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Workplace signage

This unit of work addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcomes:

Extract from Industrial Technology Stage 6 Syllabus © Board of Studies NSW 1999.

Introduction

Signs and symbols are used in a workplace to convey information to workers and visitors to the site. Being able to move or navigate around the workplace independently and safely to perform tasks or access meal and bathroom facilities can be critical to an individual’s success and productivity at work.There are a range of signs in the workplace that allow a person to move around safely and with confidence.

Safety signs

There are three main types of safety signs used in the workplace:

1. Picture signs using symbols or pictures.

   

2. Signs with only text based messages.

   

3. Picture signs with a short message.
   

   

Picture signs are used as they reach as many people as possible in the workplace, including workers with low reading ability or people from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Colour and shape

There are seven categories of safety signs identified by colour and shape:

1. Prohibition signs – these are signs that indicate something that you must not do: They are made up of a red circle border with a line through it, a white background and black symbol

   

2. Mandatory signs – these signs tell you that you must wear some special safety equipment: They are made up of a blue solid circle, white symbol, with no border.

   

3. Restriction signs – these signs tell of a limitation placed on an activity or use in the area concerned. They are made up of a red circular border, no crossbar, and a white background.

   

4. Hazard warning signs – these signs warn you of a danger or risk to your health: They are made up of a yellow triangle with a black border, and a black symbol.

   

5. Danger hazard signs – these signs warn of a particular hazard or hazardous condition that is to be life-threatening: They are made up of a white rectangular background, with the word DANGER in white on a red background, and black border and black text.

   

6. Emergency information signs – these signs show where emergency safety equipment is kept: They are made up of a green solid rectangle, with a white symbol or text.
   

   

7. Fire signs – these signs tell you the location of fire alarms and firefighting facilities: They are made up of a red solid rectangle, with white text.
   

   

Activity one

 Use the www.adeptsafetyonline.com.au website to find the following safety signs.

1. STRICTLY NO ADMITTANCE
2. DANGER 240 VOLTS
3. DISABLED TOILET
4. HIGH VOLTAGE
5. EMERGENCY EXIT
6. FIRST AID
7. EYE PROTECTION REQUIRED
8. BEWARE OF VEHICLES
9. WATCH YOUR STEP
10. NO SMOKING IN THIS AREA

Answers

Health signs

The following examples show wall charts which are placed in the workplace to remind and encourage workers to follow safe work practices.

Signage of electrical equipment

Testing of all tools is now a legal requirement in Australia on all worksites. Any piece of electrical equipment, inmcluding extension leads must be checked and tagged by a qualified person. The correct tag looks like the following:

Material safety data sheets (MSDS)

All containers that have a substance that is deemed dangerous must be labelled appropriately. MSDS provide information required for labelling a container and where possible an MSDS is to be attached to the container. The label on a hazardous substance should draw the attention of an employee who is using the substance to the significant hazards involved. It should take into account all the hazards which are likely to occur from the use of the substance.

The MSDS must:

1. be readily available to personnel using the substance with information provided in a form that is easily understood by the user
2. identify that the substance is a designated hazardous substance
3. meet the needs of those persons with language or literacy difficulties.

Placement of signs

Signs should be located where they are clearly visible to all concerned so as to attract attention and be read or interpreted easily.

The height of a sign should be at the normal line of sight for a standing adult.

Signs should not be placed on movable objects such as a sliding door.

Regulation and hazard type signs should be positioned in relation to the hazard to allow a person plenty of time to view the sign and take notice of the warning.