Schools and hazchem are two words that you don’t usually associate with one another.
While schools may not be the biggest customers of hazchem signs and emergency information panels, don’t let that fool you – hazchem (and hazchem safety) is a concern at many schools and universities.
It isn’t just hazchem signs, either – schools need a whole range of different signs to maintain the safety and security of teachers, staff, and of course, students.
Today, we’ll be covering the role of hazchem signs, emergency information panels and other types of safety signs in the typical school.
Why signage matters
School administrators like you owe a duty of care to your students and staff.
Fail to uphold that duty of care, and you could find yourself on the receiving end of a hefty lawsuit!
Just like businesses, schools need to take reasonable precautions to protect those on the premises from harm – doubly so since you’re often looking after individuals who are underage.
To protect your students and staff from harm, you’ll need to create a safe environment, complete with comprehensive emergency procedures and evacuation plans.
And oftentimes, that requires appropriate safety signage.
While hazchem signs and emergency information panels may not be the first types of safety signs that come to mind, they’re still an important part of keeping your school safe.
Hazchem signs and emergency information panels in schools
Hazchem signs in school laboratories and classrooms
Over the years, there have been several attempts by policymakers to encourage students to take up STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.
As part of that, more and more schools have started offering science classes covering biology, physics and chemistry.
In many cases, this involves working with chemicals, some of which may come with hazards or special storage requirements.
This issue is especially pertinent to universities – while your typical high school usually doesn’t work with highly corrosive substances, university students often do, as well as considerably more dangerous substances to boot!
Teachers and administrators know the dangers associated with these items – that’s why emergency information should be displayed on laboratory hazchem signs and emergency information panels.
Some of the information these signs communicate includes:
- Hazardous agents (biological and chemical)
- Physical hazards (lasers and magnetic field)
- Precautions (no food or drink allowed)
- Required personal protective equipment (lab coats, eye protection, gloves)
Hazchem signs in university research labs
Education is just one of the roles of a university – universities are also hubs for cutting-edge research.
In the course of such experimentation, university labs may find themselves dealing with:
- Corrosive materials
- Flammable substances
- Radioactive material
Chemical storage areas, in particular those used in laboratories, must be labelled with hazchem signs and emergency information panels.
Signsmart manufactures a wide range of hazchem labels, signs and EIPs covering all common chemicals.
And what if your university lab works with rare substances?
Not a problem – get in touch with us and we’ll create a custom sign tailored for the chemicals and substances you deal with.
More than just hazchem signs and EIPs: other types of safety signs for schools
It isn’t just hazchem signs that are essential in schools – safety signs should be employed all over schools and universities to protect students and staff against a range of potential hazards and dangers… and not just chemical spills!
Fire safety signs
Fire safety signs provide crucial safety instructions regarding how to respond to a fire, including the proper types of fire extinguisher to use for different types of fires and locations of fire exits.
You can also talk to Signsmart about custom signs that feature maps outlining where firefighting equipment is on each floor of your school.
Prohibition signs
Prohibition signs indicate what students, staff, and other school personnel are prohibited from doing (hence the name).
As any parent or teacher knows, phones can be a major distraction in schools – no wonder most schools have strict anti phone policies. These policies can be communicated with prohibition signs that clearly state the phone policy.
That’s just one way prohibition signs can be used – if you have a unique policy, our team is more than happy to craft a custom sign.
Traffic signs
As any teacher knows, parents using the staff car park to drop off students is an ongoing battle – one that’s likely to never have a winner.
That said, you can reduce the frequency of this happening with appropriate traffic signs.
These signs may be placed directly outside the parking entrance, proclaiming the area as staff-only parking and listing consequences for violations.
Schools with shared traffic areas should also consider installing traffic signs to govern speed limits and warn of pedestrians.
Emergency information signs
First aid kits, exits, safety equipment… when an emergency occurs at your school, it’s imperative that this vital gear is located as soon as possible. Seconds matter in emergencies, and any delay, no matter how small, can have consequences!
Emergency information signs can help, showing where emergency facilities and equipment are located.
Need safety signages in schools? Get what you’re looking for with Signsmart’s range of safety signage!
Safety is king at any educational institution… and appropriate safety signage is a key part in maintaining that safety.
Need safety signs for your school or university? You need to get in touch with Signsmart, ASAP.
Whether it’s hazchem signs, emergency information panels, first aid markers or any other type of safety sign, we can help.
Our stock includes a huge range of premade safety signs, allowing us to get your signs to you when you need them, and not a moment too soon – in some cases, we’ve been able to dispatch signs by the following day!
Need something custom made? Our team can provide custom safety signs for your business as well. We can help you choose the right signage for your school or business.Ensure your safety by getting in touch with our team today. Contact us on (03) 9687 3050 to talk to us about your requirements today, or browse our online sign shop.
