General Safety Sign Information

Safety Signs

Safety signs are essential visual tools designed to alert individuals to potential hazards and provide clear guidance on avoiding accidents and injuries. These signs use a combination of standardized symbols, colors, and text to convey critical safety information in a manner that is both immediate and universally understood. For instance, warning signs often feature a yellow background with a black symbol to signal potential risks. In contrast, mandatory signs employ a blue background with white symbols to indicate required actions.

Prohibition signs use a red circle with a diagonal line to denote actions that are not permitted, and emergency information signs typically have a green background with white symbols to guide individuals to safety equipment or emergency exits.

By adhering to these standardized formats, safety signs ensure that crucial information is communicated effectively, reducing the risk of misinterpretation and enhancing overall safety in various environments, from industrial workplaces to public spaces. We do provide 2 specifications but for illustrative purposes, we will only display the SABS standard which falls under the SANS 1186 Regulation but may include some examples of the SANS 10234:2019 and ISO 7010 Standard for illustrative purposes.

On this page, we will provide a short summary of the common types of safety signs.

Safety Signs

SABS (South African Bureau of Standards) safety signs are standardized signs used in South Africa to convey safety information and ensure compliance with local regulations and forms part of the SANS 1186:2019 regulation.

SABS sets the standards for safety signs to promote consistency and clarity in communication regarding safety measures in various environments.

Warning Signs

Warning safety signs are designed to alert individuals to potential hazards or dangerous conditions that could cause harm. These signs are standardized to ensure clarity and effectiveness in conveying the risk of potential dangers in various environments.

SABS Warning safety signs are part of a broader system of safety signage designed to enhance the workplace and public safety by ensuring that all potential risks are communicated effectively.

Mandatory Signs

Mandatory safety signs are designed to inform individuals about specific actions or behaviors that are required to ensure safety. These signs are used to enforce compliance with safety protocols and regulations in various environments.

Mandatory safety signs are part of a broader system of safety signage that ensures critical safety information is communicated effectively.

These signs help maintain safety by clearly indicating the required actions to be taken in various settings.

Prohibition Signs

Prohibition signs are used to indicate actions or behaviors that are not allowed or prohibited. These signs are designed to prevent unsafe practices and ensure compliance with safety regulations by clearly marking what is forbidden in a particular area.

By adhering to these standards, prohibition signs help maintain safety and order by clearly indicating forbidden actions or behaviors.

Emergency Information Signs

Emergency Information Signs are used to provide critical information related to emergency procedures and the location of emergency equipment. These signs are crucial for guiding individuals to safety and ensuring a prompt response in emergencies.

These signs are essential for guiding people to safety and ensuring a well-organized response during emergencies.

Fire Safety Signs

Fire Safety Signs are designed to provide critical information related to fire safety, including the location of fire safety equipment and instructions for dealing with fire emergencies. These signs are crucial for helping individuals respond effectively in the event of a fire.

These signs play a crucial role in fire safety by helping individuals quickly locate safety equipment and follow proper procedures during a fire emergency.

GHS Signs

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is an international system for standardizing the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals. GHS safety signs are used to communicate information about chemical hazards in a clear and consistent manner.

GHS safety signs and labels are designed to provide clear information about the hazards associated with chemicals, ensure proper handling, and promote safety in workplaces and other environments where chemicals are used.

GHS safety signs and labels help create a safer environment by ensuring that critical hazard information is communicated effectively, reducing the risk of accidents and enhancing overall safety in environments where hazardous chemicals are present.

 

Other Safety Signs

As mentioned above we also use the ISO 7010 Standard and the signs are rather similar with the exception of some categories including a larger library of signs which does not fall under the SANS 1186 Standard.

As mentioned some signs in the ISO 7010 and SANS 1186 do differ and just for illustrative purposes some of these signs include fire Protection signs and Safe Condition signs which look similar to one another but have some different color variations and display different Pictograms/images.

ISO 7010 is an international standard that specifies safety signs used in the workplace and public areas to promote safety and prevent accidents. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 7010 provides a standardized set of symbols and colors for safety signs to ensure clarity and consistency across different environments and countries.

The ISO 7010 helps organizations and facilities adhere to internationally recognized standards for safety signage, promoting a safer environment by ensuring that critical safety information is communicated clearly and effectively.