Workplace Safety Signs

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The most important workplace safety signs in respect of fire safety are escape signs directing people along escape routes to the fire exits.

All workplace safety signs marking escape routes must now feature a pictograph in order to comply with signs and signals regulations. This is the now familiar 'running man' sign. Pictographs may be used on their own or with additional explanatory text, but text may no longer be used on its own.

Workplace safety signs for escape routes may include directional arrows, but arrows on their own are not permitted. An arrow on its own does not give sufficient information about what the sign means. Care should be taken not to obscure any workplace safety signs with stored equipment, temporary signs and notices, etc.

All workplace safety signs marking your escape routes should be consistent in design and positioning. Don't have a wide range of sizes or design schemes, even if you share the building with other organisations.

Check the adequacy of your signing by walking through all your escape routes as if you did not know the building and had to rely on following signs to get out. From wherever you stand along the escape route, you should be able to see the next sign telling you where to go.

Workplace Safety Signs - Guidance on Positioning:

• Fire Safety Signs mounted on walls should be located between 1.7m and 2.0m from floor level
• Fire Exit signs for doors should be located above the door rather than on the door itself
• Fire safety signs mounted above doors should be located between 2.0m and 2.5m from floor level

Other Types of Workplace Safety Signs

Any fire doors fitted with door closers should be fitted with 'Fire Door Keep Shut' signs.

Fire Doors on storage areas, cupboards, etc should have signs reading 'Fire Door Keep Locked'. Both these types of workplace safety signs for doors are standard signs featuring white text on a solid blue circle background.

If you have any fire exit doors fitted with panic bars, the door just above the bar should be fitted with a sign saying 'Push Bar To Open'. This is obviously in addition to the 'fire exit' workplace safety sign.

In larger buildings or premises with lots of visitors or members of the public, you should have 'Fire Action' safety signs. These give brief instructions on the action to take on discovering a fire. Various designs are available so that you can adapt them to suit your own Emergency Plan, such as writing on the location of the Assembly Point, etc.

Illuminated 'Fire Exit' safety signs are very important in all buildings. All fire safety signs need to be illuminated, and while this can be by external lighting positioned to light the sign, the best method for exit signs is to use ones which have internal illumination (the sign itself lights up).

Standard safety signs are available in the UK from the recommended supplier below, but where illuminated fire exit signs are concerned it is best to consult a specialist contractor.

Recommended Safety Sign Suppliers

Archer Safety Signs

Archer Safety Signs are one of the most reliable and best value safety sign suppliers in the UK. They have over 30 years experience and provide a huge range of interior and exterior signs for all purposes.

You can access thousands of health and safety signs covering a huge range of industries, and they offer 24 hour delivery on all stock items. Go straight to the Fire Safety Signs page of their website or search for signs by category from their home page.

Screwfix

With over thirty years experience they are one of the largest and most experienced suppliers in the UK. They have a comprehensive selection of all the main types of safety signs and offer next day delivery and a 30 day money back guarantee.

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