The Importance of Safety Signage on Construction Sites
Health & Safety
Construction site health and safety signage is a requirement on all construction sites in the UK. High visible safety signs help prevent injuries, and all people at the site are aware of any dangerous hazards.
Without safety signage in a workplace, employees could be left unaware of possible risks. Employers might face significant legal and workplace health & safety trouble.
In this article, we explore:
- Why do companies need health & safety signs on construction sites?
- What are the types of workplace safety signage?
- EU Signs Ltd.’s health and safety signage!
Why Do Companies Need Safety Signs on Construction Sites?
Health & safety signs are a mandatory requirement for workplaces and construction sites. Therefore installing signage ensures that your business abides with workplace occupational health & safety requirements. There is a wide range of signage for British construction sites, each with a different colour, layout and use. They are used to address any prohibition, hazard, danger, or other mandatory information workers and people entering the construction site need to be aware of.
It’s important to note that safety signboards should not be solely relied on, and there is no substitute for well-trained workers. Signs have the purpose of serving as a reminder and being of use to those who aren’t familiar with your workplace or processes.
For this reason, safety signs must be easy to see and understand. Graphics and simple, bold words work far better than complex and long instructions in allowing a person to make an immediate decision. Many are recognisable, such as the red circular prohibition sign. Still, others might need to be more specific depending on the situation.
The United Kingdom has legislation that signs are legally required to be used in any occupational environment, whether an office, retail shop, warehouse, or construction site. To comply with safety laws is, therefore, both essential and beneficial.
What Are the Types of Workplace Safety Signage?
Businesses use the following primary safety signs categories to abide by occupational health and safety standards in the UK:
Mandatory Safety Signs
Mandatory signs are specific to an action that must occur in certain parts of your construction site. These could have activities such as “headgear must be worn in this area”, “masks must be worn”, “hand protection must be worn”, and so on. These signs usually have a blue background and white text. Mandatory construction signs usually have a white pictogram in a blue circle that shows the mandatory operation.
Prohibiting Signage
Prohibition signs are for the not permitted actions activities. These actions could be; “no mobile phone”, “no smoking”, “No Access For Pedestrians Sign”, etc. Prohibition health & safety signs are usually white text on a red background and a pictogram. The pictogram has a red circle with a diagonal line through and on an image with particular equipment or action.
Caution Signs
Caution signs, also known as hazard signs or warning signs, are specific to warn people of a potential hazard or a hazard. Therefore, its aim is to improve safety. Warning signs usually have black text on a yellow background. Caution signs have a pictogram in a yellow triangle to address the possible danger. “Asbestos Works In Progress Sign” is a good example of hazard signage in construction sites.
Danger Signs
Danger signs are specific to warn about potentially dangerous goods or actions that are likely to be life-threatening. Danger signs have black text on a white background to describe the type of danger and a bright red circle with the word ‘DANGER’ written in white.
Fire Safety Signs & Emergency Escape Signs
Fire safety signs are used to help people find the location of fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment in the event of a fire. Fire safety signs have bold white text on a bright red background. Emergency escape signs are a part of a fire emergency plan. Emergency escape signs are crucial to show the assembly point and to mark the way to the best route to the way out. These signs are also essential to mark emergency facilities such as first aid stations. Emergency escape signs are on green background with white text. They usually have a running man or arrow pictogram showing the route.
Information Signage
General information signs mark the office doors or walls. They mark the rooms according to their usage, for example, “Canteen”. Information signs can also be used in front of the construction site to declare legal information about the site.
EU Signs Ltd.’s Health and Safety Signage!
At EU Signs Ltd., we manufacture a range of custom signs that are used to improve safety. We can customise your safety sign and help you take one step further than your competitors. This will increase your brand awareness whilst meeting British health & safety standards.
Our safety signs are cost-effective, lightweight, durable, and weather-resistant. Our safety signs are the most commonly used signage product on hoarding/temporary fencing and all around the construction sites. We also produce real estate signs, event and festival signs for short-term use.
We have in-house graphic designers, so we offer customisation on the safety signage of your choice, including mandatory signs, danger signs, prohibition signs, fire safety signs, emergency exit signs, information signs and hazard signs.
Our custom safety signs are available in various sizes;
- 1200mm x 900mm
- 900mm x 600mm
- 600mm x 400mm
- 300mm 200mm
If you cannot find the size you need at our website, email us at sales@eusigns.co.uk. We can also make any custom shapes and custom sizes over 5 metres. We can join panels to make larger-scale signage.
We supply and fit stainless-steel eyelets in order to easily attach them to your temporary fencing or hoarding. Our experts are happy to help you to choose the right material and assist you with print requirements. Our in-house graphic design team and provide graphic design support on your branding, posters, brochures, or signage.
UK Mainland Delivery
We deliver across the United Kingdom. EU Signs Ltd is proud to provide Britain with 24-hour delivery for all our standard stock safety signage products. Ensure your workplace meets BSI standards and speak to us at EU Signs Ltd today!
Call EU Signs Ltd today on 02033752100 or email us at sales@eusigns.co.uk.
