Safety Signs
Safety signs stop near-misses turning into incidents, plain and simple. Get the right site safety signs up early and keep the job compliant and moving.
On a busy build, you cannot rely on word of mouth or a toolbox talk to cover every hazard. Proper workplace safety signage makes the rules obvious at a glance, from PPE mandatory signs at the gate to emergency exit signs and fire safety signs inside. Pick BS EN ISO 7010 safety signs where you can, match the sign type to the risk, and get them fixed where lads actually look.
What Are Safety Signs Used For?
- Marking live hazards on construction jobs, like fragile roofs, deep excavations, overhead lifting, and plant routes, so visitors and new starters do not wander into danger signs and caution signs blind.
- Setting clear rules at access points with mandatory safety signs and prohibition signs, such as PPE mandatory signs, no smoking, and authorised personnel only, so the site stays controlled from the first delivery.
- Guiding people fast in an emergency using emergency exit signs, fire safety signs, and first aid signs, so you are not shouting directions through smoke, dust, or panic.
- Backing up method statements and inductions with safety instruction signs and safety notice signs at the point of work, like hot works areas, silica dust zones, and welfare rules, where people actually need the reminder.
- Keeping outdoor areas readable year-round with weather resistant safety signs, reflective safety signs, and photoluminescent safety signs on hoardings, gates, and compounds when it is dark, wet, or covered in site grime.
Choosing the Right Safety Signs
Sort prevents before you buy: match the sign type to the risk, then choose a finish that stays readable where it is going.
1. Sign Type: Warning, Mandatory, Prohibition, Safe Condition, Fire
If you are flagging a hazard, use hazard warning signs and danger signs so people clock the risk instantly. If you need an action, go mandatory safety signs like eye protection must be worn. If you need to stop a behaviour, use prohibition signs. For routes and help points, emergency exit signs and first aid signs are the ones people follow under pressure, and fire safety signs need to be obvious and kept clear.
2. Temporary vs Permanent Safety Signs
If the layout changes weekly, go temporary safety signs you can move with the job, otherwise they end up ignored. If it is a fixed risk like a plant room, loading bay, or fire point, fit permanent safety signs properly so they do not peel, fade, or disappear behind stored materials.
3. Indoor vs Outdoor Durability
If it is going on hoarding, gates, or compounds, choose weather resistant safety signs that will not curl up or wash out. Indoors you can focus more on size and placement, but still assume dust, knocks, and regular wipe-downs.
4. Visibility: Reflective and Photoluminescent
If the area is low light, night shifts, or power-cut risk, reflective safety signs and photoluminescent safety signs are worth it, especially for emergency exit signs and first aid signs. A sign nobody can see is just wall decoration.
Safety Signs FAQs
Do I need BS EN ISO 7010 safety signs, or will any sign do?
If you want consistent, recognised UK safety signage that stands up to audits, go BS EN ISO 7010. It standardises the symbols, colours, and shapes so people understand them instantly, which is the whole point on a mixed-trade site.
What is the difference between warning, mandatory, and prohibition signs?
Warning safety signs flag a hazard you need to watch for. Mandatory safety signs tell you what you must do, like wear eye protection. Prohibition signs tell you what you must not do, like no smoking or no unauthorised access. Pick the wrong type and people either ignore it or do the opposite.
Will outdoor safety signs actually last, or do they fade and peel?
Outdoor signs need to be weather resistant and fixed properly. If you stick an indoor notice outside, it will curl, fade, and end up unreadable. For hoarding, gates, and compounds, choose outdoor-rated materials and do not rely on a bit of tape.
Are photoluminescent and reflective safety signs worth it?
Yes where visibility is the issue. Photoluminescent safety signs help people find exits and first aid points in low light or power loss, and reflective safety signs stay readable in torchlight and vehicle lights. For emergency exit signs and key safety information signs, it is a sensible upgrade.
Where should I actually put site safety signs so people read them?
Put them at the decision point, not buried on a notice board. Gate rules at the entrance, PPE mandatory signs before you step onto the work area, hazard warning signs before the hazard, and emergency exit signs on the route people will take out. Keep them at eye level and do not let materials block them.
Who Uses Safety Signs on Site?
- Site managers and supervisors setting up site hazard signage at gates, walkways, and welfare so the rules are clear before the first trade starts.
- HSE and compliance teams specifying HSE safety signs and UK safety signage to keep projects aligned with BS EN ISO 7010 safety signs and client audits.
- Groundworkers and civils gangs marking excavations, services, and plant zones with warning safety signs so pedestrians and other trades do not cut through the wrong area.
- Facilities and maintenance teams fitting permanent safety signs around workshops, loading bays, and plant rooms to keep workplace safety signage consistent for staff and contractors.
The Basics: Understanding Safety Sign Standards
Good health and safety signs are not about looking official, they are about being understood instantly. This is what matters when you are choosing UK safety signage for site or workplace use.
1. BS EN ISO 7010 Safety Signs (Consistency)
BS EN ISO 7010 safety signs use standard shapes, colours, and pictograms so anyone on site recognises them fast, even if they are new to the job or do not speak great English. It is the safest route for compliance safety signs on construction and industrial sites.
2. Safety Sign Categories (What the Colour Means)
Warning safety signs highlight hazards you need to avoid or control. Mandatory safety signs tell you what PPE or action is required. Prohibition signs tell you what is not allowed. Safe condition signs cover emergency exits and first aid, and fire safety signs mark alarms and equipment. Get the category wrong and people hesitate, which is when accidents happen.
3. Placement and Readability (Where It Actually Works)
Workplace safety signage only works if it is at eye level, at the decision point, and not buried in a cluster of notices. Put the sign where someone needs to act, like at the door to the riser, at the top of the ladder access, or right before the exclusion zone.
Safety Sign Accessories That Stop Them Falling Off or Being Ignored
A sign is only doing its job if it is still there, still readable, and fixed where people actually see it.
1. Fixings and Mounting Kits
Proper screws, wall plugs, or mounting kits stop permanent safety signs ending up cable-tied to a handrail or lying in the mud after the first windy day.
2. Posts, Stands, and Barriers for Temporary Signs
If you are moving hazards around the job, a stand or barrier mount keeps temporary safety signs upright and visible, instead of taped to a pallet where nobody reads it.
3. Protective Covers and Sign Holders
In dusty workshops or outdoor compounds, a cover or holder keeps safety information signs and safety instruction signs clean and legible, so they do not turn into a faded blur after a month.
Why Shop for Safety Signs at ITS?
Whether you need a couple of fire safety signs for a small refurb or a full set of construction safety signs for a new site set-up, we stock the range in all the key types and formats. It is all held in our own warehouse, in stock and ready for next day delivery, so you can get compliant and get the job moving.
