What Is The Meaning of Site Signage And Why Do I Need It?
There are various categories of signs you should be aware of, and these are detailed below.
14/06/2022
If you are reading this, then you likely have some understanding of the level of risk that construction sites can pose. With lives, money, and often a project at stake, the effective usage of signs is crucial to minimise the potential for hazards. By using the correct signage, you can dramatically decrease the risk of any dangerous events occurring on your construction site. Adequate site signage will keep a workplace running smoothly, saving both time and money, and ensuring a safer work space. Due to the crucial nature of construction signs, they have been made a legal necessity.
What do we mean by “correct site signage”?
One definition would be signs on a site successfully communicating information to keep employees and members of the public safe. This definition can be extended to mean any sign which enables a site to keep running productively, without compromising safety. Risk can never be removed entirely, but expectation will always fall on the employer to act towards mitigating potential risks wherever possible. By visually communicating information about potential hazards, all employees and visitors on a site can be encouraged to take their own steps towards maintaining site safety and behaving responsibly. The types of signs needed will vary greatly depending upon the specific workplace and what types of machinery or chemicals are used onsite.
There are various categories of signs you should be aware of, and these include:
Warning signs
All site warning signs will have a yellow background with black text and lines. These signs often incorporate a black exclamation mark in the centre of a yellow triangle. Warning signs may also be a yellow triangle with a simple black image depicting a potential hazard. Please note that warning signs should not be used for alerting individuals to any risks likely to be lethal. One example of such a sign in use, might be placement of a warning around a loading bay reading: “Keep Clear!”.
Danger Signs
All danger signs have a red ellipse on a black background, with white writing inside reading “DANGER”. Beneath the black box is a white background with black text signalling the potential hazard. Unlike a warning sign, the hazards on a danger sign have been judged as likely to be lethal. An example of a danger sign might be: “Demolition Work in Progress” on the edge of a demolition zone.
Mandatory Safety Signs
This type of sign displays a rule that workers must follow to maintain safety onsite. Mandatory signs are typically oblong. They use black text beneath a blue circle with the corresponding action symbol inside. An example of a mandatory sign where there is potentially harmful airborne debris might be: “Eye Protection Must Be Worn” with a picture of goggles clearly shown.
Not Permitted or Prohibition Signs
Not permitted or prohibition signs are the opposite of Mandatory Signs in that they communicate what behaviour would be dangerous to carry out i.e., what is prohibited. For instance, any restricted areas may use signs such as: “No Unauthorised Persons Beyond This Point”. Many prohibition signs relate to the access of workplace spaces and help to minimise risk by reducing unnecessary access.
Fire Safety Signs
All workplaces and public buildings should display fire safety signs. These signs are red with white text and arrows or images. An exception to this may be a fire door sign, where silver signs are also common. Fire Safety signs are used to clearly highlight the position of fire alarms, hydrants, hoses, and any other equipment to be used in emergencies.
Emergency Signs
Emergency signs are green with white text or symbols. These signs are commonly used to signal emergency exits or routes, first aid equipment, assembly points and gas/power shut off points, though there are numerous other uses.
How to place site signage most effectively?
Unless signs are placed where they can be easily spotted, they will not succeed in reducing risk or adequately highlighting information during an emergency. First, think carefully about what category of sign is required and who will need to be alerted to the message. Does the sign need to be mounted or movable? Will pedestrians need to be able to see the sign from the pavement? Consider the movements of people and vehicles throughout the site and where signs need to be positioned on footpaths or traffic intersections. A large site may need several types of each different sign to cover all areas. If in any doubt before purchasing construction signage, it can be beneficial to complete a walk-around and list what is required.
Construction site signs and the law
It is part of any employer’s legal obligations to provide adequate signage within any workplace in Australia, including on construction sites. Compliance with these laws set by the Australian government is in the best interests of any construction business, as not doing so carries its own risk.
The purpose of a sign is to clearly highlight dangers or quickly signal where help can be sought in an emergency. To do this job effectively, signs must be easily readable, positioned correctly and not cluttered with information. In fact, signs which have the most immediate impact are often simple.
Remember daily workers on a site may be very familiar with various hazards and procedures, however visitors to the site will not have prior knowledge of these dangers. Therefore, hazards that may appear obvious to employees should not be overlooked. Every site has its own specific set of risks and requirements, and signs may even need to be created with custom wording for that reason.
How much does signage actually matter?
Signs are so abundant in our daily lives that it is almost easy to forget they are there. But despite their familiarity and simplicity they make an enormous impact by lowering the risks of our workplaces. It could be said that the true value of correct signage can be measured only by the potential hazardous events which never end up occurring.