This document discusses safety signs and notices that are used in the carpentry and joinery workplace. It explains that there are four main types of safety signs that use shapes and colors to convey their message: warning signs which are triangular, mandatory signs which are circular, prohibitory signs which have a diagonal line through them, and safe condition/information signs which are square or rectangular. It also discusses COSHH signs, noting that new standardized COSHH symbols were phased in across Europe between 2009 and 2015 to replace older signs. The document stresses the importance of all workers understanding and following the guidance provided by safety signs.

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Signs and Safety Notices
3.5
Unit 201/601: Health, Safety and
Welfare in Construction

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Objectives
To be able to:
3.5 Identify different signs
and safety notices used
in the workplace.

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Safety Signs and the Law
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act
1974:
Employers have a responsibility to safeguard
their employees and any other people entering
their premises.
So, employers must provide comprehensive
and appropriate site signage to absolutely
minimise risk.
Employees: it is your responsibility to abide by
(follow) all sign guidance and instructions at all
times on site.

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Safety Signs
Safety signs use few words but give the message
quickly using symbols and images
Each type of safety sign has a colour and a shape.
There are 4 types of safety signs in general use

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Warning signs alert you to a specific hazard
Mandatory signs
tell you that something must
be done
Prohibitory signs
tell you that something must not
be done
Safe condition /
information signs
give you useful information like
the location of things

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The “Warning Triangle”
Warning signs are
triangular
The “Safe Square”
Information / Safe
Condition signs are
square or rectangular
The “Compulsory Circle”
Mandatory (must do)
signs are circular
The “Don’t Diagonal”
Prohibitory (don’t do)
signs have a diagonal
through them
In fact, just the SHAPE is enough:
Colour blind?
No problem!

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There is also
COSHH
Symbols for the
Control
Of
Substances
Hazardous to
Health

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WHY should we no longer see COSHH signs shaped
like this?

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Between 2009 and 2015, new COSHH symbols were
phased in across the whole of Europe:

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Between 2009 and 2015, new COSHH symbols were
phased in across the whole of Europe: