Regulations, 2000

L.N. 65 of 2000

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

(PROMOTION) ACT, 1994

(ACT NO. VII OF 1994)

Provision of Health and Safety Signs at Work Places

Regulations, 2000

IN exercise of the powers conferred by sections 6 and 16 of the

Occupational Health and Safety (Promotion) Act, 1994, the Minister

of Social Policy, in consultation with the Commission for the

Promotion of Occupational Health and Safety, has made the

following regulations:-

(I) The title of these regulations is Provision of Health

and Safety Signs at Work Places Regulations, 2000.

(2)

These regulations shall come into force on the Ist July,

2000

Provided that either a health or safety sign used at work for

the first time after the date of coming into force of these regulations

must fulfil the minimum requirements set out in the First to the Ninth

Schedules to these regulations

Provided further that either a health or safety sign which is

in use before the coming into force of these regulations must fulfil the

minimum requirements set out in the Schedules to these regulations

by not later than eighteen months after such date.

General minimum requirements concerning health

and/or safety signs at work.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS

Where health and/or safety signs are required in terms of regulation 4 of these

regulations, they must conform to the specific requirements in the Second to

the Fourth Schedules.

This Schedule includes those requirements for health and/or safety signs,

describes their different uses and gives general rules on the interchanging and

combining of signs.

Health and/or safety signs must be used only to convey the message or

information specified in the Directive.

TYPES OF SIGNS

Permanent signs

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.

Signboards and/or a safety colour must be used to mark permanently the

location and identification of fire-fighting equipment.

Signboards on containers and pipes must be placed as laid down in the Third

Schedule.

Places where there is a risk of colliding with obstacles or of falling must be

permanently marked with a safety colour and/or with signboards.

Traffic routes must be permanently marked with a safety colour.

Occasional signs.

Illuminated signs, acoustic signals and/or verbal communication must be used

where the occasion requires, taking into account the possibilities for

interchanging and combining signs set out in paragraph 3 of this Schedule, to

signal a danger, to call persons to take a specific course of action and for the

emergency evacuation of persons.

Hand signals and/or verbal communication must be used where the occasion

requires, to guide persons carrying out hazardous or dangerous manoeuvres.

fNTERCHANGING AND COMBINING SIGNS

Anyone of the following may be used if equally effective

a safety colour or a signboard to mark places where there is an obstacle

or a drop;

illuminated signs, acoustic signals or verbal communication;

hand signals or verbal communication.

Some types of signs may be used together

illuminated signs and acoustic signals;

illuminated signs and verbal communication;

hand signals and verbal communication.

THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHALL APPLY

TO ALL SIGNS INCORPORATING A SAFETY COLOUR

Colour

Meaning or purpose

Instructions and information

Prohibition sign

Dangerous behaviour.

Danger alarm

Stop, shutdown, emergency cut-out devices.

Evacuate.

Identification and location.

Fire-fighting equipment

Warning sign

Be careful, take precautions.

Yellow

Examine.

Amber

Specific behaviour or action.

Mandatory sign

Wear personal protective equipment.

Doors, exits, routes, equipment, facilities.

Emergency escape, first

aid sign

Return to normal.

No danger

The effectiveness of a sign must not be adversely affected by the presence of

another emission source of the same type which interferes with visibility or

audibility; therefore, in particular

the placing of too many signs too close together should be avoided;

two illuminated signs which are likely to be confused are not to be used

at the same time;

an illuminated sign is not to be used in the proximity of another similar

illuminated source;

two acoustic signals are not to be used at the same time;

an acoustic signal is not to be used if there is too much ambient noise.

The effectiveness of a sign must similarly not be adversely affected by poor

design, insufficient number, incorrect positioning, poor state of repair or

incorrect functioning of the signs or signalling devices.

Depending on requirements, signs and signalling devices must be cleaned,

maintained, checked, repaired, and if necessary replaced on a regular basis to

ensure that they retain their intrinsic and/or functional qualities.

The number and positioning of signs or signalling devices to be installed will

depend on the extent of the hazards or dangers or on the zone to be covered.

Signs requiring some form of power must be provided with a guaranteed

emergency supply in the event of a power cut, unless the hazard has thereby

been eliminated.

The triggering of an illuminated sign and/or acoustic signal indicates when the

required action should start; the sign or signal must be activated for as long as

the action requires. Illuminated signs and acoustic signals must be reactivated

immediately after use.

