Category: Guides

Having a well-structured and understood fire safety strategy in place is vital to protecting your employees, visitors and guests. Fire Extinguishers offer a means to put out small fires or keep danger at bay until the professionals arrive. In your business, these tools offer a feeling of confidence, security and reassurance. And, having the right signage to accompany each one ensures they are used correctly and are preventative, rather than an accelerant in the event of an emergency. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Fire Extinguisher Signs.

The purpose of fire extinguishers in business?

Providing ample fire safety equipment is just one way that businesses can work to protect the health and safety of their employees. As part of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, they provide a safeguard, alongside items such as fire detectors and alarms. It is important to remember that fire extinguishers are only designed to tackle small fires. And, that their use is not compulsory by those who have not deemed the ‘responsible person’ in a business (this title is normally assigned to the landlord, property owner or appointed fire operative). Fire extinguishers are an effective way to contain small fires in many environments. However, their use needs to be backed by the right education and support, allowing the individual to use them safely and appropriately in any environment.

Legal obligations with fire extinguishers

We mentioned the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 above which provides guidance to commercial properties for the availability and use of fire-fighting equipment. It states that businesses are required to assign a dedicated Responsible Person to oversee the management of fire safety risk. This includes carrying out risk assessments, identifying the need for safety signs and/or equipment and implementing a fire management plan.

Fire extinguisher categories

In the UK, we have a clear categorical way of identifying different types of flammable materials and the fire extinguishers that should be used to fight related fires. The 6 fire-involved substances currently are:

1. Class A – Combustible carbon-based solids. These include materials such as fabrics, textiles and paper.
2. Class B – Flammable liquids. These include diesel, oils (non-cooking), petroleum.
3. Class C – Flammable gases. These include methane, propane or butane.
4. Class D – Burning metals. These include magnesium and aluminium.
5. Class F – Fats and cooking oils.
6. Electric Spark – These include fires caused by electrical equipment.

To pair with these, the fire extinguishers manufactured here in the UK are separated into corresponding categories:

1. Class A Fire Extinguishers – water, foam, dry powder, wet chemical, water.
2. Class B Fire Extinguishers – water mist, C02, certain wet chemicals, dry powder and foam.
3. Class C Fire Extinguishers – water mist and dry powder.
4. Class D Fire Extinguishers – specialist dry powder.
5. Class F Fire Extinguishers – wet chemical and water mist.
6. Electrical Fire Extinguishers – foam, C02 and water mist.

Your exact needs will depend on the results of your risk assessment. You are legally obligated to have a minimum of 2 x Class A Fire Extinguishers installed on every floor of a commercial property. The only exception here is if the property is very small.

Fire Extinguisher Safety Signs

As with all safety equipment, visibility should be prioritised during installation. Your fire extinguishers need to be positioned in an accessible and well-lit location with safety signs accompanying them. These signs need to indicate their availability and highlight the type of extinguisher they are. A risk assessment will identify the right class for your business. For example, catering or hospitality businesses are more likely to deal with fires caused by fats and cooking oils than they are with those caused by flammable gases.

The dangers of using the wrong fire extinguisher

Using the right fire extinguisher is more important than you may think. Not all fires are fuelled by the same materials and the wrong chemical reaction can accelerate the emergency in question. For example, C02 fire extinguishers (such as those in Class B and or electrical fires) release a 10-15 seconds burst of C02 which is used to suffocate fires. It does this by drawing in all of the oxygen, which can increase the risk of asphyxiation. C02 extinguishers should also never be used on a chemical fire, as this could cause a violent explosion and increase the risk of injury or death.

Minimise injury risk with the right sign

The right safety sign will provide all the information needed to give the users confidence in their actions. They work with the rest of your health & safety efforts and will better reduce the risk of injury in the event of a fire. At Lasting Impressions, we have a range of signs that provide clear, concise and easy-to-understand information. All of these are designed in accordance with ISO 7010 – a standardised process of using logos and signs for ease of understanding.

We currently have options for:

• Water-Fire Extinguishers
• C02 Fire Extinguishers
• AFF Foam Fire Extinguishers
• Foam Spray Fire Extinguishers
• Powder Fire Extinguishers
• Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers
• Hydro-Spray Fire Extinguishers
• Water + Additive Fire Extinguishers
• L2 Powder Extinguishers

There are a variety of different styles available too. From detailed and educational signs that provide guidance on the type of fire, each extinguisher is safe as well as simple symbol options. Depending on the depth of information that is needed, how fast your staff turnover is and the details discovered during your risk assessment, we’ll find the right fire extinguisher sign to accompany your equipment.

