The working environment can be potentially filled with hazards and dangers. It is little surprise that hundreds of thousands of accidents take place every year in workplaces around the world. These can range from simple slips, trips, or falls that only result in minor injuries to catastrophic accidents that can lead to the death of an employee at work. At present, the construction sector is widely recognized to be one of the most dangerous working environments, with deaths at work in this industry surpassing other sectors and places of work.
However, it is important to understand that many accidents at work can be avoided. Employers can create a culture of health and safety in the workplace that promotes safe working practices and takes steps to remove hazards wherever possible. A key way to achieve this is by educating and informing your staff. Workplace signage plays a key role in this respect. It can serve as a reminder for staff to wear the correct safety gear or educate them on what to do in the event of an emergency, amongst many other benefits. In this article, three workplace signs that are vital in many forms of business will be described.
Fire action signs
It is estimated that in 2020, there were 16,500 office and store fires in America. These can range from small, isolated fires that were able to be controlled to larger fires that resulted in significant damage to property and worker injury, ill health, or even death. Whilst many fires can be prevented with fire risk assessments and sensible planning, staff still need to be protected in the event of an uncontrollable blaze breaking out. This can be supported by putting fire action signs in prominent places in the workplace and can be procured from companies such as seton.co.uk. This type of signage instructs staff on what to do in the event of a serious fire. It will include information on raising the alarm (typically by activating one of the fire alarms that should be located in prominent positions in the building), finding the nearest fire exit, and reporting to the nearest fire assembly point.
Warning signs
Warning signs are signs that provide a clear indication of a hazard or potential danger in a specific part of the building or its surrounding area. One of the most common warning signs is used by cleaning staff to indicate that the floor has just been cleaned and is wet. This simple sign can dramatically reduce the likelihood of staff slipping or falling on wet floors, especially if they are not fully focused on their immediate environment as they walk through the building.
Mandatory signage
A final example of vital signage in the workplace is mandatory signs. As the name indicates, these
signs tell staff that they must take specific actions when entering this part of the workplace. For example, ear protectors may need to be worn when entering an industrial or manufacturing environment that has noise levels that could damage hearing over time. Additionally, mandatory signs may instruct staff to wear specific protective clothing in certain parts of the premises or to keep clear of certain areas as pedestrians (such as in forklift zones). These important signs serve to warn staff of the dangers in this area and ensure that they are wearing suitable clothing or using the correct equipment to mitigate any risks to their health and safety.