Clear and properly placed occupational health and safety signs in the workplace, i.e. symbols and pictograms, which include warning signs or information boards , are essential to ensure the safety and health of employees at work. Their task is to warn of the possibility of a hazard, and also to direct employees in the right direction in the event of a dangerous situation, such as an accident or other incident. There are standards for the use of occupational health and safety signs, compliance with which is necessary for them to fulfill their role.
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What standards define the location of health and safety signs?
The requirements currently in force in Poland regarding the appearance and placement of occupational health and safety signs in the workplace are regulated by the European Union - they are specified in Directive 92/58/EEC on the minimum requirements for the provision of occupational health and safety signs. Its provisions have been implemented in Polish law by the Regulation of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy on general occupational health and safety regulations of 1997.
However, these are not the only regulations that stipulate the obligation to use health and safety signs and other rules necessary to ensure occupational health and safety. In this regard, it is also worth mentioning:
- Regulation of the Minister of Economy, Labour and Social Policy on minimum requirements for the occupational health and safety of employees employed in workplaces where an explosive atmosphere may occur.
- Regulation of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of 2 April 1998 on occupational health and safety during the securing and removal of products containing asbestos.
As for the detailed rules related to the signs and appearance of safety signals, they are specified in the Polish Standards:
- PN-93/N-01256/03 Safety signs. Occupational health and safety;
- PN-92/N-01252 Safety colours and safety signs;
- PN-92/N-01256/01 Safety signs. Fire protection;
- PN-92/N-01256/02 Safety signs. Evacuation;
- PN-N-01256-5:1998 Safety signs. Principles for placing safety signs on evacuation routes and fire routes;
- PN-N-01256-4:1997 Safety signs Technical fire protection measures;
- PN-EN-61310-1:2000 Machines. Safety. Indication, marking and control. Requirements for visual, acoustic and tactile signals;
- PN-EN-457:1998 Machines. Safety. Audible safety signals. General requirements, design and testing;
- PN-88/E-08501 Electrical equipment. Safety boards and signs;
- PN-74/T-06260 Sources of electromagnetic radiation. Warning signs;
- PN-79/J-08002 Sources of ionizing radiation. Warning signs.
Who is responsible for posting health and safety signs?
The employer is responsible for ensuring occupational health and safety. Therefore, it is the employer who is responsible for placing occupational health and safety signs in accordance with standards, as well as for selecting high-quality signs. They must not only be legible and clearly visible, but also made of materials that will not deteriorate and lose their legibility, even in unfavourable conditions.
Where should health and safety signs be placed?
The main rule regarding the placement of health and safety signs is that they must be located in highly visible places. Since their role is to indicate potential hazards and prevent accidents, individual health and safety signs should be easy for employees to read, so that they are able to quickly read them and follow the instructions provided.
All health and safety signs must therefore be appropriately adapted to each workplace. When it comes to their arrangement, the main factors that should influence their location are the area of the facility and the type and level of potential threats. It should also be remembered that mandatory and prohibitory signs, as well as information and warning boards, must be used as permanent signs.
Correct placement of occupational health and safety signs in the workplace in accordance with standards will help to effectively minimize the occurrence of accidents and other dangerous situations.