Illuminated signs and acoustic signals must be checked to ensure that they

function correctly and that they are effective before they are put into service

and subsequently at sufficiently frequent intervals.

If the hearing or the sight of the workers concerned is impaired, including

impairment caused by the wearing of personal protective equipment,

measures must be taken to supplement or replace the signs concerned.

Areas, rooms or enclosures used for the storage of significant quantities of

dangerous substances or preparations must be indicated by a suitable warning

sign taken from paragraph 3.2. of the Second Schedule to these regulations,

or marked as provided in paragraph 1 of the Third Schedule to these

regulations, unless the labelling of the individual packages or containers is

adequate for this purpose.

(I)

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise

reqUIres -

"acoustic signal" means a coded sound signal which is

released and transmitted by a device designed for that purpose,

without the use of a human or artificial voice;

"dangerous substance" means any substance which is

explosive, oxidising, flammable or easily flammable, or which

has toxic, harmful, corrosive or irritant properties in relation to

persons;

"emergency escape or first-aid sign" means a sign giving

information on escape routes, emergency exits or first aid or

rescue facilities;

"hand signal" means a movement or a position of the arms

or hands or a combination thereof, in coded form, for guiding

persons who are carrying out manoeuvres which constitute a

hazard or a risk to the health or safety of persons at work;

"health and/or safety sign" means a sign referring to a

specific object, activity or situation which provides information

or instructions about health and/or safety by means of, but not

limited to, a signboard, a colour, an illuminated sign, an

acoustic signal, a verbal communication or a hand signal, as the

case may be, and shall include a mandatory sign, a prohibition

sign and a warning sign;

"illuminated sign" means a sign produced by a device

made of transparent or translucent materials which are

illuminated from the inside or the rear in such a way as to give

the appearance of a luminous surface;

"mandatory sign" means a sign prescribing a specific form

of behaviour;

"prohibition sign" means a sign prohibiting an activity or a

form of behaviour likely to cause a risk to health or safety, or to

incur danger;

"safety colour" means a colour to which a specific

meaning is assigned;

"signboard" means a sign which provides specific

information or instruction by a combination of geometric

shapes, colours, symbols or pictograms, and which is rendered

visible by lighting of sufficient intensity;

"substance" means a chemical element and/or its

compounds, whether naturally occurring or produced by an

industrial process, and shall include mixtures or solutions of

two or more substances;

"supplementary signboard" means a signboard used

together with one of the signs described in the Second Schedule,

which provides supplementary information;

"symbol" or "pictogram" means a figure which describes a

situation or which prescribes specific behaviour and which is

used on a signboard or illuminated surface;

"verbal communication" means a predetermined spoken

message communicated by a human or artificial voice;

"warning sign" means a sign giving a warning of a hazard

or a risk to health or safety.

(2) In these regulations, words and expressions shall have the

same meaning as defined in section 2 of the Occupational Health and

Safety (Promotion) Act, hereinafter in these regulations called "the

Act".

General minimum requirements concerning signboards

INTRINSIC FEATURES

The shape and colours of signboards are set out in paragraph 3 of this

Schedule, in accordance with their specific object (signboards indicating a

prohibition, a warning, a mandatory action, an escape route, an emergency or

fire-fighting equipment).

Pictograms must be as simple as possible and should contain only essential

details.

The pictograms used may be slightly different from or more detailed than

those shown in paragraph 3 of this Schedule, provided that they convey the

same meaning and that no difference or adaptation obscures the meaning.

Signboards are to be made of shock and weather-resistant material suitable for

the surrounding environment.

The dimensions and colorimetric and photometric features of signboards must

be such that they can be easily seen and understood.

CONDITIONS OF USE

Signboards are in principle to be installed at a suitable height and in a position

appropriate to the line of sight, taking account of any obstacles, either at the

access point to an area in the case of a general hazard, or in the immediate

vicinity of a specific hazard or object, and in a well-lit and easily accessible

and visible location.

Phosphorescent colours, reflective materials or artificial lighting should be

used where the level of natural light is poor.

The signboard must be removed when the situation to which it refers ceases to

exist.

SIGNBOARDS TO BE USED

Prohibitory signs.

Intrinsic features

round shape

black pictogram on white background, red edging and diagonal line (the

red part to take up at least 35% of the area of the sign).

