO 7010 is very likely to be fast tracked to become Pr EN 7010. This means that it will be a “European Normative” and will be best practice guidance. As a result EU law will required it to be adopted by all member states without change. Consequently the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 will be amended and the above pictograms will be illegal.

Pr EN 7010 will become the required standard and incidentally the exit sign will be identical to BS 5499: Part 4: Code of Practice for Escape Route Signing. General Advice If, following the fire risk assessment, it is deemed necessary to provide any fire safety signs then they should comply with the Regulations which details the colour, maintenance regime and general advice associated with the provision and use of safety signs in general.

1. It is also deemed fire safety signs which comply with BS 5499 and ISO 7010 meet the requirements of regulations.
2. Fire safety signs deemed not to be acceptable are those which contain text only information therefore such signs should no longer be used.
3. However in the case of existing premises where such text only signs are already in place and the risk assessment determines they are necessary, employers will have to replace them or supplement them with the appropriate pictograms.

Further information This link is guidance from the HSE on the above legislation – Safety signs and signals. The Health and Safety Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations Advice on the use of fire safety signs can be in the Guidance documents for business An excellent reference handbook for fire safety signs is produced by the Fire Protection Association.

Does blue represent safety?

ANSI Safety Color: Blue – Blue communicates information unrelated to personal injuries and other hazards (most commonly on “Notice” signs). It is most commonly associated with maintenance work and other safety precautions. Blue signs may:

Alert employees to designated smoking and non-smoking areas Remind employees of best work practices Communicate procedures, information, instructions, and rules for maintenance Share the overhead clearance in a given area

Which of the following is the type of information you would see on a blue sign with the word notice on it?

Types & Meanings – Danger signs indicate an immediate hazard which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. Danger signs should be limited to the most extreme situations and signify that special precautions are necessary. The heading “DANGER” is printed in white letters on a red background and is preceded by the safety alert symbol (an equilateral triangle surrounding an exclamation mark).

The message should be printed in black or red letters on a white background, or white letters on a black background. Additional safety symbols may be included in the message area. Warning signs represent a hazard level between caution and danger. “Warning” indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.

The heading “WARNING” (preceded by the safety alert symbol) is written in black on an orange background. Additional wording and safety symbols are printed in black on the lower portion of the sign. Warning signs and labels can be any size, but it is appropriate for the sign to be noticed and easily read from a safe distance.

They need to communicate the warning information before someone is in a dangerous area or acts in a dangerous manner. Caution sign indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury. Caution signs are used in areas where potential injury or equipment damage is possible, or to caution against unsafe practices.

Caution signs should only be used if there is a risk of personal injury. The heading “CAUTION” is written in black letters on a yellow background and is preceded by the safety alert symbol. The message and safety symbols in the body of the sign are printed in black.

Biological Hazard signs, According to OSHA §1910.145(e)(4), “The biological hazard warning shall be used to signify the actual or potential presence of a biohazard and to identify equipment, containers, rooms, materials, experimental animals, or combinations thereof, which contain, or are contaminated with, viable hazardous agents presenting a risk or potential risk to the well-being of man.” The symbol design must conform to the design as shown in the “BIOHAZARD” sign and contain the word “Biohazard” or “Biological Hazard.” The biohazard symbol can be black, fluorescent orange, or orange-red color.

Background color is optional as long as there is sufficient contrast for the biohazard symbol to be clearly defined. A biohazard can also be indicated on a danger or warning sign and may include the safety alert symbol. Notice sig ns provide general information that is important or relevant to a building, an area, a machine, or equipment.

1. Notice signs address practices not related to personal injury.
2. The heading “NOTICE” should be in white italic letters on a blue background.
3. Notice signs should never include the safety alert symbol.
4. The body of the sign is white, and the message is in blue or black lettering on a white background, or white lettering on a black background.

Safety symbols can be printed in either blue or black. Notice signs can include information about procedures, operating instructions, maintenance information, rules, or directions. Notice signs are never used for personal injury hazards or warnings, but can be used to indicate possible equipment or property damage.

