| Emergency / Fire Exit signage. | | | | negate the danger. This information must be |
| All public buildings and places of work are required | | | | reiterated in the shape of signage. The most |
| to display safety signs and for very good reason. | | | | common requirements are for hard hats, safety |
| Imagine being in an unfamiliar building when the fire | | | | footwear, goggles and gloves. To ignore these |
| alarms go off! Without directional fire exit signs | | | | signs is risking serious injury, and in the case of |
| the situation could be very dangerous indeed. | | | | hard hats, even death. |
| Even the smallest office or factory, the smallest | | | | Warning signs |
| shop etc., must display these signs. In these cases | | | | These signs warn us about any potential hazard |
| the solutions are usually very simple, but in the | | | | which may be present. It is compulsory to display |
| case of large office blocks, vast factory buildings | | | | them and foolish to ignore them. When warning |
| or places of public entertainment the planning that | | | | signs are displayed it is up to the individual to take |
| goes into the display of these signs is crucial. | | | | the appropriate action. It is fairly obvious to state |
| Large companies will generally have a health and | | | | that ignoring signs such as "Warning 1200V" could |
| safety officer who is responsible for all health and | | | | have fatal consequences. |
| safety signage. Signage suppliers such as Directa | | | | Prohibition signs |
| UK will usually offer a site survey service where | | | | These signs tell us what we are NOT allowed to |
| an expert in the field is able to advise on the | | | | do and where we are NOT allowed to go. For |
| positioning of these signs. The Fire Brigade are | | | | example, "No access to unauthorized personnel" |
| often able to advise in complicated scenarios. | | | | means that there may be potential hazards within |
| Fire exit signage is available in various formats. | | | | an area which only trained personnel are familiar |
| The standard signs are for use in very small | | | | with. To ignore these may mean venturing into |
| premises, or for larger premises where there is | | | | very dangerous areas such as chemical stores or |
| constant emergency power back up. Then there | | | | areas of unmanned machinery. For trained |
| is photoluminous signage which will glow in the | | | | personnel issued with the correct equipment, |
| dark long after any power failure, and finally there | | | | these areas are relatively safe but for the |
| is illuminated signage which should have battery | | | | untrained, venturing into these area is potentially |
| pack back up in case of power failure. So when | | | | life threatening. |
| the alarms go off in even the most unfamiliar | | | | Conclusion |
| building you should be able to simply follow the | | | | Safety signs are meant to be displayed for a |
| signs to safety. | | | | reason. It is the responsibility of the establishment |
| Mandatory signage | | | | to display them, and it is our responsibility to heed |
| These signs tell us what action we must take. It | | | | them. Failure to do so by either party could have |
| is the responsibility of every employer to tell staff | | | | potentially catastrophic consequences. |
| about all hazards and what they should do to | | | | |