We are surrounded by warning and safety signage, from helpful road traffic signs to stickers on home appliances. Some people even think there is too much signage. But statistics show that safety and warning signage makes a difference in reducing the number of accidents and injuries that would otherwise have occurred if signage wasn’t in place.
Key Differences between Warning and Safety Signage
Signage is intended to communicate information. Road signs, for example, include navigational information, warnings and restrictions.
Warning signage is really a subset of safety signage. Safety signage is used to present a wide range of safety related messages. These messages might be mandatory actions, prohibitions, emergency information and more. Examples of safety signage we all see on a day-to-day basis include:
- Workplace safety requirements and warnings such as: “Protective Footwear Must be Worn”, “Wear Hard Hats”, “Warning, Heavy Plant and Machinery Operate on this Site.”
- Prohibited actions or behaviours such as: “No Smoking”, “No Entry”, “No Alcohol Allowed on These Premises”.
- Essential emergency information such as: “Fire Exit”, “Lifebuoy”, “AED Automated External Defibrillator".
Warning signage is specifically intended to convey warnings of potential hazards. Examples of commonly seen warning signage include:
- “Warning Site Traffic”
- Various symbolic road traffic signs depicting pedestrians, animals, hump back bridges and more.
- “Caution Very Hot Water”
- “Danger Men At Work”.
As noted, warning signs often depict warnings in the form of symbols without any words. A skull and crossbones, for example, is used to indicate the risk of death, falling rocks indicate the risk of potential rock falls, flames indicate the potential risk of fire and exclamation marks indicate undefined risks and danger, prompting people to be alert.
Warning Sign Design
Vivid yellow signage is commonly used to convey warnings in the UK. Road signage uses triangular, red bordered sign posts to convey a variety of warning messages. Some use text and some use symbols. Examples we all see everyday include:
- Road works
- Traffic lights
- Side road
- Cross roads
- Many more….
The important aspect of warning sign design is that they must stand out and be easily understood by those who see them. This is why symbols, rather than words, are often used. Symbolic images can be recognised and understood by almost anyone who can see.
Domestic Warning Signs
Warning signage isn’t restricted to our roads and public areas. Take look around your neighbourhood and home and you are likely to see a wide variety of warning signs such as:
- “Microwave Oven: Metal Containers Must not be Placed in this Oven”
- “Beware of the Dog”
- “Bull in Field”
- “Property Protected by Silent Alarm and Video Surveillance”
- “Mind the Step”
- “Danger: Flammable”
Warning Signs and Anti Climb Protection
When deploying anti climb protection, in the UK, to deter climbers and intruders, it is essential to comply with the Duty of Care (Occupiers Liability Act 1985). And if the property where anti climb protection is installed is a workplace the installation must not endanger workers or the public and must be totally compliant with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
As discussed in previous posts, anti climb devices such as anti climb paint, anti climb spikes or Roller Barrier, must be installed on fences walls and rooftops that are above 2 metres in height. Installing some forms of anti climb protection on structures lower than this can be considered hazardous. But Roller Barrier has been successfully used to prevent climbing on low level structures and equipment as it is a harmless form of anti climb protection.
The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984 states that property owners and occupiers have a duty of care to prevent injury to anyone on their property, including trespassers. To discharge this duty clear warning signs must be prominently displayed indicating the presence of anti climb protection. If, for example, anti climb perimeter security is installed around a property boundary, warning signs should be displayed every 2 to 3 metres.
So if you are considering the installation of Roller Barrier to prevent climbers from scaling walls and fences or perhaps stopping children from climbing onto rooftops, don’t overlook the need for sensible warning signage, appropriately located so that everyone can see it.