General Safety signs are used to provide notices of general practice and rules relating to health, first aid, medical equipment, sanitation, housekeeping, and suggestions relative to general safety measures. Signs containing safety instructions or procedures should use heading “SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS” or “SAFETY PROCEDURES.” Where practical, use a more definitive heading, such as “SAFETY SHUTDOWN PROCEDURE.” Signs indicating the location of safety equipment should use a specific header such as “EYEWASH.” If multiple safety items are in the same location, simply use the header “SAFETY EQUIPMENT.” The message and safety symbols should be printed in green or black on a white background.

The signs may also be printed in white on a green background. These signs should never include the safety alert symbol. Fire Safety signs are used to indicate the location of emergency fire fighting equipment. Unlike other signs, they do not require a header.

• The message and safety symbol are printed in red on a white background, or in white on a red background.
• Because these signs do not indicate a personal safety hazard, the safety alert symbol must not be used.
• Fire safety signs are not used to show the direction to fire equipment, but rather its immediate location Admittance signs bridges all of the above categories.

Admittance messages may be included on a sign with any header. You might decide to put “Unauthorized Personnel, Keep Out” on a danger, warning, caution, or notice sign. You may choose to include an admittance message on a general safety sign. The type of header and message content should be determined by the personal risk (if any) or consequences of entering the restricted area.

The primary action statement should be simple, direct, and applicable to the hazard. Keep only essential hazard-related information on the sign. If necessary, consideration can be given to referring the viewer to another source for additional safety information or for permission to proceed. When information on consequence, avoidance, or type of hazard is readily inferred, this information may be omitted from the message panel.

Safety Symbols – Signs and labels may include safety symbols, often called pictograms pictorials, or glyphs. Safety symbols can portray required actions, consequences, explicit direction, or the effects of interaction with certain chemicals, machines, and other hazards.

1. Signs and labels may include more than one pictorial to show a sequence of events for one hazard.
2. Safety symbols should be consistent, readable, and easily understood.
3. They usually consist of a black image on a white background.
4. Surround Shapes – You may consider using a surround shape.
5. However, a surround shape will decrease the available space for a symbol.

Surround shapes should not be used if they detract from the major message. HAZARD ALERTING – You can use this surround shape to highlight a hazardous condition. The symbol should be drawn within a black equilateral triangle and can include a yellow background.

1. MANDATORY ACTION – This type of symbol conveys actions that must be taken to avoid hazards.
2. This symbol consists of a white image within a solid blue or black circle.
3. PROHIBITION – For actions that should not be taken, this surround shape is required.
4. It consists of a red or black circle with a diagonal slash at 45° from the upper-left to the lower-right.

INFORMATION – The square (or rectangular) surround shape is typically used to convey equipment location, places of exit, and permitted actions.

What are safety color codes?

Safety Color Coding Labels and Tape

What is the mandatory blue safety symbol?

Mandatory Sign – Mandatory signs indicate that an instruction must be carried out. Its symbolic shape is a blue circle. A white pictograph, for example safety goggles, is superimposed on this to indicate the activity which is to be mandatory. The background is white and any text is black.

What do safety symbols mean?

As an employer, you must understand safety signs and their meanings so that you can appropriately use the correct safety signs in the workplace. Health and safety signs come in four distinct colours, and each indicates a different warning or precaution.

Blue safety signs are mandatory signs that explain a specific action. A yellow safety sign is a warning or caution sign. Red safety signs usually indicate danger or prohibition of a certain substance or act. Green signs are not designed to highlight danger, and instead indicate helpful information and safe points, such as fire exits or first aid points.

Using the correct safety sign as an employer is a legal requirement set out by the Health and Safety Executive, and it is therefore essential to understand health and safety signs and their meanings in order to ensure your workplace is being kept safe.

What do blue symbols mean?

It is the color of the ocean and the sky; it often symbolizes serenity, stability, inspiration, or wisdom. It can be a calming color, and symbolize reliability.

What does blue represent?

Every day we experience a sensory overload of beautiful colors, but have you ever thought about their meaning? It’s time to sit back and discuss the meaning of the color Blue. The color blue represents both the sky and the sea and is associated with open spaces, freedom, intuition, imagination, inspiration, and sensitivity.

What hazard is color blue?

The National Fire Association (NFPA) has developed a color-coded number system called NFPA 704. The system uses a color-coded diamond with four quadrants in which numbers are used in the upper three quadrants to signal the degree of health hazard (blue), flammability hazard (red), and reactivity hazard (yellow).

