A Guide to Health and Safety Sign Colours in The UK

There are four colours associated with health and safety signs: red, yellow, blue and green. Red indicates prohibition, yellow is for hazards, blue is for mandatory action and green is for emergency exits or first aid. Find out more about what each health and safety sign colour means, and what signs you need in your workplace, with this guide.

According to HSE UK, “employers must provide safety signs if there is a significant risk that can’t be avoided or controlled in any other way, such as through safe systems of work or engineering controls.”

These signs must be clear and legible, and should be used to: identify actions that are prohibited (eg no access), safeguards that must be followed (eg ear protection must be worn), warning of a hazard (eg corrosive material) and to direct towards fire exits/equipment or first-aid equipment.

There are specific requirements for colour and shape of these signs. You can find these – and more specific information – in the official Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.

What Do Red Safety Signs Mean?

Red safety signs are used to prohibit dangerous actions or behaviours, or to indicate an activity that cannot be performed in the area of the sign. These signs tend to take the form of a thick red circle with a black icon in the middle, with another red line through it. This is the official prohibitions symbol according to ISO 7010 who prescribe safety signs in the United Kingdom.

What Does a Green Safety Sign Mean?

Green safety signs are used to signal an emergency exit or first-aid services. These signs take the form of an informative white icon on a green background. Examples of these signs include fire exits and first aid location.

What Do Yellow Health and Safety Signs Mean?

Yellow safety signs indicate a general hazard/danger and encourage the perceiver to take caution. These health and safety signs are yellow/amber with a black icon and/or text and black border. Examples of yellow safety signs include danger of death, danger: high voltage, danger: trip hazard and warning: laser hazard.

Yellow safety signs are often required by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and, in specific cases, by the Dangerous Substances (Notification and Marking of Sites) Regulations 1990.

What Do Blue Health and Safety Signs Mean?

Blue safety signs are mandatory signs. These demonstrate that a specific behaviour must be undertaken before you take on a task or complete an action. These signs tend to be a blue circle on a white background with a white icon – but they might also have a blue box with white text in underneath. Four examples of blue mandatory safety signs are fire door keep shut, wear protective clothing, wear a seat belt, and machinery guards must be in position when operating this machine.

COSHH Sign Meanings

COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. There are nine COSHH symbols that you might see on diamond white and red safety signs:

• Toxic/Danger
• Warning
• Long-Term Health Hazard
• Environmental Danger
• Flammable
• Oxidiser
• Explosive
• Compressed Gas
• Corrosive

If you see these signs, it is crucial to take the necessary safety precautions to avoid harm or death to yourself or others.

At morSafe, we stock all of the safety signs you need, with free next day delivery available. If you need more guidance, please go ahead and contact us on 01686 611 377 or sales@morsafesupplies.com.

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Written by Holly for morSafe Supplies.