Safety and Health Signs
Information Sheet Feb 2012
This Information Sheet provides brief guidance on the requirements for signs as set out in the Safety, Health and
Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007. The Guidelines (but NOT the Regulations) were amended in
October 2009. This Information Sheet does not generally deal with acoustic signs, verbal communication, hand signals,
signs for hazardous substances and mixtures, products or equipment or signs regulating road, rail, inland waterway, sea
or air transport.
This Information Sheet is not a legal interpretation of the legislation.
Provision and Use of Signs:
Signs are the last line of defence against hazards and should only be used where hazards cannot be
avoided or adequately reduced.
The risk assessment and safety statement should identify necessary signs. In some cases signs are specifically required, e.g.
• Fragile roofs and ceilings • Work-at-height danger areas • Workplace traffic routes
• Emergency routes and exits • Places with obstacles, falling risk • Exposure to noise above 85dB(A)
• Fire detection and fire fighting or risk of falling objects • Explosive hazard zones
Employees must be provided with information and instruction on measures to be taken and the meaning of signs.
Effectiveness of a sign must not be adversely affected by poor design, insufficient number, incorrect positioning, poor
state of repair or incorrect functioning.
Use of Text
Text should not be used if the meaning is clear by use of a Ear protection
pictogram or symbol alone. If a text explanation is necessary
(e.g. where doubt could exist as to the meaning of a symbol)
must be worn
a supplementary signboard containing appropriate text should be
provided. This supplementary signboard can be on the same
“carrier”.
Combined Signboards
Graphical symbols should not be combined to convey more than
one safety message. For example, a mandatory safety helmet and
safety goggles instruction should not be combined as one
graphical symbol.
Two safety messages should be shown by two separate
signboards (with supplementary signboards as necessary) or the
two signboards and supplementary signboards can be combined
on one carrier.
Wear Toxic
respirator hazard
Safety and Health Signs
Information Sheet
Requirements for Signboards
Sign Type Meaning Shapes and Colours Example Note
and Information
Prohibition Danger alarm - Stop, shut- Shape Round The safety colour red must appear
down, emergency cut-out Background White around the edge and in a trans-
devices Symbol / Black verse bar and must cover at least
Evacuate pictogram Not Drinkable
35% of the surface of the sign.
Fire Fighting Fire fighting equipment - Shape Rectangular or square Signboards or a safety colour (or
Identification and location Background Red both) shall be used to mark per-
Symbol / White manently the location and identifi-
pictogram cation of fire-fighting equipment.
Warning Warning sign - Be careful, Shape Triangular A yellow triangle must have a
take precautions Background Yellow with black edging black edge. The safety colour yel-
Examine Symbol / Black low must cover at least 50% of the
pictogram Warning
Deep water
surface of the sign.
Mandatory Mandatory sign - Specific Shape Round The safety colour blue must cover
behaviour or action Background Blue at least 50% of the surface of the
Wear personal protective Symbol / White sign.
equipment pictogram Protective footwear
must be worn
Emergency Emergency Escape/ First Shape Rectangular or square The safety colour green must
Escape/ First Aid - Doors, exits, routes, Background Green cover at least 50% of the surface of
Aid equipment, facilities Symbol / White the sign.
pictogram
No Danger No Danger, Rescue Background Green
Equipment - Return to
normal
Supplementary Used with signboard Background White Should not be used if the meaning
Signs for supplementary Symbol / Black Not Drinkable is clear by use of a pictogram or
information, includes pictogram symbol alone
information in writing Background Safety colour
Symbol / Contrasting colour
pictogram
Obstacles, Risk of colliding with Background Yellow and black or red and Places with a risk of colliding with
dangerous obstacles, of falling or white stripes at ~45° angle obstacles or of falling shall be per-
locations of objects falling and more or less equal size manently marked with a safety
colour or with signboards (or both).
Traffic routes Traffic routes for vehicles Background Continuous white or yellow Where required for the protection
lines where required to of persons, traffic routes for
protect persons vehicles shall be clearly identified
by continuous stripes in a clearly
visible colour.
For Further Information
Contact the Health and Safety Authority at
[email protected], Lo Call 1890 289 389 or visit www.hsa.ie for further
information on this and a wide range of workplace safety, health and welfare topics.
