If your workplace is like many Australian sites, there are multiple hazards that you need to warn staff, contractors and visitors about to ensure health and safety. From prohibition signs to signage for chemical storage, there are a vast range of signage and placarding options that you may need to consider. We'll take you through the most common safety signs and their meanings, including dangerous goods signage, hazard signs and other safety signs that you may require at your site.
What are Health and Safety Signs?
A safety sign is a broad term that encompasses any type of signage that can help protect the health and safety of personnel and visitors in a work environment.
Common types of safety signs include:
Danger Signs
Danger signage alerts personnel to potential life-threatening situations. Danger safety signs will display the word 'danger' in white lettering on a red, oval-shaped background, with additional information about the danger written below in black on a white background. Danger signs may include 'Keep Out', 'Electrical Equipment' or 'Asbestos' warning safety signs. For workplaces with harmful chemicals, these danger signs could include 'No Smoking, No Ignition Sources Within 3 m' or 'Chemical Storage'.
Danger signs, such as No Smoking, No Ignition Source signs, may have to be installed in areas that hold certain classes of dangerous goods or hazardous chemicals.
Warning Signs
These bright yellow signs feature bold black text and warn people to the hazardous conditions at a work site. Some examples of warning signs may include ‘240 Volts’, ‘Arc Flash and Shock Hazard’ or ‘Battery Charging Station, No Smoking or Open Flames.’
Mandatory Signs
In many types of industrial workplaces, mandatory signs are required to help protect the health and safety of workers. Mandatory signs require staff to take note of the mandatory safety measures, with examples including 'Breathing Apparatus Must Be Worn', 'All Cylinders Must Be Chained' or 'Ear Plugs Must Be Worn' signs.
First Aid Signs
When an incident occurs in a workplace, first aid equipment must be utilised as quickly as possible to limit human harm. Installing first aid signage in the workplace may include provision for signs stating 'AED Automated External Defibrillator', 'First Aid Room' or 'First Aid Station'.
Emergency Signs
Emergency signage assists in emergency situations, where people must act quickly and decisively to minimise the risk to human life. Emergency signs are essential safety signs that may highlight the location of emergency exits or emergency assembly areas.
Emergency signage is essential to direct personnel towards safe passages of exit and assembly areas.
Prohibition Signs
If an activity is prohibited in an area of your workplace, a prohibition sign is required. Examples of prohibition signs commonly found in workplaces may include 'Alcohol Not Permitted on This Site', 'No Smoking', 'Keep Out', 'Enter At Your Own Risk' or 'Do Not Operate' safety signage.
Fire Safety Signs
If a fire breaks out in the workplace, fire safety signage can help the appropriate staff implement the firefighting equipment and other fire safety facilities. Fire safety signs may include signage for fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment, fire door and fire alarm locations, as well as fire assembly points.
Need to improve chemical safety?
Organise your FREE storage consultation
Restricted Area Signs
Many workplaces have restricted areas that are unsafe to enter. The restriction sign may feature a black pictogram or black lettering to warn personnel of the restricted work zone. Some common types of restriction signs may include ‘Do Not Enter’, ‘Construction Work in Progress’ or ‘All Visitors Must Report To Reception’.
Safety Signs for Workplaces with Dangerous Goods or HAZCHEM
In addition to these general safety signs, workplaces with dangerous goods or hazardous chemicals must also install a range of signage to increase knowledge of the goods that are held onsite.
Some examples of signage that may be required in your workplace include:
Dangerous Goods Signage
Otherwise known as dangerous goods diamonds, these regulatory signs are essential when storing or handling dangerous goods. These mandatory signs are required to be a certain size, in clear lettering, for chemical compliance to be maintained. Some common examples of dangerous goods safety signs includes (but are not limited to) 'Oxidizing Gas 2', 'Flammable Liquid 3', 'Toxic 6' and 'Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods 9' signs.
Refer to the applicable Australian Standard to determine the dangerous goods signage for your stores.
Hazard Signage
Signs that alert people to the hazards in that work area may include additional dangerous goods signage that relates to a particular subdivision of goods or type of chemical. Examples of hazard signage may include 'Aerosols Only', 'Alkalis Only', 'Acids Only' or 'Pesticides'.
Spill Kit Signs
In the event of a chemical spill, staff need to know where the applicable spill kits are kept so that the spill can be immediately contained and cleaned up. Installation of spill kit signage, along with a well-lit, easily accessible space, are an important consideration when working with dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals.
Personal Protective Equipment Signs
Just as you need to highlight staff and emergency personnel to important information such as emergency exits and spill kits, you must also ensure that staff know where to find their personal protective equipment. We highly recommend storing this safety equipment in a dedicated PPE cabinet, with Personal Protective Equipment signage clearly displayed.
Emergency Eyewash or Emergency Shower Signs
Emergency decontamination facilities must be marked with compliant signage. This is to ensure that emergency showers and eyewash stations aren't overlooked in an emergency - or used incorrectly (such as for drinking water or hand washing).
Placards for Chemicals Above Threshold Quantities
According to the model Work Health and Safety Regulations, if your workplace is storing hazardous chemicals in quantities above the threshold quantity, you must placard the areas where these substances are stored.
Placards can assist in emergency situations, by immediately alerting emergency crews to the chemicals and hazards that are present onsite. This can decrease the risk in life threatening situations, such as flammable liquid fires, corrosive chemical spills and toxic gas releases.
These placards may include, but are not limited to, safety signs for:
Combustible Liquid Safety Signs
Due to the combustible nature of Flammable Liquids Category 4, these chemicals, placarding is required for Category 4 Flammable Liquids. The GHS explains that Category 4 liquids have a flash point between 60°C - 93°C. Any volume of Category 4 Flammable Liquids must have the Combustible Liquid sign on or next to the storage area or chemical container.
Bulk Storage Signs
Bulk storage is classed as solid chemicals in an undivided quantity over 500kg or containers with a capacity over 500kg or 500L. Bulk storage placards must be installed for many types of hazardous chemicals categorized under the GHS. This signage will include the HAZCHEM code, UN number, proper shipping name, as well as the class label and subsidiary risk label — as specified in the Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code.
Outer Warning Signs
If your workplace keeps HAZCHEM onsite in above threshold quantities, you must install outer warning placards to alert people to the dangers posed by these hazardous chemicals. The ‘HAZCHEM’ sign needs to be located at each entrance where emergency crews may enter in the event of a chemical spill, fire or other hazardous chemical incident.
Importance of Correct Safety Signage
It’s a requirement of WHS Law and Regulations that the correct safety signage is installed in workplaces to reduce the incidence of harm to people, property and the environment. As we’ve detailed in this post, there are many considerations to make when installing signage in your organisation, from the location of emergency exits to the prohibition of smoking and ignition sources and the placarding of areas that house hazardous chemicals or dangerous goods.
The simplest way to determine your signage requirements is to refer to the Australian Standard for your dangerous goods class, in addition to the WHS Regulations in your state or territory. Alternatively, if you need assistance with chemical safety at your site, speak with a Dangerous Goods Consultant who can guide you through the whole process.
REMEMBER: If you’re carrying dangerous goods in your organisation, and you want some general advice on signage, schedule a chat with our DG Storage Consultants who can assist with your DG diamond and hazard signage needs.
Improving Chemical Safety
If you’d like to learn more about signage, storage and other dangerous goods-related topics, why not purchase our eBook? The Ultimate DG Storage Handbook is available for just $6.99 + GST and covers all the essential subjects including chemical handling and storage, emergency decontamination facilities, placarding, spill containment and staff training. Get your copy today to improve your knowledge and site safety.
