WORK PLACE (PROVISION OF HEALTH AND, OR SAFETY SIGNS) REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 646.09

WORK PLACE (PROVISION OF HEALTH AND,

OR SAFETY SIGNS) REGULATIONS

19th February, 2002

LEGAL NOTICE 45 of 2002, as amended by Legal Notice 199 of 2015 a

nd Act XXXIII of 2024.

(1) The title of these regulations is the Work Place

(Provision of Health and, or Safety Signs) Regulations.

(2) The scope of these regulations is the implementation of

Directive 2014/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the

Council amending Council Directive 92/58/EEC on the minimum

requirements for the provisions of safety and/or health signs at

work (ninth individual Directive within the meaning of Article

16(1) of Directive 89/301/EEC94/33/EC).

General minimum requirements concerning health and, or safety signs at work.

1.0. Preliminary remarks.

1.1. Where health and, or safety signs are required in terms of regulation 4 of

these regulations, they must conform to the specific requirements in

Schedules II to IV.

1.2. 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.

1.3. Health and, or safety signs must be used only to convey the message or

information specified in these regulations.

2.0. Types of signs.

2.1. 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 o f fire-fighting

equipment.

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

Schedule III.

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.

2.2. 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.

3.0. Interchanging and combining signs.

3.1. Any one 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.

3.2. Some types of signs may be used together

-

illuminated signs and acoustic signals;

-

illuminated signs and verbal communication;

-

hand signals and verbal communication.

4.0. The instructions in the following table shall apply to all signs incorporating

a safety colour

Colour

Meaning or purpose

Instructions and information

Red

Prohibition sign

Dangerous behaviour

Danger alarm

Stop, shutdown, emergency cut-

out devices.

Evacuate.

Fire-fighting equipment

Identification and location

Yellow or

Be careful, take precautions.

amber

Warning sign

Examine.

Blue

Mandatory sign

Specific behaviour or action.

We a r p e r s o n a l p r o t e c t i v e

equipment.

Green

Emergency escape, first

Doors, exits, routes, equipment,

aid sign

facilities.

No danger

Return to normal.

5.0. 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 toget]er 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.

5.1. 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.

6.0. 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.

(1)

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;

"Act" means the Health and Safety at Work Act;

"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, a

danger, 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, activi ty or situati on wh ich provides in formatio n 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, but shall not be limited to, 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;

"information sign" means a sign providing information other

than that given by a prohibition sign, a warning sign, or by an

emergency escape or first-aid sign;

"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 occurnng 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

another signboard, 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, a risk

to health or safety, or to a danger.

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

same meaning as defined in article 2 of the Act.

Amended by

L.N. 199 of 2015.

General minimum requirements concerning signboards.

1.0. Intrinsic features.

1.1. 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-fig]ting equipment).

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

details.

1.3. 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.

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

for the surrounding environment.

1.5. The dimensions and colorimetric and photometric features of signboards

must be such that they can be easily seen and understood.

2.0. Conditions of use.

2.1. 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.

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

to exist.

3.0. Signboards to be used.

3.1. 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 smoking

Smoking and naked flames

No access for

forbidden

pedestrians

Do not extinguish

Not drinkable

No access for

with water

unauthorised persons

No access for industrial

Do not touch

vehicles

3.2. Warning signs.

Instrinsic 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)

Flammable material

Explosive material

Toxic material

Corrosive material

Radioactive material

Overhead load

General danger *

Industrial vehicles

Danger: electricity

Laser beam

Oxidant material

Non-ironising radiation

Strong magnetic field

Obstacles

Drop

*This warning sign shall not be used to warn about hazardous chemical substances or mixtures, except for

cases when the warning sign is used in accordance with the second point of paragraph 5 of Schedule III to

indicate the stores of hazardous substances or mixtures.

