If you work in or manage a factory, warehouse, laboratory, or construction site, safety signs are a critical part of workplace safety that ensure people can remain healthy and free from danger.
A lot of the time, you can find safety signs online – but what if you need something that’s more unique or hard to find?
Signsmart can help you design and create custom safety signs in Melbourne. We follow your exact requirements and formatting, ensuring your safety signage meets OH&S regulations and keeps your site compliant.
What is the Australian standard for safety signs?
Safety signs are an OH&S obligation in Australia that businesses, particularly the chemical industry, petrochemicals, transport companies, and manufacturers, rely on to promote health and safety near certain substances, equipment, or areas.
Australian Standard AS 1319 is the standard under the Work Health and Safety Act that details what safety signs should look like and when they should be used.
There are strict regulations that must be met and standards that must be followed in order for businesses to remain compliant and meet their safety requirements.
When you follow the Work Health and Safety Act, you’re not just ticking a box. You’re helping to save lives by preventing accidents and injuries at your workplace.
What are the four types of safety signs?
The four most popular types or categories of safety signs are prohibition, caution, mandatory, and emergency signs.
These four categories have different colours in order for people to recognise them quickly and easily. Text is optional, and in cases where it is included, words are clear and concise.
1. What do prohibition signs tell us?
Prohibition signs describe behaviour or an action that is, as the name suggests, prohibited or not allowed. The most commonly cited example here is the standard NO SMOKING sign.
Prohibition signs are prevalent among petrol stations, shopping centres, schools, and hospitality venues, just to name a few!
2. How about caution signs?
Cautionary signs make individuals aware of a hazard that is either close in proximity or of a potential dangerous incident that could occur.
They can be physical, like warning you of stairs or a wet floor, or they can be pertaining to chemicals that are toxic when touched or handled in a certain way.
Along with dangerous goods signs, caution signs are all specific examples of health and safety hazard signs, each of which are designed to ensure your workplace and the people and assets within it are protected from the risk of danger, health effects, or injury.
3. What is a mandatory safety sign?
Mandatory signs inform individuals that they must wear certain personal protective equipment (PPE) in the area the sign is located.
This type of signage can also convey instructions to use, requirements that must be met, or behaviour that should be followed.
4. What about emergency signs?
Emergency signs are signs that direct you to an important place or piece of equipment, such as a fire exit or first aid kit.
Emergency information panels
EIP signs contain key information for whatever chemical container they are mounted on. This information includes the Hazchem code, the unit number, the hazard symbol, and important contact numbers.
Where should a safety sign be placed?
Sourcing safety signs is just one part of the equation. Ensuring they are used correctly and effectively is the next.
That means:
- Using clear, simple, concise language
- Placing signs in highly visible areas, at eye-level height
- Affixing signs near relevant hazards or risks
- Using symbols and images to help those who do not speak English as a first language
- Incorporating bright colours to draw attention
It is also important to make sure your team is aware of signs and their meanings or requirements. Encourage them to familiarise themselves with signage and diligently follow all guidelines, recommendations, or directions.
In many cases it is appropriate to fix signs around entrances and exits in order to inform a person when they are entering or leaving a room, facility, or building.
What are the nine hazard symbols?
Hazard symbols are found on different types of signage, most commonly, caution signs, mandatory signs, and Emergency Information Panels (EIPs).
The nine hazard symbols indicate:
- Corrosiveness
- Gas under pressure
- Serious health consequences
- Mild health consequences
- Flammability
- Oxidation
- Explosive potential
- Toxicity
- A danger to the environment
Who do I go to to print safety signs?
At Signsmart, it’s our goal to ensure that our customers, no matter their needs or the industry they work in, get the right safety signs, labels, and
panels to meet their needs.
We offer a range of standard signs that are ready to ship from our warehouse – you can shop online now! In addition to our consumables range, we also offer customised safety signs and labels that meet your unique or specific needs.
Whether you need a customised EIP for a new project or thousands or thousands of customised labels, Signsmart is your trusted signage partner helping to ensure your site remains compliant, and your team remains protected.
Contact Signsmart today!
Signsmart is a safety sign supplier based in Melbourne, creating signage for businesses all over Australia. Shop online now for all your mandatory:
- Danger and Warning signs
- Emergency signs and panels
- Mandatory and Prohibition signs
- COVID-19 safety signs
And for custom site safety signs, we invite you to get in touch today. With our extensive experience and in-depth knowledge, all you need to do is tell us what information your custom signs needs – and we will do the rest!
You can pick up from our Footscray factory or we can deliver anywhere in Australia!
Got questions or want to start a custom order? Give us a call on (03) 9687 3050 or fill out this form.
