Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Other colours
White
White is 
not
a safety colour but is used for: pictograms 
or other symbols on blue and green signs; in alternating 
red and white stripes to show obstacles or dangerous 
locations; in continuous lines showing traffi c routes.
Black
Black is 
not
a safety colour but is used for: pictograms 
or other symbols on yellow (or amber) signs and, except 
for fi re signs, red signs; in alternating yellow and black 
stripes to show obstacles or dangerous locations.

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Introduction to Health and Safety at Work
386
Shapes
Round signs must be used for any prohibition (red) sign; 
mandatory (blue) sign.
Triangular signs must be used for any warning 
(yellow or amber) sign.
Square or rectangular signs must be used for any 
emergency escape sign and any fi rst aid sign.
Pictograms and other symbols
The meaning of a sign (other than verbal communica-
tion) must not rely on words. However, a sign may be 
supplemented with words to reinforce the message pro-
vided the words do not in fact distract from the message 
or create a danger.
A sign (other than verbal communication, acoustic 
signals or hand signals) should use a simple pictogram 
and/or other symbol (such as directional arrows, exclam-
ation mark, etc) to effectively communicate its message 
and so overcome language barriers.
Pictograms and symbols are included in the regula-
tions. Employee training is needed to understand the 
meaning of these since many are not inherently clear, 
some are meaningless to anyone who has not had their 
meaning explained and some can even be interpreted 
with their opposite meaning.
Pictograms and symbols included in the regulations 
do not cover all situations for which graphic represen-
tation of a hazard or other detail may be needed. Any 
sign used for a situation not covered in the Regulations, 
should include:
➤
either the international symbol for general danger 
(exclamation mark!). If the sign is a warning sign and 
tests show that the sign is effective
➤
in any other case a pictogram or symbol which has 
been tested and shown to be effective.
The text of any words used to supplement a sign must 
convey the same meaning. For example, a round blue 
sign with a pictogram showing the white outline of a face 
with a solid white helmet on the head means ‘Safety 
Helmet Must Be Worn’ and so any text used must main-
tain the obligatory nature of the message