What Safety Signs Are Required in a Workplace in the UK? (Simple Checklist)

Workplace safety signs aren’t just “nice to have” — they help you communicate hazards quickly, guide people to safety equipment, and support compliance with UK health and safety duties. If you’re responsible for a site (office, warehouse, shop, school, factory, or construction area), this simple checklist will help you confirm you’ve covered the essentials.

Note: This guide is practical, not legal advice. Exact requirements depend on your risk assessment, building layout, and activities on site.

The UK rule of thumb: your risk assessment decides

In the UK, safety signage is typically driven by:

• Your risk assessment (what hazards exist, who is exposed, and how you control risk)
• Whether a sign is needed to warn, prohibit, instruct, or guide people to emergency equipment and exits
• Whether you need to use standard symbols so everyone understands the message quickly (including visitors and contractors)

If a hazard can’t be eliminated and the control measures need reinforcing, signage is often part of the solution.

Simple workplace safety sign checklist (by category)

Use this as a walk-round checklist. If you answer “yes” to the question, you likely need the sign(s) in that area.

1) Fire safety & emergency escape signs

These are among the most common workplace requirements.

You likely need these if: you have a building with staff/visitors, fire doors, extinguishers, alarms, or designated escape routes.

Checklist:

• Fire exit signs showing the correct direction of travel (left/right/down) along escape routes
• “Fire exit keep clear” where exits could be obstructed
• “Fire door keep shut” (or “Fire door keep locked shut” where applicable)
• “Fire action” notice (what to do if you discover a fire / hear the alarm)
• Fire extinguisher identification signs (e.g., CO2, foam, water, powder, wet chemical) where extinguishers are installed
• “Fire alarm call point” / “Break glass” indicator signs where needed
• “Assembly point” sign at the designated muster point

Practical tip: If your escape route could be used in low light (power failure, smoke, night shift), consider photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) exit signage to improve visibility.

2) Mandatory (blue) instruction signs

These tell people what they must do.

You likely need these if: PPE is required, hygiene rules apply, or specific actions are needed to work safely.

Checklist:

• “Wear eye protection” in grinding, cutting, chemical handling, or workshop areas
• “Wear hearing protection” in high-noise zones
• “Wear safety footwear” in warehouses, yards, and goods-in areas
• “Wear hard hat” in construction/overhead work areas
• “Wear high visibility clothing” in vehicle movement areas
• “Wash hands” in food prep, healthcare, and welfare areas
• “Authorised personnel only” where access must be controlled

Practical tip: Put mandatory signs at the point of entry to the risk area (doorway, gate, or barrier), not halfway through.

3) Warning (yellow) hazard signs

These warn people about hazards that could cause harm.

You likely need these if: there are physical hazards, chemicals, vehicles, electricity, or site-specific risks.

Checklist:

• “Warning: forklift trucks” in warehouses and loading bays
• “Warning: moving vehicles” in yards and car parks with deliveries
• “Warning: high voltage” / electrical hazard near plant rooms and panels
• “Warning: slippery surface” in areas prone to wet floors
• “Warning: trip hazard” where thresholds/cables/uneven flooring exist
• “Warning: hazardous substances” in chemical storage/cleaning cupboards
• “Warning: CCTV in operation” where CCTV is used (often handled as a separate compliance sign)

Practical tip: If you’re relying on a warning sign repeatedly (e.g., “slippery floor”), it may be a signal to improve housekeeping or install anti-slip measures.

4) Prohibition (red) signs

These tell people what they must not do.

You likely need these if: an action would create a serious risk (smoking, unauthorised entry, open flames).

Checklist:

• “No smoking” at entrances and relevant areas (especially near flammables)
• “No unauthorised access” for restricted rooms/areas
• “No entry” where entry is dangerous (plant rooms, roof access, etc.)
• “No naked flames” near flammable storage or processes

Practical tip: Prohibition signs are most effective when paired with a clear alternative (e.g., designated smoking area signage).

5) Safe condition / first aid / emergency equipment (green) signs

These guide people to safety equipment and safe routes.

You likely need these if: you have first aid provision, eyewash, defibs, spill kits, or designated welfare points.

Checklist:

• “First aid” sign showing the location of the first aid box/room
• “AED / defibrillator” sign if you have one
• “Emergency eyewash” where chemicals are handled
• “Emergency shower” where required
• “Spill kit” location sign (useful in warehouses and chemical areas)
• “Emergency escape route” / “Exit” safe condition signs where appropriate

Practical tip: Green signs are about speed. Make them visible from typical approach routes, not hidden behind doors or shelving.

6) Site traffic & pedestrian management signs

These reduce collision risk and confusion.

You likely need these if: you have deliveries, forklifts, pallet trucks, or shared pedestrian/vehicle areas.

Checklist:

• “Pedestrian route” / “Pedestrians keep to walkway”
• “Forklift operating area”
• “Speed limit” signs for yards and internal roadways
• “One-way system” where implemented
• “Loading bay” / “Keep clear” markings and signs

Practical tip: Signage works best when reinforced with floor markings, barriers, and clear layouts.

7) Construction, maintenance & contractor signs (if applicable)

Even non-construction businesses often have temporary works.

You likely need these if: you have contractors on site, maintenance works, or temporary hazards.

Checklist:

• “Construction site: keep out” / “Site entrance” where relevant
• Temporary “Danger: men working overhead”
• “Do not use” signs for faulty equipment
• “Out of order” for lifts/toilets/plant
• “Wet floor” temporary signs during cleaning

Practical tip: Temporary signs should be removed when the hazard is gone — otherwise people stop paying attention.

Quick placement rules (to avoid common mistakes)

• Put signs at decision points: entrances, junctions, stairwells, and where people choose a route.
• Use the right size for the viewing distance (bigger space = bigger sign).
• Keep signs unobstructed (not behind open doors, stacked stock, or racking).
• Use consistent symbols and wording across the site.
• If you have multiple languages on site, use standard pictograms and keep text simple.

What you should do next (10-minute site walk)

1. Walk your main routes: entrance → work areas → welfare → exits.
2. Note every hazard and control point (PPE zones, chemicals, traffic routes).
3. Check you have the right sign type: mandatory / warning / prohibition / safe condition / fire.
4. Confirm signs are visible, correct, and not damaged.
5. Create a simple action list: missing signs, wrong arrows, faded signs, and relocation needs.

Need help choosing the right signs?

If you’re unsure which signs you need, start with your risk assessment and do a quick walk-round using the checklist above. If you want a second opinion, it’s worth getting advice from a competent health & safety person — and then standardising your signage so staff and visitors get consistent messages across the site.

If you’d like, tell me your workplace type (office/warehouse/site), and I’ll turn this into a tailored “minimum recommended sign pack” list you can use for purchasing and auditing.