Biological risk

Low temperature

(deleted by L.N. 199/2015)

3.3. Mandatory signs.

Instrinsic 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

Respiratory equipment

Safety boots

Safety gloves

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 use

General mandatory sign

this route

(to be accompanied where

necessary by another sign)

3.4. Emergency escape or first-aid signs

Instrinsic 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)

Emergency exit/escape route

This way (supplementary information sign)

First-aid post

Stretcher

Safety shower

Eyewash

Emergency telephone for first-aid or escape

3.5. Fire-fighting signs

Instrinsic 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)

Fire hose

Ladder

Fire-extinguisher

Emergency fire

telephone

This way (supplementary information sign)

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

all signs, except as provided in subregulation (3), and shall be

considered as the minimum requirements applicable to all health

and, or safety signs used at workplaces.

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

minimum requirements set out in Schedules I to IX.

(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

Provided further, and without prejudice to the provisions of

Schedule V, the signs used for road, rail, inland waterway and for

sea and air transport, shall be installed, wherever appropriate for

such forms of transport, inside undertakings and, or firms.

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

connection with the placing on the market, supply, or during the

course of transport of any dangerous substance, preparation,

product and, or equipment except to the extent of any reference to

these regulations in any other regulation issued under the Act.

Amended by

L.N. 199 of 2015.

Minimum requirements concerning health and, or safety signs

on containers and pipes.

1.0. Preliminary remarks.

1.1. Containers used at work for chemical substances or mixtures classified as

hazardous according to the criteria for any physical or health hazard class in

accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, and containers used for the storage

of such hazardous substances or mixtures, together with the visible pipes containing

or transporting such hazardous substances and mixtures, must be labelled with the

relevant hazard pictograms in accordance with that Regulation.

The first paragraph does 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 labels referred to in the first paragraph may be

-

replaced by warning signs set out in Schedule II, using the same

pictograms or symbols. If there is no equivalent warning sign in

paragraph 3.2 of Schedule II, the relevant hazard pictogram set out in

Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 must be used;

-

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

the hazardous substance or mixture and the details of the hazard; and

-

for the transporting of containers at the place of work, supplemented or

replaced by signs that are applicable throughout the Union for the

transport of hazardous or mixtures.

2.0. Signs must be mounted as follows

-

on the visible side(s);

-

if unpliable, self adhesive or painted form.

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

must have the intrinsic features defined in paragraph 1.4 of Schedule II and

must fulfil the conditions of use for signboards laid down in paragraph 2 of

Schedule II.

4.0. 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 joint, and at reasonable intervals.

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

hazardous mixtures must be indicated by a suitable warning sign taken from

paragraph 3.2 of Schedule II, or marked as provided in paragraph 1 of

Schedule III, unless the labelling of the individual packages or containers is

adequate for this purpose, taking into account paragraph 1.5 of Schedule II

with regard to dimensions.

Stores of a number of hazardous mixtures 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.

(1) 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 adequately reduced by

techniques for collective protection or measures, methods or

procedures used in the organization of work, 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 the employer 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

organization 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 all

workers 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 workers’ health and safety 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.

1.0. Preliminary remark.

This Schedule applies to equipment used exclusively for fire-fighting

purposes.

2.0. 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.

3.0. The colour for identifying this equipment is red.

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

identified easily.

4.0. The signboards provided for in paragraph 3.5 of this Schedule must be used

to mark the locations of this equipment.

In any proceedings for an offence under these regulations

consisting of a failure to comply with a duty or requirement to do

something, or to do something so far as is reasonably practicable, it

shall be for t]e accused to prove (as the case may be) t]at it was not

practicable or not reasonably practicable to do more than was in

fact done to satisfy the duty or requirement, or t]at there was no

better practicable means than was in fact used to satisfy the duty or

requirement.

Minimum requirements governing signs used for obstacles and dangerous locations,

and for marking traffic routes.

1.0. Signs for obstacles and dangerous locations.

1.1. 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.

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

obstacle or dangerous location in question.

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

approximately 45º and of more or less equal size.

1.4. Example

2.0. Marking of traffic routes.

2.1. 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.

2.2. 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 between

pedestrians and vehicles.

2.3. 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.

Any breach of any provision of these regulations shall be

deemed an offence.

