The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 has standardised certain colours to convey threats in the workplace. When used on safety signage, they remind all to follow specific instructions. For a workforce joining a new office, construction site, nursery, library or hospital, understanding the colour psychology behind them is vital. After all, English is not the first language of everyone. Workplace safety signage, through its colours, communicates unequivocal messages that all can understand.
The primary colours are red, blue, green and yellow. How to interpret which ones are mandatory health and safety signs, which ones indicate fire safety and which ones are for warning and emergency? You shall eventually learn. Read ahead to understand.
Red Safety Signs
Human psychology works in a way whereby people associate red with danger. There is little wonder why traffic lights have red on them and so do stop signs. In the UK, fire safety signs are usually coloured in red and disclose key information about emergency escape routes. Therefore, if you ever come across an aisle or room having red safety signs installed, know for sure that it is susceptible to fire.
However, if you find any black symbol on a red safety sign with a white background, never confuse it for fire. It indicates a prohibition sign, conveying workers to steer clear of a certain act. The No-Smoking sign is a great example of such workplace safety signage.
Green Safety Signs
If you show anyone the colour green and question, what can it symbolise, the person you enquire would definitely say that it signifies safety and is a welcome colour. Think about the traffic lights across the world, and you will soon develop a faint idea about them.
When you view the same at a workplace, consider it a first aid sign or one that points you towards emergency escapes. By following that sign, you can take a safe route and save yourself from imminent dangers. However, a green safety sign is never entirely green but has a white symbol or text.
Blue Safety Signs
If there are signs that need to be obeyed, no matter what, they would be blue safety signs with white pictures within. Employees know them by mandatory health and safety signs, of which the standard ones urge employees to gear up in high-visibility jackets, protective footwear and helmets. You can easily trace them in construction sites.
Now, you may have a question in mind regarding why blue is used up in creating mandatory signs. The answer is simple! Blue is attractive to the eyes, and people mostly associate it with instructions. Hence, mandatory signs feature this colour.
Yellow Safety Signs
Yellow indicates caution. Signs dyed in amber or yellow usually have black symbols on them. When viewed from a distance, they communicate to viewers of a specific danger from either using a certain substance or when entering a particular area in a workplace. For instance, some convey trip hazards, while others warn of high voltage.
Ever wondered why yellow is used for communicating such safety messages? The colour is eye-catching and highlights instructions. It is the first hue a human eye would notice when checking everything around.
Red, Blue, Green or Yellow, Get all types of Safety Signs at 3 Signs!
To place your orders for health and safety signs in the workplace, visit 3 Signs in the UK and browse its range of products online. Not only can you equip your workplace for the welfare of employees, but explore the ones missing in your office. You can also show your sense of responsibility as an employer by having all workplace safety signage in place. Moreover, it’s the best way to curb accidents and violations within a place of work.
