Safety signs

Employers must provide safety signs if there is a significant risk that can’t be avoided or controlled in any other way, such as through safe systems of work or engineering controls.

There is no need for employers to provide safety signs if they don’t help reduce the risk or if the risk isn’t significant. This applies to all places and activities where people are employed. The installed safety signs must be relevant there is no benefit to installing safety signs detailing equipment that is not required as this tends to mean that workers ignore all the signs and requirements!

Employers should, where necessary:

• use road traffic signs in workplaces to regulate road traffic;
• maintain the safety signs they provide;
• explain unfamiliar signs to their workers and tell them what they need to do when they see safety signs.

Find out more

1. Napo in ...Best signs story