As a reseller, safety signs and posters are an ideal addition to your range, because they are an important part of any workplace as they provide an extra level of security with the added bonus of bypassing any potential language barriers. As well as providing a reminder of how employees should act in emergency situations when tensions are running high.
What are the laws on safety and first aid signs in the workplace?
You should be aware of the various rules and regulations that all businesses need to comply with in terms of these safety and first aid signs so that you are making informed suggestions, should they need your advice. For example, The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, explains how the signs and posters should be displayed, differentiating between those which are permanent and those that are temporary.What are a business’ obligations for safety signs?
Your customer’s business is responsible for ensuring that the required safety signs are in place and that they are noticeable and unobstructed.As explained in the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, the signs aren’t to be used as a substitute, but alongside other methods, such as an alarm, to reduce or control the risk to employees. It is important that your customers are aware that alone the signs and posters won’t cover their legal obligations to their employees’ safety.
Exit and fire safety signs have to be in place along every emergency route and exit according to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In addition as stated in the 1996 Health and Safety Regulations, you would need to inform your customers that alongside these signs, they would also require alongside items such as the evacuation chair, a fire alarm and general firefighting equipment such as blankets and extinguishers.
Are first aid signs mandatory?
While not mandatory in the UK, safety signs are advisable, so it is a good idea for your customers to have them. This is because the HSE recommends that workplace should provide “information for all employees giving details of first aid arrangements”, and an ideal way of doing this is through the use of first aid signs.It is also a requirement that all first aid supplies and rooms, as well as emergency exits need to be clearly sign posted, so what better way to do that than with a sign everyone will recognise.
Health and Safety Posters
You will need to make sure that you customers understand that even if safety signs may not be a legal requirement, having the HSE Health and Safety Poster (or the leaflet equivalent for each employee) is. This is according to The Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations, 1989, so that all employees know what to do should the need arise.For more information on Health and Safety Posters, visit Health and safety law posters in the workplace.
The 5 types of safety signs
It is important that you recognise and understand the importance of the UK’s five common types of safety signs containing “information or instruction about safety or health at work”, so that you can accurately relay this to your customers.Prohibition signs
Prohibition signs are used to “prohibit” behaviour that will cause danger or increase the risk of harm. The most common use of these signs is telling someone to stop.
Colour: Red
Shape: Round
Design: A black image on a white background with a red border and diagonal line. The red sections will take up at least 35% of the sign.
Warning signs
As the name suggests, warning signs are used to warn employees or visitors of a potential hazard or danger in the area.
Colour: Yellow
Shape: Triangular
Design: A black image on a yellow background with black borders. The yellow part will take up at least 50% of the sign.
Mandatory signs
Mandatory signs give instructions on an action that needs to happen to lower the risk of harm, for example putting on an item of PPE.
Colour: Blue
Shape: Round
Design: A white image on a blue background that takes up at least 50% of the sign.
Emergency escape or first aid signs
These signs are used to provide direction in emergency situations so that staff and visitors of a business are able to find the exits or first aid supplies quickly.
Colour: Green
Shape: Square or rectangle
Design: A white image (a cross for first aid) and text or arrow (for the exit signs) with a green background that will take up at least 50% of the sign.
Fire-fighting signs
These signs are used in the case of a fire, they will generally point out where the fire-fighting supplies are stored and any other information that might be necessary in the event of an emergency.
Colour: Red
Shape: Square or rectangle
Design: A white image and text on a red background that will take up at least 50% of the sign.
Why should businesses have fire safety signs?
Fire safety signs are essential for a quick evacuation and limiting the damage in an emergency situation. All businesses should have these signs because:- Alternative exits need to be clearly identified and labelled so that people are aware of their options in an emergency
- Smoke can obscure some signs so they need to be as visible as possible
- Directional arrows can be used to support along the escape routes, if the exit isn’t immediately obvious
- Having a door labelled as a fire exit, especially with an additional instruction to “keep clear” will ensure that they are always accessible
Safety and first aid posters
The number and type of safety and first aid posters that your customer will need depends on their workplace risk assessment and the environment that their business operates in. For example, a First Aid for Eyes poster would do well next to an eye wash kit in a warehouse with a high risk of eye contamination.
These posters are designed to give anyone administering first aid peace of mind and allow them to refresh their knowledge on the steps that should be followed. Having safety and first aid posters around the workplace will mean that in an emergency at their business, even staff who haven’t had the training can provide basic first aid. For example, placing an AED Defibrillation and CPR Poster next to an AED will give step-by-step instructions in the event of a heart attack.
Health and safety posters can also be useful in a workplace as these will provide employees with information on how to complete certain tasks in a safe manner. For example, having a Safe Manual Handling Poster would be ideal in a busy warehouse or storeroom as it will remind everyone of the best practices when handling heavy boxes.
For more information, please read our other blogs.
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By Sarah Mason