Knowing and understanding safety signs can make you life safer wherever you go.  There are signs that have words on it and so it is easy for literate people to read them, but what if you encounter symbols instead of words, you might be heading for disaster and you are completely unaware.  Signs were conceptualized so that everyone can easily understand them regardless of language barrier or educational attainment.  They made it so simple for everyone to easy comprehension. Unfortunately, most people disregard the importance of these signs and symbols.  They would only realize its significance during an emergency.

During an emergency like fire especially if you are inside a building, one of the things to look out for are the fire safety signs.  Looking for fire exits should be your main priority.  Fire can cause panic and with so many people inside a building, knowing where to go is an advantage.  If you see a running man sign, it would indicate an exit door.  If it is a left running man sign then you need to go to that direction and the same way if it is a right running man.

You might also want to check where the fire extinguishers are in times like this.  You might even wonder why there are signs for fire fighting devices such as wet chemical fire extinguisher because it seems to be redundant already. However, when there is fire inside a building, the visibility is quite low and therefore even those who are familiar with the surroundings will have a hard time looking for it.

These fire safety signs are usually in reflective and luminous form. They are particularly designed this way so that people can easily identify them.  While it is true that full-blown building fires cannot be stopped by just fire extinguishers, it can however be your safety device in making sure your path is clear from fire.  It is an important fire-fighting tool in putting out flames on your way out.

Safety signs are extremely important, as they can give us warnings if we are about to encounter dangerous situations.  The “no smoking” sign should not be ignored.  They may not be there because of people not wanting to inhale second hand smoke but could be a potentially dangerous zone as it could be a highly flammable area.  It is also the same when you see “authorized personnel only” sign.  The reason may not only because of exclusivity but it could be highly dangerous area that contains materials that are truly life threatening.

The reasons and meanings of these signs should also be imparted to children early on in life.  They are your ticket to safety especially during emergencies like fire.  Most of you spent more days on your workplace rather than your home. Understanding these signs will play an important part in our everyday lives especially when a safety accident occurs.  They can lessen the chances of injury and can aid you efficiently towards safety.

Once a fire starts it can be very difficult to stop. By the time the fire brigade have come to the scene, it may be too late. All that will be left is a charred building. Fire results in the loss of property and the loss of life but it can be prevented by following some simple fire safety procedures. This article will discuss how to prevent fires from starting, what to do if you discover one and how to react to a continuous fire alarm.

Preventing blazes from starting is not that difficult if you adhere to the basic rules of fire safety. You should keep all areas as tidy as possible with no excess rubbish lying around the place. The more fuel a fire has to use, the quicker it will spread. At work, if your profession involves dealing with flammable materials/chemicals, then ensure that they are in proper containers with the lids on. These supplies should then be safely stored in a metal storage cabinet. Never smoke in ‘non-smoking’ areas and always correctly put out your cigarettes, putting them in metal bins. A key aspect of fire safety is to always have exits free. Do not put furniture or anything of that nature in hallways or by doors. If you see damage to extinguishers, fire doors or alarms fix immediately or report them to your landlord/employer.

Sometimes even the best fire safety preventative measures are not enough to start a blaze from starting. If you do spot smoke and discover a fire, then under no circumstances should you fight the fire unless you are specifically trained to do so or else the fire is extremely small and can be tackled quickly. Hit the nearest fire alarm and phone the fire brigade and any security officers that may be on duty. Leave the building via the nearest fire exit and walk calmly towards the fire assembly point. Do not enter the building until it has been deemed safe to do so.

If you are in a building and hear a fire alarm it is important not to panic. Locate the nearest fire exit on foot, don’t attempt to use a lift. If you can help a fellow employee do so, but make your way as far away from the flames as possible as smoke can play havoc with your senses. Every workplace should conduct regular drills and educate their employees on the importance of fire safety. If you discover any problems or potential fire safety issues when undertaking the fire drill tell your supervisor immediately.

Everyone should do their part to spot fire safety danger signs such as too much garbage and flammable material lying around. By allowing these to remain, you will be increasing the chances of a fire starting whilst equipping it with the fuel it needs to continue burning. If a fire does happen then you need to alert the authorities by setting off the building’s alarm. As long as employees are trained correctly in fire safety procedures, they will remain calm and act the right way in an emergency situation.

According to the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, permanent signboards must be used for signs relating to prohibitions, warnings and mandatory requirements and the location and identification of emergency escape routes and first-aid facilities. Safety signs must follow a specific shape and colour code to mark the location and identification of fire fighting equipment.

These regulations came into force on April 1, 1996, and they pertain to all places and activities where people are employed and call for employers to provide specific safety signage whenever there is a risk that has not been avoided or controlled by other means. The fire safety regulations state that:

• Employers must use safety signs wherever there is a risk to health and safety that cannot be controlled by other means.
• Safety signs must be of a specific type.
• Text signs are no longer adequate; all signs must include a pictogram.
• Signs must be well maintained and sufficiently lit.
• Employers must make sure that employees understand the signs.

The installation of safety signs is part of an employer’s responsibility under the law to ensure, so far as is possible, their employees’ and the general public’s health, safety and welfare at work. There are a number of styles for safety signs. Blue circles are called “mandatory” signs. Yellow triangles are called “caution” signs. Red signs are called “fire safety” signs. They are used only for showing the location of fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment.

Green signs are called “safe condition” signs. These signs can either tell people the location of certain safety equipment, such as first aid equipment and fire exits, or tell people that it is safe to do something in case of an emergency. Red circles with a diagonal line through a pictogram are called “prohibition” signs. You must not do whatever is shown on the sign. The fact that these signs have circles on them means that the instructions they contain must be followed.

Other signs may be used to point to toilets, et cetera. These can be any format you wish, but you must not be able to confuse them with safety signs. Note that a lot of safety signs do not require text. Symbols are used instead to give a multi-lingual sign. Use a blue mandatory sign for doors that need to be kept shut for fire safety reasons, for example those doors that are designed to hold back fire and smoke.

You can add any other signs that you think you need depending on your circumstances. Certainly the best option for places of work is to use rigid plastic signs fixed with self-adhesive pads or screws. You might also need to display some posters that give people information about safety. Regardless of the language your employees and customers speak, all signs must be quickly understood.

The Health and Safety Regulations 1996 require employers to provide specific safety signs whenever there is a risk that has not been avoided or controlled by other means, for example by engineering controls or safe systems of work. Apart from fire exit signs, you must have signs that show where your fire extinguishers are. Known as “photo-luminescent,” some signs are available in glow-in-the-dark finishes.

Keep in mind that a large number of safety signs and symbols can cause confusion as to what they mean – which is exactly what they set out to avoid. That’s why it’s best to stick to European standard signs, especially now when it’s essential to offer immediate understanding of safety messages worldwide, a job that the visual, language-independent power of the graphical symbol is the best to convey.