Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

17.29.2 Defi nitions – Regulation 2
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‘Safety sign’ means a sign referring to a specifi c 
object, activity or situation and providing information 
or instruction about health and safety at work by 
means of a signboard, a safety colour, an illuminated 
sign, an acoustic sign, a verbal communication or a 
hand signal.
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‘Signboard’ means a sign which provides informa-
tion or instructions by a combination of geometric 
shape, colour and a symbol or pictogram and which 
is rendered visible by lighting of suffi cient intensity.
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‘Hand signal’ means a movement or position of the 
arms or hands or a combination, in coded form, for 
guiding persons who are carrying out manoeuvres 
which create a risk to the health and safety of people 
at work.
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‘Acoustic signal’ means a coded sound signal which 
is released and transmitted by a device designed for 
that purpose, without the use of a human or artifi cial 
voice.
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‘Verbal communication’ means a predetermined 
spoken message communicated by a human or arti-
fi cial voice.
17.29.3
Provision and maintenance of safety 
signs – Regulation 4
The Regulations require employers to use and maintain a 
safety sign where there is a signifi cant risk to health and 
safety that has not been avoided or controlled by other 
means, like engineering controls or safe systems of work, 
and where the use of a sign can help reduce the risk.
They apply to all workplaces and to all activities 
where people are employed, but exclude signs used in 
connection with transport or the supply and marketing 
of dangerous substances, products and equipment.
The Regulations require, where necessary, the use of 
road traffi c signs in workplaces to regulate road traffi c.