MODULE 4 - SAFETY SIGNS
SAFETY REGULATIONS
When did the Regulations come into force? The Regulations and duties on
employers in respect of safety signs came into force on 1 April 1996.
What do the Regulations require? The Regulations require employers to
ensure that safety signs are provided (or are in place) and maintained in
circumstances where risks to health and safety have not been avoided by other
means, for example engineering controls or safe systems of work. In determining
where to use safety signs, employers need to take into account the results of the
risk assessment made under the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999 (the Management Regulations).
This assessment deals with hazard identification, the risks associated with those
hazards, and the control measures to be taken. When the control measures
identified in the
assessment have been taken there may be a ‘residual’ risk such that employees
need to be warned, and informed of any further measures necessary. Safety signs
are needed if they will help to reduce this residual risk. If the risk is not
significant there is no need to provide a sign. These Regulations make it clear that
safety signs are not a substitute for other means of controlling risks to employees;
safety signs are to warn of any remaining significant risk or to instruct employees
of the measures they must take in relation to these risks.
Information, instruction and training
It may be appropriate for employers to explain to their
employees the circumstances in which some safety signs are
needed, and then check that their employees are aware of
and understand the meaning of those signs they come into
contact with during their work. Research indicates that not
all safety signs are well understood. It is therefore important
that employers explain to their employees what action they
will be taking to meet the requirements of these Regulations
and ensure that employees are aware of and understand the
meaning of safety signs and signals either seen or heard
during their work. Although most safety signs are self-
explanatory, employees (particularly new ones) may be
unfamiliar with the meaning of some of the less commonly
used signs.
What is a safety sign?
The Regulations cover a variety of methods of
communicating health and safety information in addition to
the Traditional safety sign or signboard. The terms used in
the Regulations mean the following:
(a) safety and/or health sign– a sign providing information
or instruction about
safety or health at work by means of a signboard, a colour, an
illuminated sign or acoustic signal, a verbal communication
or hand signal;
(b) signboard– a sign which provides information or
instructions by a combination of shape, colour and a symbol
or pictogram which is rendered visible by lighting of
sufficient intensity. In practice many signboards may be
accompanied by supplementary text
SIGNBOARDS CAN BE OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES:
(i) Prohibition Sign– a sign prohibiting behavior likely to increase or cause danger (eg ‘no
access for unauthorized persons’);
(ii) Warning Sign– a sign giving warning of a hazard or danger (eg ‘danger: electricity’);
(iii) Mandatory Sign– a sign prescribing specific behavior (eg ‘eye protection must be worn’);
(iv) Emergency Escape Or First-aid Sign– a sign giving information on emergency exits,
first-aid, or rescue facilities (eg ‘emergency exit/escape route’
(c) safety colour– a colour to which a specific meaning is assigned (eg yellow means ‘be
careful’ or ‘take precautions’);
(d) symbol or pictogram– these appear in Schedule 1, although some variation in detail is
acceptable provided the meaning is the same. They are for use on a signboard or illuminated
sign (eg the trefoil ionizing radiation warning sign);
(e) illuminated sign– a sign made of transparent or translucent materials which is illuminated
from the inside or the rear to give the appearance of a luminous surface (eg many emergency
exit signs);
(f ) acoustic signal– a sound signal which is transmitted without the use of a human or
artificial voice (egfire alarm);
(g) verbal communication– a predetermined spoken message communicated by a human or
artificial voice;
(h) hand signal– a movement or position of the arms or hands giving a recognized signal and
guiding persons who are carrying out manoeuvres which are a hazard or danger to people;
EXAMPLES OF SAFETY SIGNS–
CLASS ASSESSMENT
(a) List 5 areas ILO Standardized to look out for in a suitable
working environment
(b) Give 3 ILO recommendations for each of the standardized areas
listed above
2. (a) List 5 functions of NESREA
(b) What is the full meaning of NESREA
(c ) What kind of agency is NESREA?
3. (a) What is an environmental policy?
(b) Identify 5 content of an environmental policy
(c ) Describe 3 importance of environmental policy in
an organization
(d) List 3 characteristics of an environmental policy
4. (a) What is an environmental audit?
(b) Describe the pre audit, onsite and post audit steps
of an environmental audit
(c ) List 5 benefits of an environmental audit
5 (a) What are safety signs?
(b) Design and draw 5 safety signs, describing
its usage and importance
6 (a) In a tabular form, list the classes of FIRE,
Identify the differences and the types of
extinguishers used for each class
Classes of fire Description and Extinguishers used
Differences
(b) What are the common features of an
extinguisher, List minimum of 5
(c ) As an trained health and safety personnel, in a
case of using a fire extinguisher, what is the
password you must apply for proper usage?
(d) Identify the acronyms of the password listed
above and the meaning of each acronym