HEALTH AND SAFETY SIGNALLING

• 03.01 - Labelling - General introduction
  
• 03.02 - Signs’ characteristics
  
• 03.03 - Prohibition, warning and mandatory signs
  
• 03.04 - Temporary signalling - Acoustic and lighting signals
  
  

Discription of chapter

Labelling - General introduction

Signs are something more that just necessary because signs inform for the potential dangers that can appear in the workplace. All kinds of signs- prohibition, warning and mandatory- are compulsory to be placed according to certain legislation. These involve the use of acoustic and lighting signs, gesticulation signs, announcements and chemical substances labelling. Inextricable part of health and safety signalling is also fire safety and warning signs together with marking for dangerous location.

Signs characteristics

Signs characteristics are:

• simple for easy understanding
  
• proof and hardy
  
• colours and size must be appropriate to the workplace size
  

Use of signs:

• Must be placed in a proper height, so that can be seen from any point in the workplace
  
• Colours must be bright and if daylight is inadequate, artificial light should be used
  
• Signs must be taken off when the certain risk is no longer present
  
• A poster with all the signs and their explanation should exist, preferably in areas where employees are gathered for breaks
  
  

Prohibition, warning and mandatory signs

Prohibition signs characteristics:

• They prohibit employees of doing a specific work
  
• They are round-shaped, with a black symbol on white background with a red contour which should cover the minimum of 35% of sign surface
  
• They should have a red erasure line with 45 degrees inclination
  

Warning signs characteristics:

• They warn of a specific danger
  
• They are triangle-shaped with a black symbol on yellow background with black contour which should cover the minimum of 50% of sign surface
  

Mandatory signs characteristics:

• They indicate a specific action
  
• They are round-shaped with a white symbol on blue background, which should cover the minimum of 50% of sign surface.
  

Temporary signalling - Acoustic and lighting signals

Temporary signalling should be used when:

• There is an emergency
  
• It is necessary to call someone for a specific action
  
• To evacuate in case of emergency
  
• To guide someone to do some conduct
  

Acoustic signal characteristics:

• The sound level should be higher than the background and different than the other sounds of the workplace
  
• The sound should be easily recognized
  
• The sound should have unsteady frequency
  
• Combined use of two different signals should be avoided
  
• The electric current should be continuous and in case of blackout there should be another energy source.
  
• Signal sources should be carefully installed and maintained
  

Lighting signals characteristics:

• There should be appropriate contrast to avoid eye problems
  
• One colour must be used (usually orange and red are preferable)
  
• Signal should be intermittent to spot danger
  
• Signal should be easy recognized
  
• The electric current should be continuous and in case of blackout there should be another energy source
  
• Signal sources should be carefully installed and maintained
  

Acoustic and lighting signals in Textile Industry are used specifically in:

• Cotton ginning press so that employees evacuate the area before rotation of the press frame
  
• Looms to indicate the potential error that has occurred
  
• Forklifts wherever they are used
  
• All other machinery that has no dedicated operator