Signs to be used

No access for

No smoking

Smoking and naked

flames forbidden

pedestrians

Do not extinguish

Not drinkable

No access for

with water

unauthorised persons

No access for industrial vehicles

Do not touch

3.2

Warning signs.

Intrinsic features

triangular shape

black pictogram on a yellow background with black edging (the yellow

part to take up at least 50% of the area of the sign)

B

Toxic material

Explosive material

Flammable material

or high temperature

Corrosive material

Overhead load

Radioactive material

Industrial vehicles

Danger: electricity

General danger

Laser beam

Non-ironising

Oxidant material

radiation

B

Strong magnetic field

Obstacles

Drop

Biological risk

Low temperature

Harmful or irritant

material

3.3

Mandatory signs.

Intrinsic features

round shape

white pictogram on a blue background (the blue part to take up at least

50% of the area of the sign)

Eye protection

Safety helmet

Ear protection

must be worn

must be worn

B

Safety gloves

Safety boots

Respiratory equipment

must be worn

must be worn

must be worn

Safety overalls

Face protection

Safety harness

must be worn

must be worn

must be worn

Pedestrians must

General mandatory sign

use this route

(to be accompanied where

necessary by another sign)

Emergency escape or first-aid signs.

3.4

Intrinsic features

rectangular or square shape

white pictogram on a green background (the green part to take up at

least 50% of the area of the sign)

B

Emergency exit/escape route

This way

(supplementary information sign)

First-aid post

Stretcher

Safety shower

Eyewash

Emergency telephone for first-aid or escape

B

3.5

Fjre-fightjng sjgns.

Intrinsic features

rectangular or square shape

white pictogram on a red background (the red part to take up at least

50% of the area of the sign).

IIII~

i

Fire hose

Ladder

Fire-extinguisher

Emergency fire

telephone

This way

(supplementary information sign)

(I) These regulations shall apply to all workplaces, and

shall be considered as the minimum requirements applicable to all

health and/or safety signs used therein.

(2) Every health and/or safety sign used at work shall fulfil the

minimum requirements set out in the First to the Ninth Schedules to

these regulations, subject to the provisions of regulation 1(2).

(3) These regulations shall not apply to signs used for regulating

road, sea or air travel

Provided that where in a place of work there is a risk to the

health or safety of any person, including a pedestrian, resulting from

the presence of, or from the movement of traffic, it shall be the duty

of an employer to put up the appropriate health and/or safety signs.

(4) These regulations shall not apply to signs used in connection

with the supply, or during the course of transport, of any dangerous

substance, preparation, product or equipment except to the extent of

any reference to these regulations in any other regulation issued under

the Act.

Minimum requirements concerning health and/or safety

signs on containers and pipes

PRELIMINARY REMARKS

The provisions ofthis Schedule shall apply to signs on containers used at work

for dangerous substances, containers used for the storage of such dangerous

substances, together with the visible pipes containing or transporting

dangerous substances.

The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply to containers used

at work for brief periods nor to containers whose contents change frequently,

provided that alternative adequate measures are taken, in particular for

information and/or training, which guarantee the same level of protection.

The signs referred to in paragraph 1.1. of this Schedule may be supplemented

by additional information, such as the name and/or formula of the dangerous

substance and details of the hazard.

Signs must be mounted as follows

on the visible side(s);

if unpliable, self-adhesive or painted form.

Where appropriate, the signs referred to in paragraph 1.1. of this Schedule

must have the intrinsic features defined in paragraph 1.4 of the Second

Schedule and must fulfil the conditions of use for signboards laid down in

paragraph 2 of the Second Schedule.

Without prejudice to the preceding paragraphs, the signs used on pipes must

be positioned visibly in the vicinity of the most dangerous points, such as

valves and joints, and at reasonable intervals.

Areas, rooms or enclosures used for the storage of significant quantities of

dangerous substances must be indicated by a suitable warning sign taken from

paragraph 3.2 of the Second Schedule, or marked as provided in paragraph 1

of the Third Schedule, unless the labelling of the individual packages or

containers is adequate for this purpose, taking into account paragraph 1.5 of

the Second Schedule with regard to dimensions.

Stores of a number of dangerous substances may be indicated by the warning

sign for general danger.

The signs referred to above must be positioned, as appropriate, near the

storage area on the door leading into the storage room.

