Safety is something we all take very seriously in our everyday lives.
As individuals, employers, and business owners, we want to ensure that everyone in our surroundings are safe and able to fulfil their needs unhindered by the worry of potential hazards or dangers lurking around every corner.
In Australia, safety standards have been established to protect people from a range of possible risks they could be exposed to while at work or out in public spaces.
Safety sign regulations are one such standard that specify what kind of signs must be used for certain types of warnings, so let’s explore further into what exactly the criteria is for compliant signage within the scope of Australian law.
Safety signs in Australia are an imperative component in keeping people safe, and can create the difference between a safe workplace and a dangerous one.
Which Australian standard sets out the requirements for the design and use of safety signs?
Australian standard 1319 from Standards Australia as well as the Work Health and Safety Act are used in Australia to direct workplaces on guidelines of how to make their facilities safe.
This includes details about what safety signs should be used to indicate protocols and procedures.
These standards outline things like:
- Formatting and size
- Where and when signage is required
- Text, colours, and pictograms
What is the Australian standard for safety signs?
In Australia, safety signs are the same or very similar to other countries. This is because there are a number of signs that are designed according to international standards, making them easily recognisable all over the world.
Comprehendible signs are used to convey different messages.
For instance mandatory signs are usually blue and white, and are used to convey a required action, such as wearing gloves or goggles while handling a certain material.
On the other hand, caution signs are yellow and black and alert an individual to a nearby or potential hazard, such as a sign indicating that forklifts are in operation.
What is the Australian Standard Code for traffic signs?
In 2021, Standards Australia has updated the AS 1742.1 standard which is the safety standard for traffic signs.
The federal government consistently monitors what can be done to prevent traffic accidents; it’s important you keep on top of the changing standards to keep people safe and to comply with the law.
Traffic signs aren’t just a council or town planner’s job to implement; they are also crucial if you are a manager of a business that has an imports/exports zone where deliveries and pick-ups take place.
You therefore may need traffic signs to direct:
- The speed limit
- Clearance heights
- Speed humps
- Where U-turns can/can’t happen
- Visitor and staff parking
- Pedestrian crossings
Even corporate offices require simple signage for visitors, employees, clients, and partners.
What is the Australian Standard Code for fire signs?
Fire safety is important for all public buildings.
There are strict codes and measurements not only by the Work Health and Safety Act and the AS 1742.1 standard, but also from the standard AS 1851 and the State and Commonwealth legislation.
These standards outline the frequency of extinguishers, hydrants, and fire alarms that you need, as well as specifications on water levels, diesel pumps, and the inspections of these items.
The standards also outline the formatting, frequency, and requirements for fire signs, such as fire alarm signs.
What is the Australian Standard Code for safety signs for the occupational environment?
Fire signs and traffic signs get used in the occupational environment as they are needed for anywhere where fire-related appliances are or where people may drive.
Other health and safety signs in the workplace required by Australian standard 1319 include the six categories of safety signs.
What are the 6 categories of safety signage used in Australia?
Safety signs are essential in any work environment. They alert workers to hazards and help keep them safe.
Safety signs in Australia are standardised in accordance with the Australian Standard AS1319:2004.
The standard defines the type of safety signs that must be used based on the kind of danger or hazard that is present in the workplace.
It also provides information on the different types of signs, and the best way to display it to maximise its effectiveness and visibility.
The six categories of safety signs are:
- Mandatory signs
- Prohibition signs
- Danger signs
- Warning signs
- Emergency signs
- Fire signs
What is the difference between a warning sign and a danger sign?
It’s easy to assume that both are similar, but it’s important to distinguish between them because each one conveys different levels of severity.
We’ll explore what makes these two signage types different from one another so that you can stay informed and safe in any potentially hazardous environment.
Warning signs and danger signs are similar in that they both inform individuals of potential dangers in close proximity.
Danger signs are usually reserved for more serious, extreme, immediate, or hazardous situations, and are identified by their unmissable red, white, and black signage.
Warning signs are similar to Caution signs; typically these are yellow with a black pictogram and/or wording.
In simple terms: warning signs indicate a potential hazard, while danger signs highlight a likely hazard if proper precautions are not taken.
What other signs do I need to comply with Australian standards?
Hazchem signs
Hazchem signs are required at any facility or workplace that creates, stores, or transports hazardous chemicals like factories and warehouses.
EIPs
Emergency Information Panels (EIP signs), are signs that need to be displayed on containers or trucks carrying toxic or dangerous chemicals.
EIP signs have strict formatting, they display the name of the chemical in uppercase letters at the top left, with a larger diamond shape warning of what dangerous property the chemical has, such as “flammable,” or “corrosive.”
Next to these are the unit number and the Hazchem code of the chemical. The sign also includes contact numbers in case of an accident involving the chemical.
How can I follow Australian standards for safety signs?
Contact Signsmart for standard and custom signage that keeps your workplace – and importantly your people -safe
Signsmart is your one-stop-shop for safety signs for any kind of commercial property, facility, warehouse, or office space.
We design and dispatch safety signs and can also create custom safety signage in Melbourne to suit your niche requirements.
Get in touch with us today on (03) 9687 3050 or fill out this form and tell us exactly what you need!
