The most important responsibility of any employer is to keep their workers safe. One of the most basic ways of ensuring this is to make sure that all workplace hazards are identified, managed, and appropriately labelled and signed. This ensures that workers are informed about the potential hazards in the workplace, and it allows them to adjust their behavior around hazards appropriately.
Safety signs are an easy way to keep workers informed. Safety signs are designed to draw attention to hazards in the immediate area, and inform what protective equipment should be worn, or which actions should be taken.
In Australia, safety signs have been categorised into 6 main types to apply a consistent design across similar functions. By understanding the types of signs and their purpose, you can determine what you need in your workplace and where to display them.
1. Prohibition Signs
Prohibition signs inform workers not to do a certain task that might risk health or safety. These signs are essential in maintaining the safety and order of a facility. Prohibition signs usually contain an eye-catching colour like red or yellow, and its messaging should be in bold and be large. This enables workers to notice and read the sign from far away to make sure that they are following the rules before they get to the restricted zone.
One of the most common prohibition signs includes keeping people from entering a private property with a No Entry Sign or signal that people aren’t allowed to smoke in an area with a No Smoking Sign.
2. Mandatory Signs
Mandatory signs are used to require actions or behaviours that are to be implemented within a workplace or area of public access to comply with relevant health and safety regulations. Consider them the ‘must do’ of safety signs. You’ll recognise the mandatory sign by a white symbol or pictogram within a blue circle on a white background.
If your workplace requires a PPE, for instance, you’ll most likely use signs like Safety Footwear Must Be Worn In This Area or Hearing and Eye Protection Must Be Worn In This Area. In addition to this, you can also have just a word message with no image for mandatory signs, with the words in black on a white rectangular background.
3. Danger Signs
Danger signs are used to warn people about potentially life-threatening hazards or hazardous conditions. These signs are reserved for the most severe hazards in the workplace like warning against radiation or high electrical voltage.
Danger signs must be red on the top panel, white on the lower panel, and black around the borders. The word “DANGER” must be prominently featured in the top panel.
4. Caution Signs
If you need to alert employees to more moderate risks, such as a slippery floor or an employee’s-only area, then caution signs are used. They may point out potential hazards or provide steps to avoid hazards. Caution signs are necessary for keeping both visitors as well as employees safe from harm through visual communication.
Typically, caution signs have a yellow background with black text. They may also use yellow lettering surrounded by a black panel. The sign will generally read “CAUTION” near the top then a safety message or symbol may follow.
5. First Aid Signs
First aid signs enable employers to highlight first aid procedures and policies to visitors and employees. The use of first aid signs directs people in the right direction in the event of an emergency and helps people to find the location of, or directions to, emergency related facilities, like first aid or safety equipment.
6. Fire Signs
A big part of protecting facilities and their personnel is having fire safety signs in place. These safety signs are available to indicate the location of all your fire equipment, such as fire extinguishers signs, fire blankets sign, fire hoses signs, and more.
The bright red colour of fire signs makes them easy to spot around fire alarms and fire-fighting equipment. All text and imagery are white and stand out against the red background.
While Personal Protective Equipment is one of the primary defenses in keeping employees protected, keeping people safe starts well before someone suits up with safety gear. It starts with showing people safety signs regarding warnings and potential dangers.
If you would like to know more about safety signs, contact us at webstore@southland.com.au or 1800 77 22 91 and speak to one of our representatives.