Do Safety Signs Need to Meet a Specific Standard?

Why Safety Sign Standards Matter

Safety signs are used to warn, instruct and guide people so they can avoid accidents and respond correctly in an emergency. If signs are unclear, inconsistent or poorly designed, people may misunderstand them – especially visitors, contractors or new staff.

Using standardised safety signs helps to ensure that:

• Everyone recognises key symbols quickly, even in an emergency.
• Signs are consistent across different buildings and sites.
• Your business can demonstrate compliance with UK health and safety law.

The Legal Framework in the UK

In the UK, employers have duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to protect employees and others from harm. Safety signs form part of the measures used to manage risk.

More specifically, the use of safety signs is covered by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. These regulations require that:

• Safety signs are used where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means.
• Signs are clear, legible and easy to understand.
• Standardised shapes and colours are used (for example, red for prohibition, yellow for warning).

The regulations do not name a particular British Standard by law, but they do expect employers to use signs that follow recognised standards so that symbols and colours are consistent and easily understood.

Key Standards for Safety Signs

In practice, most UK workplaces rely on two main standards for safety signs:

BS 5499 – British Standard for Safety Signs

BS 5499 is a British Standard that sets out the design principles for safety signs, including:

• Sign shapes and colour coding (for example, green for safe condition, blue for mandatory actions).
• Layout and proportions of symbols and text.
• Guidance on legibility and viewing distances.

BS 5499 has been widely used in the UK for many years and still underpins how many safety signs are designed and specified.

ISO 7010 – International Standard for Safety Symbols

ISO 7010 is an international standard that defines the graphical symbols used on safety signs. Its aim is to ensure that safety symbols are understood in different countries, regardless of language.

ISO 7010 specifies:

• Standard pictograms for common hazards and safety messages.
• Consistent shapes and colours for each type of sign (for example, triangular yellow warning signs).
• How symbols should appear so they are instantly recognisable.

In modern UK workplaces, using ISO 7010 symbols is considered best practice and strongly recommended by regulators and industry bodies.

So, Do Safety Signs Have to Meet These Standards?

Legally, the regulations require that safety signs are clear, consistent and follow recognised principles for shape and colour. They do not force you to quote “BS 5499” or “ISO 7010” on every sign, but in reality:

• Using BS 5499 and ISO 7010 compliant signs is the simplest way to show you are meeting your duties.
• Regulators and inspectors will expect your signs to follow these standards or be equivalent.
• Non-standard signs (for example, unusual colours, shapes or home-made symbols) can cause confusion and may be criticised in an inspection or after an incident.

For most businesses, the practical answer is: yes, safety signs should meet BS 5499 and ISO 7010 standards to ensure compliance and consistency.

Types of Safety Signs and Their Standard Colours

Under the regulations and supporting standards, safety signs fall into several categories, each with a specific colour and shape:

• Prohibition signs – Red circle with a diagonal bar (for example, “No smoking”).
• Warning signs – Yellow triangle with a black border (for example, “Danger – high voltage”).
• Mandatory signs – Blue circle (for example, “Wear eye protection”).
• Safe condition signs – Green rectangle or square (for example, “Fire exit” or first aid signs).
• Fire equipment signs – Red rectangle or square (for example, fire extinguisher location signs).

Using signs that follow these standard shapes and colours helps people understand the message at a glance, even before they read any text.

Photoluminescent (Glow in the Dark) Safety Signs

In many buildings, especially where lighting could fail in an emergency, photoluminescent (glow in the dark) safety signs are used to mark fire exits, escape routes and fire equipment.

While the regulations do not insist that all signs are photoluminescent, they do require that escape routes and emergency equipment remain clearly identifiable even if the power fails. Using photoluminescent signs that comply with BS 5499 and ISO 7010 is an effective way to meet this requirement.

What to Look for When Buying Safety Signs

When you are purchasing safety signs for your workplace, it is worth checking that they:

• State compliance with BS 5499 and ISO 7010.
• Use clear, standard pictograms and colours.
• Are available in suitable materials for indoor or outdoor use.
• Are durable enough for the environment (for example, weather-resistant for external signs).
• Are available in sizes that can be easily seen from the required distance.

Working with a specialist UK safety sign manufacturer can also help you choose the right signs for your premises and ensure they meet the relevant standards.

Consequences of Using Non-Compliant Signs

Using non-standard or poor-quality safety signs can create several problems:

• Confusion in an emergency – People may not recognise the meaning of non-standard symbols.
• Inconsistent messaging – Different signs for the same hazard across sites can lead to mistakes.
• Enforcement action – Inspectors may require you to replace non-compliant signs and could take further action if risks are not controlled.
• Liability after an incident – Inadequate or unclear signage may be highlighted during investigations or legal claims.

By choosing signs that meet recognised standards, you reduce these risks and demonstrate that you are taking your health and safety duties seriously.

Summary

While UK law does not force you to quote a particular standard on every safety sign, in practice there is a clear expectation that signs will follow recognised standards such as BS 5499 and ISO 7010. These standards ensure that safety signs are consistent, easy to recognise and effective in protecting people from harm.

If you are reviewing your workplace signage, it is sensible to:

• Check that all mandatory, warning, prohibition, safe condition and fire safety signs follow standard colours and shapes.
• Replace old or non-standard signs with BS 5499 and ISO 7010 compliant versions.
• Consider photoluminescent signs for escape routes and fire exits where lighting may fail.

Doing so will help you stay aligned with UK health and safety regulations and provide clear, consistent guidance for everyone on your site.