Safety Signs

Prohibition Signs — Red Circle with Diagonal Line on White Background

Tell you what you must NOT do. The red circle with a diagonal line means the action shown is forbidden.

• Construction examples (ISO 7010):
• P001 — General prohibition
• P002 — No smoking
• P004 — No thoroughfare / No pedestrians
• P005 — Not drinking water
• P006 — No access for industrial vehicles
• P010 — Do not touch
• P011 — Do not extinguish with water
• P013 — No activated mobile phones

Prohibition signs are enforceable. Always comply with posted prohibition signs.

Mandatory Signs — White Symbol on Solid Blue Circle

Tell you what you MUST do. The blue circle indicates a compulsory action.

• Construction examples (ISO 7010):
• M003 — Wear ear protection
• M004 — Wear eye protection
• M008 — Wear safety footwear
• M009 — Wear protective gloves
• M014 — Wear head protection
• M015 — Wear high-visibility clothing
• M016 — Wear a face mask
• M018 — Wear a safety harness

Mandatory signs are enforceable — failure to comply can result in removal from site.

Warning Signs — Black Symbol on Yellow Triangle with Black Border

Alert you to a hazard or danger. Take care and follow any associated instructions.

• Construction examples (ISO 7010):
• W001 — General warning / Caution
• W011 — Slippery surface
• W012 — Risk of electric shock (near buried cables and temporary supplies)
• W014 — Industrial vehicles
• W015 — Overhead load (crane lifts and hoisting zones)
• W021 — Flammable material
• W023 — Corrosive substance
• W024 — Overhead power lines

Safe Condition Signs — White Symbol on Green Rectangle

Indicate escape routes, first aid, and other safety provisions.

• Construction examples (ISO 7010):
• E001 — Emergency exit (left)
• E002 — Emergency exit (right)
• E003 — First aid
• E007 — Assembly point
• E011 — Eye wash station
• E012 — Emergency shower
• E015 — Drinking water

Green fire exit signs must be illuminated or photoluminescent and visible during power failure.

Fire Equipment Signs — White Symbol on Red Square/Rectangle

Identify the location and type of fire-fighting equipment.

• Construction examples (ISO 7010):
• F001 — Fire extinguisher
• F002 — Fire hose reel
• F003 — Fire ladder
• F005 — Fire alarm call point

Extinguisher band colours: Water (red) — Class A; Foam AFFF (cream) — Class A+B; CO₂ (black) — electrical/Class B; Dry Powder (blue) — Class A+B+C; Wet Chemical (yellow) — Class F.

GHS/CLP Hazard Pictograms — Red Diamond Border on White Background

Found on chemical containers and COSHH data sheets. GHS replaced the old orange/black CHIP symbols.

• GHS01 — Exploding bomb → Explosive
• GHS02 — Flame → Flammable
• GHS03 — Flame over circle → Oxidising
• GHS04 — Gas cylinder → Gas under pressure
• GHS05 — Corrosion → Corrosive
• GHS06 — Skull & crossbones → Acute toxicity (fatal/toxic)
• GHS07 — Exclamation mark → Harmful / Irritant / Sensitiser
• GHS08 — Health hazard (starburst torso) → Serious health hazard (CMR/STOT/aspiration)
• GHS09 — Environment (tree & fish) → Hazardous to aquatic environment

Common construction substances: cement (GHS05 corrosive), solvents/paints (GHS02 flammable / GHS07 harmful), silica dust (GHS08 serious health hazard — carcinogen), asbestos fibres (GHS08 — CAR 2012 applies separately). Source: https://www.hse.gov.uk/chemical-classification/labelling-packaging/hazard-symbols-hazard-pictograms.htm