Take Safety Seriously!
It's always worth checking that you have all the correct safety signs in all the correct places. In some cases you may even need to have the safety signs made from certain materials (for example, in an area of great wear and tear, a metal sign will last better than a plastic sign).

Keeping people safe at your place of work
As an employer, you are required to provide and maintain safety signs wherever any risks to health and safety have not been avoided by other means. In addition, you also need to train your staff in the meaning of saftey signs and symbols. To ensure you have all the correct safety signs, follow the basic procedure below:

• Conduct a risk assessment
• Ensure fire equipment and emergency exits are clearly signed
• Ensure hazardous substances, storage areas, and obstacles are clearly signed
• Use signs to prohibit entry into dangerous areas
• Make sure any mandatory requirements (such as wearing safety clothing) is clearly signed
• Clearly sign all First Aid equipment and areas
• Use signs to highlight prohibited behaviour (such as no smoking)

Types of Safety Sign
There are five main types of safety sign which denote different aspects of health and safety in the workplace. They are:

	Prohibition - "Stop!" Colour: A red circular band with a diagonal cross bar on a white background; the symbol within the circle to be black. Purpose: To indicate that a certain behaviour is prohibited. Meaning: Stop | Do not | You must not
A Few Common examples: No Smoking No Naked Flames No Unauthorised Access Keep Out No Photography No Cars No Diving No Dogs No Alcohol No Drinks No Food No Fishing No Forklifts No Helmets No Mobile Phones No Access to Scaffolding No Skateboarding No Swimming Do Not Use Switch Do Not Drink Water
	Hazard - "Danger" Colour: A yellow triangle with a black border and black symbol. Purpose: To warn of any type of hazard. Meaning: Danger | Hazard | Caution | Beware | Careful
A Few Common examples: Caution CCTV In Use Care - Machinery Corrosive Products Crushing Hazard Compressed Cylinder Danger of Death Deep Water Wildlife Electric Shock Hazard Explosion Hazard Falling Objects Fire Hazard Forklifts Operating Guard Dogs Trip Hazard Extreme Danger Slippery Surface Overhead Loads Mind Your Head
	Mandatory - "Obey" Colour: A blue circle with a white symbol. Purpose: Indicates that a specific course of action must be taken. Meaning: Obey | You must | Carry out instructions shown | Do
A Few Common examples: Safety Boots Ear Protectors Face Mask Face Protector Safety Gloves Safety Goggles Hard Hat Safety Harness High Visibility Clothing Wash Hands
	Fire Equipment - "Fire" Colour: A red oblong or square with a white symbol. Purpose: To describe the location of firefighting equipment. Meaning: Location of fire fighting equipment | Type of fire fighting equipment
A Few Common examples: Caution Fire Extinguisher Fire Extinguisher Flames FIre Equipment Fire Hose Fire Phone Point Fire Alarm Switch Fire Equipment Fire Alarm Switch
	Safe Condition - "Safety" Colour: A green oblong or square with a white symbol or text. Purpose: To provide information about safe conditions. Meaning: The safe way | Where to go in emergencies | First aid
A Few Common examples: Fire Exit (often with an arrow) Assembly Point Break Glass Shower First Aid Muster Station Eye Wash Drinking Water Flames Arrows - any direction

Legal Obligatons
Employers have a legal obligation to conduct risk assessments, use health and safety signs in areas which may contain hazards, and ensure that all fire routes are marked.

Fire Regulations
Fire regulations have a strong focus on fire prevention and has a risk-assessment based approach to fire safety. Safety signs play a major role in this and you need to make sure that you are up-to-date. Since 1996 all emergency escape signs and fire equipment signs must include a pictorial symbol. If you have any out-of-date signs then you are legally obliged to get them changed! Remember: no "text only" signs allowed to indicate fire routes or emergency exits.

Anti-Smoking Regulations
In 2007 it became illegal to smoke in any enclosed workspace, whether it was a pub, restaurant, garage, workshop, office, or studio. As more and more of the UK goes non-smoking you need to make sure that your signs are up-to-date and clearly visible. You may even need to increase the number of signs in your workplace to conform to new regulations.