What do blue circle signs show?

Regulatory signs A BLUE CIRCLE generally gives a positive (mandatory) instruction or indicates a route for use only by particular classes of vehicle (see sections on tram signs and bus and cycle signs).

What do blue signs indicate quizlet?

Blue signs inform drivers about motorist services. Blue signs are also used to indicate parking spots for disabled drivers. if you see an orange sign, be aware of road construction or work nearby. brown signs give information about recreational facilities and scenic guidance.

What color are warning signs?

Warning – Warning signs typically use a yellow background with black letters or symbols to convey their purpose. Most warning signs are diamond-shaped and use symbols to indicate the nature of the potential hazard. Symbols are preferred for warning signs, however symbols not officially approved by FHWA may not be used. There are three special shapes used for warning signs. A pentagon is used to warn of a school zone. The pennant shape is used to indicate the beginning of a no passing zone. A circle is used to warn of an approaching railroad crossing. There are also some cases when special colors are used.

What are the colors of danger?

It seems that everywhere you go on the Ohio State Columbus campus you see and read signs that warn about a variety of hazards. Just as warning signs vary on topics, so do their colors. Students, faculty, and staff may find the color variations of these signs confusing at times.

Red = Danger. OSHA recommends danger signs or tags be red or predominantly red, with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color (usually white against the red background). Red warns of a hazard that could cause serious injury or death. Yellow = Caution. These signs and tags are all yellow or predominantly yellow, with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color (usually black). Yellow often is used for signs that indicate physical dangers that could cause serious injuries, such as slipping, tripping, falling, striking against, and pinch hazards. Orange = Warning. These orange or predominantly orange signs and tags generally have black lettering or symbols. Orange often is used for potentially dangerous parts of machinery or equipment that may cut, crush, shock, or otherwise injure a person. Fluorescent Orange or Orange-Red = Biological Hazard. These signs and tags have lettering or symbols in a contrasting color (usually black). This color designates infectious agents and wastes that pose a risk of death, injury, or illness. Green = Safety Instructions. These signs usually have white lettering against the green background. Some part of the sign also may contain black lettering against a white background. Green is used to designate first aid equipment, emergency eyewash stations, etc. Fluorescent Yellow-Orange = Slow-Moving Vehicles. This color is used, with a dark red reflective border, on slow-moving vehicle triangles.

If you have questions regarding signage, please contact EHS at 614-292-1284,

Why are signs blue?

Blue – Blue is mostly used to indicate a positive instruction or to relate information. It is also associated with parking. Circular regulatory signs use blue backgrounds to give mandatory instructions or to show exclusive use of the road by specific vehicles,

• Mandatory left turn Route for use of trams only On direction signs, blue is used for motorways,
• However, blue is also used away from the motorway network for signs for non-motorised road users,
• Direction sign on a motorway End of motorway regulations Direction sign for cyclists Many general information signs have blue backgrounds, largely to differentiate them from direction signs and warnings.

On parking signs, a blue background is used to show parking places, and crossed out to ban parking and stopping. Information about length of dual carriageway Parking place Lane reserved for buses and cycles The colour should match BS 381C “Middle Blue”.

Why are street signs blue?

The Color of Road Name Signs » » The Color of Road Name Signs Many have asked, “why are some road name signs green and others blue?” The answer is that green signs are used for county maintained roads and blue signs are used for private drives. As in life, it’s not always this cut and dry; although Gordon County will never use blue signs on a county maintained road, you may find instances where a citizen has purchased a green sign to post at the end of their road.

Which shade of blue is used in the road signages?

Colors used on signs: – Red: The colour red is often associated with danger. The colour red is commonly used in traffic signs to indicate mandatory rules and potential dangers. When it comes to traffic lights, they indicate that you must come to a complete stop.

Instead of indicating stop, the red colour on traffic signs can be used to indicate other meanings. Regulatory and cautionary signs are the most common uses. Never disregard a red traffic light. Yellow is another of the three colours used in traffic signals. However, you will see less yellow in traffic signs than red or green.

Most of the time, it indicates that the vehicles should slow down or be more cautious. Green: This colour used in a traffic sign board is usually reserved for informative signs that provide directions or guides to a specific location. Green signs, for the most part, provide information about the distance to a destination.

Jack Gloop