(I) It shall be the duty of an employer to provide and to

ensure the presence at all times of suitable and appropriate health and/

or safety signs at every place of work under his control, and in all

cases where hazards cannot be avoided, or when the risks resulting

from such hazards cannot be adequately reduced except through the

provision of the appropriate signs

Provided that, without prejudice to the generality of the

foregoing, the provision by an employer of health and/or safety signs

shall not exempt him from carrying out an adequate and appropriate

risk assessment which takes into account the nature of the activities

carried out, or from adopting all appropriate techniques for collective

protection, or from instituting any preventive measure, or any other

method or procedure used in the organisation of work by which to

avoid or to adequately reduce the risks resulting from the presence of

hazards at the place of work.

(2) It shall be the duty of an employer to appropriately

maintain any health and/or safety sign installed at a place of work,

and to replace any sign which is torn, defaced or has otherwise

become illegible.

(3) It shall be the duty of an employer to ensure that the

workers under his charge have been informed, adequately instructed

and trained, in a manner which is comprehensible and relevant, in the

meaning of health and/or safety signs including those signs

incorporating words, and on the general and specific behaviour and

on the measures required to be taken in connection with such signs.

(4) It shall be the duty of an employer to consult workers and/

or their representatives, who shall also be afforded every reasonable

opportunity to make proposals and to participate in discussions on

matters concerning the implementation of these regulations.

Minimum requirements for the identification and

location of fire-fighting equipment

PRELIMINARY REMARK

This Schedule applies to equipment used exclusively for fire-fighting

purposes.

Fire-fighting equipment must be identified by using a specific colour for the

equipment and placing a location signboard, and/or by using a specific colour

for the places where such equipment is kept, or their access points.

The colour for identifying this equipment is red.

The red area must be sufficiently large to allow the equipment to be identified

easily.

The signboards provided for in paragraph 3 of this Schedule must be used to

mark the locations of this equipment.

Minimum requirements governing signs used for obstacles

and dangerous locations, and for marking traffic routes

SIGNS FOR OBSTACLES AND DANGEROUS LOCATIONS

Places where there is a risk of colliding with obstacles, of falling or of objects

falling, should be marked with alternating yellow and black, or red and white

stripes in built-up zones in the undertaking to which workers have access

during their work.

The dimensions of the markings must be commensurate with the scale of the

obstacle or dangerous location in question.

The yellow and black or red and white stripes must be at an angle of

approximately 45 0 and of more or less equal size.

Example

MARKING OF TRAFFIC ROUTES

Where the use and equipment of rooms so requires for the protection of

workers, traffic routes for vehicles must be clearly identified by continuous

stripes in a clearly visible colour, preferably white or yellow, taking into

account the colour of the ground.

The stripes must be located so as to indicate the necessary safe distance

between the vehicles and any object which may be near by, and betw~

pedestrians and vehicles.

Permanent traffic routes in built-up areas outdoors should, as far as is

practicable, be similarly marked, unless they are provided with suitable

barriers or pavements.

Minimum requirements for illuminated signs

INTRINSIC FEATURES

The light emitted by a sign must produce a luminous contrast which is

appropriate to its environment, in accordance with the intended conditions of

use of the sign, but without producing glare for an excessive amount of light

or poor visibility as a result of insufficient light.

The luminous area emitting a sign may be of a single colour or contain a

pictogram on a specified background.

The single colour must correspond to the table of colours and their meanings

set out in paragraph 4 of the First Schedule of these regulations.

When the sign contains a pictogram, the latter must comply with all the

relevant conditions set out in the Second Schedule.

SPECIFIC RULES GOVERNING USE

If a device can emit both continuous and intermittent signs, the intermittent

sign should be used to indicate a higher level of danger or a more urgent need

for the requested/imposed intervention or action than is indicated by the

continuous sign.

The duration of each flash and the frequency of the flashes of an intermittent

illuminated sign must be such as to

ensure the proper perception of the message, and

avoid any confusion either between different illuminated signs or with

a continuous illuminated sign.

If a flashing sign is used instead of, or together with, an acoustic signal,

identical codes must be used.

Devices for emitting flashing signs in the event of grave danger must be under

special surveillance or be fitted with an auxiliary lamp.

Minimum requirements for acoustic signs

INTRINSIC FEATURES

Acoustic signals must

have a sound level which is considerably higher than the level of ambi-

ent noise, so that it is audible without being excessive or painful;

be easily recognisable, particularly in terms of pulse length and the in-

terval between pulses or groups of pulses, and be clearly distinct from

any other acoustic signal and ambient noises.

