Safety signs

Signs are shown in the correct style with descriptive text as required by - The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.

These regulations encourage all member states of the European Union to use standard safety signs and signals, so that safety signs, wherever they are used, have the same meaning. There are four types:

Banksmans signals

Using banksmen to control reversing operations can put the Banksman in the potential danger area of a reversing vehicle. Every year banksmen suffer serious and fatal injuries whilst at work. If you do use banksmen, make sure they are trained to carry out their duties safely.

There must be a safe system of work that ensures the Banksman and driver are using standard signals, so that they are easily understood, and that the driver knows to stop the vehicle immediately if the Banksman disappears from view.

The standard signals are given in the Health and Safety (Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 L64^[1], available from HSE Books.

Prohibitory signs

Prohibition sign - a sign prohibiting behaviour likely to increase or cause danger (eg no smoking)

Intrinsic features:

round shape
black pictogram on white background, red edging and diagonal red line (the red part to take up at least 35% of the area of the sign)

Smoking cigarette with line through — No smoking

Lit match with line through — Naked flames forbidden

Person walking with line through — No access for pedestrians

Flame with water being thrown from a bucket with line through — Do not extinguish with water

Person shouting and holding their hand up with line through — No access for unauthorised persons

Forklift truck with line through — No access for industrial vehicles

Warning signs

Warning sign - a sign giving warning of a hazard or danger (eg danger: electricity)

Intrinsic features:

triangular shape
black picture with at least 50% yellow background

Yellow triangle containing exclamation mark — General danger

Yellow triangle containing person falling backwards down a step — Drop

Yellow triangle containing a snowflake — Low temperature

Yellow triangle containing a load on a hook with a snapped rope — Overhead load

Yellow triangle containing forklift truck — Industrial vehicles

Yellow triangle containing a zig-zag arrow — Danger: Electricity

Mandatory signs

Mandatory sign - a sign prescribing specific behaviour (eg eye protection must be worn)

Intrinsic features:

round shape
white pictogram on a blue background (the blue part to take up at least 50% of the area of the sign)

Blue circle containing head wearing safety glasses — Eye protection must be worn

Blue circle containing head with safety helmet on — Safety helmet must be worn

Blue circle containing head with ear defenders — Ear protection must be worn

Blue circle containing safety boots — Safety boots must be worn

Blue circle containing safety gloves — Safety gloves must be worn

Blue circle containing overalls — Safety overalls must be worn

Blue circle containing a person walking — Pedestrians must use this route

Blue circle containing exclamation mark — General mandatory

Blue circle containing face with face shield — Face protection

Free Leaflets - Hazards at work: Safety signs and Signals^[2]

Link URLs in this page

Health and Safety (Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 L64https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l64.htm
Free Leaflets - Hazards at work: Safety signs and Signalshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/signindx.htm
Workplace transport safety – an overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg199.htm
Workplace transport safety - An employer's guide (HSG136)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg136.htm
Securing loads on HGVs and goods vehicles (Guidance - GOV.UK)https://www.gov.uk/guidance/securing-loads-on-hgvs-and-goods-vehicles
Falls from vehicleshttps://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20200731110308/https://www.hse.gov.uk/fallsfromvehicles/index.htm