Health and Safety signs are available in a variety of guises. We manufacture from either Rigid PVC, High Impact Plastic or Self-Adhesive Vinyl and manufactured to Health and Safety Executive Standards. We specialize in non standard "one offs" but can manufacture standard signs into the 100's.

For a specific guide to the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, please browse the following:

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996
The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations implement the requirements of European Directive 92/58/EEC within the UK.
The Regulations became law on 1st April 1996 and replace the 1980 Safety Signs Regulations, going well beyond their limited scope. The 1980 Regulations simply prescribed certain specifications when a Safety Sign was used, such as shape, colour and size. They did not state that a Safety Sign had to be used.

Purpose
• To implement within the UK the requirements of European Directive 92/58/EEC.
• To reduce the number of text only signs and encourage standardisation of Safety Signs throughout the E.C.
• Give universal meanings to Safety Signs regardless of linguistic or cultural variations.

Content
• A key change from the 1980 Safety Sign Regulations, is that now employers must use a Safety Sign where a risk cannot be fully avoided or controlled by other methods e.g.: a guard on a machine.
• There is a move towards symbol based signs, e.g.: it is now no longer acceptable to have a text only No Smoking Sign - the appropriate symbol must be added.
• The definition of a Safety Sign has been extended and now includes:-

o Hand Signals which are to be used for mechanical handling and directing vehicles. There are gestures that are universally recognised as meaning start, stop, raise, lower, etc.
o The Marking of Pipework carrying hazardous substances and the marking of containers storing them. Signs should be placed at points where employees are likely to be exposed to the contents of the pipework, such as at filling points and valves.
o Acoustic Signals, such as fire alarms and warning alarms on machinery are included. These signals must be at a sound level higher than the level of ambient noise and be easily recognised as a safety signal.
o Illuminated signs come within the scope of the Legislation. The light emitted by such a sign must produce a luminous contrast which is appropriate to its environment
o 19 new symbols that are not in either BS5499 or BS5378 are introduced.
o Employers must train their employees in the meaning of any safety signs in use around the workplace and the measures to be taken in connection with Safety Signs.
o Fire Safety Signs come within the scope of the Legislation and must contain a symbol. The Regulations will not require any changes where existing fire safety signs containing symbols comply with BS5499.
o Offshore installations come within the scope of the Legislation.

Compliance
The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations became law on 1st April 1996. From this date:-
• All Safety Signs must contain a symbol. All text only Safety Signs must have the appropriate symbol added to them.
• All new and re-fitted buildings must use the new style signage, even for Fire Safety Signs.
• For Fire Safety Signs a longer transitional period has been allowed. 24th December 1998 was the date by which all Fire Safety Signs must contain a symbol.

Help and Advice
Local Fire Authorities have enforcement responsibilities for the Fire Safety Sign aspect of the Regulations. The H.S.E. enforce the Safety Sign aspect. Details and guidance to the Regulations are given in the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 - Guidance on Regulations (ISBN 0 7176 087 0) available from HSE Books. The Regulations themselves (ISBN 0 11 054093 X) and are available from:

HMSO,
PO Box 276,
London SW8 5DT.