Safety Signs and Signals: A Comprehensive Guide

Posted on Sep 11, 2024 in Language

ITEM 6: SIGNALS

Three Phases to Eliminate Occupational Hazards

If an occupational hazard hasn’t been eliminated in the design phase, the following three phases can be used to eliminate or limit it:

  • Acting on the agent material.
  • Acting on the operator.
  • Acting on the use of signs and rules that reinforce the above techniques.

1. SAFETY SIGNS

Definition and Purpose

Signaling is a set of stimuli that influence a person’s performance by highlighting specific situations. Safety signs quickly draw attention to potentially hazardous objects or situations and indicate the location of devices and equipment.

Important: Safety signs do not eliminate risks on their own, and the information they provide cannot replace safety standards.

Minimum signaling requirements are established under Royal Decreto 485/1997 of 14 April.

Fundamental Principles of Signaling

  • Signaling should provide effective information but doesn’t eliminate the risk itself.
  • The signaling system cannot substitute preventative measures.
  • Employers are responsible for training workers in this area.

Classes of Signaling

  • Optical signal
  • Signaling devices
  • Signal
  • Verbal communication
  • Hand signals

Classes of Safety Signs and Definitions

Safety signs are classified into the following groups based on their application:

  • Prohibition Signal: Prohibits behavior that may cause a dangerous situation.
  • Mandatory Signal: Requires specific behavior.
  • Warning Signal: Warns of a hazard or danger.
  • Rescue, Relief, and Firefighting Signal: Provides information about emergency exits, first aid, and rescue devices.
  • Supplementary Signal: Used with other signs to offer additional information.
  • Informative Signal: Provides information other than that provided in the preceding paragraphs.

Colors, Symbols, and Geometric Shapes

Safety signs are characterized by their color (red, yellow or orange, green, and blue), symbol or pictogram, and geometric shape (circle, equilateral triangle, square, or rectangle).

Color’s role is to draw attention. Safety colors, contrast colors, and symbol colors are all defined.

Various geometric shapes aid individuals with visual impairments. A circle indicates obligation or prohibition (e.g., white or white with blue/red), a triangle warns of danger, and a square or rectangle contains fire fighting, rescue, and general information signs.

Dimensions of the Signs

The aforementioned RD states: “The scale of the signals and their photometric and colorimetric characteristics ensure good visibility and understanding.” Therefore, the scale is determined by the distance from which it must be observed. For a distance of fewer than 50 meters:

Where: L = Observation distance (m), S = Signal surface area (m2)

Safety Signs

A – Prohibition Signs

Prohibit behavior likely to cause a hazard. Black pictogram on a white background, with red edges and a red band (transverse downward from left to right across the pictogram at 45° from the horizontal). Red should cover at least 35% of the signal area.

  • No Smoking
  • No Smoking and No Fire
  • No Pedestrians
  • Do Not Extinguish with Water
  • No Maintenance Vehicles
  • Non-Drinking Water
  • No Unauthorized Entry
  • Do Not Touch
B – Mandatory Signs

Require specific behavior. They are round, with a white pictogram on a blue background (blue should cover at least 50% of the signal area).

  • Mandatory Eye Protection
  • Mandatory Head Protection
  • Mandatory Ear Protection
  • Mandatory Respiratory Protection
  • Mandatory Foot Protection
  • Mandatory Hand Protection
  • Mandatory Body Protection
  • Mandatory Face Protection
  • Mandatory Fall Protection
  • Mandatory Pedestrian Pathway
  • General Obligation (accompanied by a supplementary signal if necessary)
C – Warning Signs

Warn of danger. They are triangular, with a black pictogram on a yellow background (yellow should cover at least 50% of the signal area) and black borders. Only when the signal refers to harmful or irritating substances is the background orange to avoid confusion with traffic signals.

  • Flammable Materials
  • Explosive
  • Oxidizing Substances
  • Corrosive
  • Radioactive Material
  • Suspended Loads
  • Vehicle Maintenance
  • Electric Shock
  • General Danger
  • Laser Radiation
  • Toxic Substances
  • Non-Ionizing Radiation
  • Strong Magnetic Field
  • Risk of Tripping
  • Fall Hazard
  • Biological Hazard
  • Low Temperature
  • Harmful or Irritating Materials
  • Static Electricity
  • Attention! Grounding
  • High Temperature
  • Battery
  • Machine Under Repair
  • Indefinite Danger
D – Fire Fighting Signals

Indicate the location of fire protection equipment or systems. They are rectangular or square, with a white symbol on a red background (red should cover at least 50% of the signal area). Firefighting equipment should be housed in red cabinets or containers for easy identification.

  • Fire Hose
  • Ladder
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Fire Phone
  • Address to Follow (in addition to the above information sign)
  • Fire Phone
  • Push Button Alarm
  • Firewall Gate
  • Moisturizer
E – Rescue or Relief Signals

Rectangular or square, with a white pictogram on a green background (green must cover at least 50% of the sign’s surface). They signal escape exits and indicate the direction of escape routes. The following labels will be used: “EXIT” for a general exit, “EMERGENCY EXIT” for an exit specifically for emergencies, and “Fire Escape” for designated fire escape routes. Any door that could lead to confusion during evacuation will be marked with a “No Exit” sign (white on a red background).

  • Emergency Escape Route
  • Address to Follow (to signal the following supplementary information)
  • Entry/Exit for Relief
  • Rescue and First Aid Telephone
  • First Aid
  • Stretcher
  • Safety Shower
  • Eye Wash

TABLE 5 (B): RESCUE OR OTHER DISTRESS SIGNALS

  • Downstairs
  • Upstairs
  • Emergency Escape
  • Break in Case of Emergency
  • Open/Unlocked
  • Push in Case of Emergency
  • Press in Case of Emergency
  • General Exit
  • Emergency Exit, Slide
  • Emergency Exit
  • Exit Left
  • Exit Right
  • Exit Down
  • Exit
  • Fire Escape
  • Emergency Exit
  • No Exit

2. ELECTRICAL SIGNALS

The electricity sector also has signaling regulations, which rely heavily on color and letter combinations:

Electric Conductors

  • Neutral: blue
  • Protection (ground): yellow-green
  • Phase: brown, black, gray

Indicator Lights

  • Red: Emergency
  • Yellow: Anomaly
  • Green: Normal
  • Blue: Mandate
  • White: General Information

3. OTHER SIGNALS

  • Color code for filter cartridges of respiratory protective masks.
  • Symbols on protective clothing labels.

4. Other Types of Signals

.
Light signal:
The light emitted by the sign must produce a luminous contrast appropriate.
The luminous area emitting a sign may be uniform in color and contain a pictogram.
When the signal is intermittent frequency of flashes should be adequate.
Acoustic signal:
A coded sound signal is released and transmitted through an appropriate device.
Noise level to exceed 10 db.
Not used two sound signals simultaneously.
Verbal communication:
It is a, predetermined spoken message that is used in human or artificial voice.
Hand signals:
It is a movement or position of the arms or hands, in coded form to guide people.