Minimum requirements for illuminated signs

1.0. Intrinsic features.

1.1. 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.

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

pictogram on a specified background.

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

set out in partagraph 4 of Schedule I of these regulations.

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

relevant conditions set out in Schedule II.

2.0. Specific rules governing use.

2.1. 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 flashers 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.

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

identical codes must be used.

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

under special surveillance or be fitted with an auxiliary lamp.

0. 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.

Minimum requirements for acoustic signs

1.0. Intrinsic features.

1.1. Acoustic signals must

-

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

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

-

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

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

any other acoustic signal and ambient noises.

1.2. 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 / imposed intervention or action in

relation to the stable frequency.

2.0. Code.

2.1. The signal for evacuation must be continuous.

0. 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.

Minimum requirements for verbal communication

1.0. Intrinsic features.

1.1. 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.

1.2. 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.

1.3. Verbal communication is direct (by means of the human voice) or indirect

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

means is appropriate).

2.0. Specific rules governing use.

2.1. 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.

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

words should be used. Examples of such code words include

start

to indicate the start of a command

stop

to interrupt or end a movement

end

to stop the operation

raise

to have a load raised

lower

to have a load lowered

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

to be co-ordinated with the corresponding hand signals

danger

for an emergency stop

quickly

to speed up a movement for safety reasons

0. 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.

Minimum requirements for hand signals

1.0. Features.

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

and clearly distinct from other such signals.

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

symmetrically and for giving one sign only.

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

shown in section 3 of this Schedule, provided that they fulfil the conditions

g i v e n a b o v e . T h e y m u s t h o w e v e r, b e e q u a l l y m e a n i n g f u l a n d

comprehensible.

2.0. Specific rules governing use.

2.1. 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.

2.2. The signalman must be able to monitor all manoeuvres visually without

being endangered thereby.

2.3. The signalman’s duties must consist exclusively of directing manoeuvres

and ensuring the safety of workers in the vicinity.

2.4. If the conditions described in partagraph 2.2. above are not fulfilled, one or

more extra signalmen should be deployed.

2.5. 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.

3.0. Accessories.

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

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

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

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

colour and for the exclusive use of signalman.

4.0. Coded signals to be used.

4.1. The following set of coded signals are without prejudice applicable under

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

Meaning

Description

Illustration

A.

General Signals

START

both arms are extended horizontally

with the palms facing forward

Attention

Start of command

STOP

the right arm points upwards with the

palm facing forwards

Interruption

End of movement

END

both hands are clasped at chest height

of the operation

B.

Vertical Movements

RAISE

the right arm points upwards with the

palm facing forward and slowly makes

a circle

LOWER

the right arm points downwards with

the palm facing inwards and slowly

makes a circle

the hands inidcate the relevant distance

DISTANCE

C.

Horizontal Movements

MOVE

both arms are bent with the palms

FORWARDS

facing upwards and the forearms make

slow movements towards the body

MOVE

both arms are bent with the palms

BACKWARDS

facing dowwards, and the forearms

make slow movements away from the

body

RIGHT

the right arm is extended more or less

horizontally with the palm facing

to

the

downwards and slowly makes small

signalman’s

movements to the left

LEFT

the left arm is extended more or less

horizontally with the palm facing

to

the

downwards and makes small

signalman’s

movements to the right

the hands indicate the relevant distance

DISTANCE

D.

Danger

DANGER

both arms point upwards with the

palms facing forwards

Emergency stop

QUICK

all movements faster

SLOW

all movements slower

0. 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.

0. 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.

0. Areas, rooms or enclosures used for storage of significant quantities of

dangerous substances or mixtures must be indicated by a suitable warning

sign taken from paragraph 3.2 of Schedule II to these regulations, or marked

as provided in section I of Schedule III to these regulations unless the

labelling of the individual packages or containers is adequate for the

purpose.

If there is no equivalent warning sign in paragraph 3.2 of Schedule II to

these regulations to warn about hazardous chemical substances or mixtures,

the relevant hazard pictogram, as laid down in Annex V to Regulation (EC)

No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council.