If a device can emit an acoustic signal at variable and constant frequencies, the

variable frequency should be used to indicate a higher level of danger or a

more urgent need for the requested I imposed intervention or action in relation

to the stable frequency.

CODE

The signal for evacuation must be continuous.

Minimum requirements for verbal communication

INTRINSIC FEATURES

Verbal communication between a speaker or emitter and one or more hearers

is to take the form of (sometimes coded) short texts, phrases, groups of words

and/or individual words.

Spoken messages are to be as short, simple and clear as possible; the verbal

skills of the speaker and the hearing abilities of the hearer(s) must be such as

to ensure reliable verbal communication.

Verbal communication is direct (by means ofthe human voice) or indirect (by

means of a human or artificial voice which is broadcast by whatever means is

appropriate).

SPECIFIC RULES GOVERNING USE

The persons involved must have a good knowledge of the language used so

that they are able to pronounce and understand the spoken message correctly

and consequently behave in a way which is appropriate to health and/or safety.

If verbal communication is used instead of, or together with gestures, code

words should be used. Examples of such code words include

to indicate the start of a command

start

to interrupt or end a movement

stop

end

to stop the operation

to have a load raised

raIse

lower

to have a load lowered

to be co-ordinated with the corresponding hand signals

forwards

to be co-ordinated with the corresponding hand signals

backwards

to be co-ordinated with the corresponding hand signals

right

to be co-ordinated with the corresponding hand signals

left

danger

for an emergency stop

to speed up a movement for safety reasons

quickly

Minimum requirements for hand signals

FEATURES

Hand signals must be precise, expansive, easy to make and to understand, and

clearly distinct from other such signals.

Where both arms are used at the same time, they must be moved

symmetrically and for giving one sign only.

The signals used may vary slightly from or be more detailed than those shown

in paragraph 4 of this Schedule, provided that they fulfil the conditions given

above. They must however, be equally meaningful and comprehensible.

SPECIFIC RULES GOVERNING USE

The person giving the signs, hereinafter referred to as the signalman, will use

arm/hand movements to give manoeuvring instructions to the person

receiving the signs, hereinafter referred to as the operator.

The signalman must be able to monitor all manoeuvres visually without being

endangered thereby.

The signalman's duties must consist exclusively of directing manoeuvres and

ensuring the safety of workers in the vicinity.

Ifthe conditions described in paragraph 2.2. ofthis Schedule are not fulfilled,

one or more extra signalmen should be deployed.

The operator must interrupt the ongoing manoeuvre in order to request new

instructions when he is unable to carry out the orders he has received with the

necessary safety guarantees.

ACCESSORIES

The operator must be able to recognise the signalman without difficulty.

The signalman is to wear one or more appropriate distinctive items, e.g. a

jacket, helmet, sleeves or armbands, or carry bats.

The distinctive items are to be brightly coloured, preferably all of the same

colour and for the exclusive use of signalmen.

CODED SIGNALS TO BE USED

The following set of coded signals are, without prejudice to those applicable

under any other regulations, used for the same manoeuvres in certain sectors

Meaning

Description

Illustration

A. GENERAL SIGNALS

START

both arms are extended

Attention

horizontally with the palms

Start of command

facing forward

STOP

the right arm points

Interruption

upwards with the palm

End of movement

facing forwards

END

both hands are clasped at

of the operati on

chest height

B. VERTICAL MOVEMENTS

the right arm points

upwards with the palm

RAISE

facing forward and slowly

makes a circle

the right arm points

downwards with the palm

LOWER

facing inwards and slowly

makes a circle

the hands indicate

the

VERTICAL DISTANCE

relevant distance

B

C. HORIZONTAL MOVEMENTS

both arms are bent with the

palms facing upwards, and

MOVE FORWARDS

the forearms make slow

movements towards the

body

both arms are bent with the

palms facing downwards,

MOVE BACKWARDS

and the forearms make

slow movements away

from the body

the right arm is extended

more or less horizontally

RIGHT

with the palm facing

to the signalman's

downwards and slowly

makes small movements to

the left

the left arm is extended

more or less horizontally

LEFf

with the palm facing

to the signalman's

downwards and makes

small movements to the

right

HORIZONTAL

the hands indicate

the

DISTANCE

relevant distance

D. DANGER

both arms point upwards

DANGER

with the palms facing

Emergency stop

forwards

QUICK

all movements faster

SLOW

all movements slower