The Importance of Colours & Shapes in UK Safety Signs
Safety signs printing is done to provide relevant instructions as well as information to the person viewing it. In the UK, it is mandatory for businesses, to have relevant safety signs put up, wherever there might be a chance that there is some safety hazard that has not been controlled or removed. The safety signs in the UK follow standard procedure or protocol, and they have been colour-coded, in a non-imposing manner, but conspicuous enough manner to deliver the relevant message. In fact, standard safety signs printing is so ingrained in the mind of the public of the UK that residents can quickly decipher the information, with a quick look at the end colour of the 5mm Foamex signs.
There are basically four colours associated with safety signage — the colours being red, blue, yellow and green. By looking at the colours a person can easily decipher the importance after the message that the sign is trying to convey, and react in an appropriate manner. Here’s taking a look at the various colours of safety signage that are used in the UK and their meaning:
- Red Signage: The colour is red usually signifies prohibition and is usually meant to stop the viewers from doing something that might escalate into a dangerous situation. Generally, round in shape, with a thick red edge that has a line running in the middle, classifies this kind of safety sign printing. The underlying image underneath it might be the action that you are trying to prevent from being committed.
- Blue Signage: The blue colour when used for safety signs, generally depicts an activity that is mandatory and must be done. It could be using safety glasses before entering a lab to work, or even it is asking the viewer to not litter and keep his surroundings clean. In safety signs printing, the blue signs are generally round shaped and have at least half of their background in blue colour. Apart from this they also have a pictogram that denotes the action that has been deemed as mandatory — or even a text that tells you exactly what needs to be done.
- Yellow Signage: Just as the yellow colour of the traffic light, generally signifies a warning, yellow Foamex printing for safety signs, is done to warn a viewer to be cautious and tread carefully in the surrounding that they’re at. Almost half of the yellow coloured signs generally have a triangular shape in them with a yellow filled in colour and a thick line of black outlining the shape of your signage. These are known as hazard signs and even though they might actually be self-explanatory, if they are out up in a workplace, it is the management’s responsibility to make sure that the staff knows exactly what the 3mm Foamex sign means.
- Green Signage: In Foamex printing green safety signs, the message that is conveyed is generally related to showing exit routes or indicate where the safety facilities are present. These signs are generally rectangular in shape and can be vertical or horizontal that is portrait or landscape in orientation. Generally, textual prompts along with pictorial representation are used to make sure that the right message that needs to be conveyed is coming across in this kind of safety signs printing.
Irrespective of the purpose of safety signs printing, it is the responsibility of employers in the UK to make sure that whatever health and safety sign is the most relevant for the work place, and that it is displayed in clear view. It is also their duty to make sure, that they have adequately informed their staff regarding the meaning of all the 3 mm Foamex or 5mm Foamex signs that are on display in the workplace. Heavy penalties and liability to being sued is the worst nightmare of any employer and honestly, if you have not complied to the health and safety regulations of the UK then you are liable for both, on the account of gross negligence. So save yourself the trouble and instead of shirking off the moral responsibility, rush down for safety signs printing that can actually end up saving lives and preventing any major issues that can happen due to lack of awareness and safety signage.