We also have a specialist team on hand to answer any questions or queries you may have. Installing safety signs in your workplace plays a key role in your legal obligation and the management of employee satisfaction. If you would like to speak to a member of our team to gain a clearer understanding of how to best do this, please get in contact with us here today.

Prioritising safety in the workplace falls under the remit of the business manager/owner. It is your legal obligation to ensure that the right safety signs, safety equipment and measures are in place to either eliminate or reduce risk. A comprehensive risk assessment will help you to do this but there are other factors to consider when creating a strategy designed to support your health & safety measures. A safety sign audit is one way to identify whether your current system is working or whether adaptations are needed. In this guide, we’ll discuss whether it’s time to put one into action.

What is a safety sign audit?

An audit is an unbiased and overlooking assessment of the safety measures put into place in a business. It helps you to better understand what aspects are working, which ones need to be removed and how to better improve the risk-reducing measures you’ve put into place. Audits go hand-in-hand with other annual assessments of your business – ones designed to create safe, productive and thriving environments for both customers and employees.

Why is it important for your business?

As companies expand and grow, their demands change. Environments that could have been well-managed with one sign become too complex, with multiple activities occurring at any given point. Employee numbers grow, staff turnover increases and the general knowledge within the business changes. Updates to safety legislation also have an impact on existing safety set-ups – where you may once have abided by all recommendations, the business may now fall short.

It is important to analyse, audit and review your safety activities on a yearly basis to ensure you remain compliant with legal guidelines. And, an audit is an all-encompassing and effective way to do this.

Carrying out a safety audit – our tips

As with a risk assessment, there is no legal structure as to how this should take place. What you must do is create a logical way to record your findings so they can be reviewed at a later date. You will also make note of any challenges you’ve encountered and the suggested measures to minimise these. Here are some of our top tips when it comes to auditing your business and focusing on your safety signs.

Start from outside

Safety signs aren’t just relevant inside of the building. Many hazards are specific to outdoor environments on your business land, including those in parking spaces and presented on outdoor walkways. You will need to establish how significant of a risk these are and how to manage them. For example, if you receive a lot of deliveries throughout the day, you may need to consider signs such as the ‘No Vehicles Beyond This Point Sign’ to manage the flow of traffic. Or the ‘Caution Heavy Vehicles Turning Ahead’ sign to reduce the risk to pedestrians.

Consider too how visible your existing signs are. Have they become worn or aged over time? Can the information printed on them still be read easily? Do you need to look into solutions for low-light corners of your car park or walkways? We recommend that external signs be manufactured from our 1mm rigid plastic to provide added durability against varying weather conditions. And it is important to install them at eye height and close to the hazard in question to minimise the chance of misunderstanding.

Check all walkways

The most common types of hazards involve slips, trips and falls. And, the most hazardous places within businesses where these happen are in walkways. It pays to review all corridors, hallways and paths throughout your business, as well as non-structured paths that are frequented often. Organising the flow of traffic is a brilliant way to bring structure and can easily be done with Directional Signs. They provide clear information to employees, visitors and guests, advising them of one-way systems or traffic moderation methods that exist across your business.

Again, take note of low-light conditions. Walkways can be an essential tool when leaving the building in an emergency. Therefore, you may wish to consider Photoluminescent designs. These specialist surfaces absorb the energy from both natural and artificial light throughout the day. In the event of a power cut or blackout, they emit a green glow that allows the information to be read and directions to be understood. These are an effective alternative to installing additional lighting.

Consider fire safety

Fire safety signs are some of the most important in your business. They are essential in all businesses, playing a key role in your legal responsibility and helping to keep people safe in the event of an emergency. We have written a blog post all about UK Fire Exit Regulations here and a blog post about ‘How To Create a Fire Escape Plan For Your Business’ here. During your safety sign audit, review whether the measures you have in place work. When carrying out a routine fire safety drill, were employees able to leave the building in an organised and safe manner to find their meeting point? Did the fire safety signs in place do their job effectively or were some individuals left confused about the best means to exit?

Consider education/training

It is important to look at the state, positioning and usability of the safety signs in your workplace. But, it is equally as important to consider the training and education put in place for employees. UK safety signs are designed to be universally understood – specifically those manufactured in accordance with ISO 7010. However, you still need to ensure that people understand how they’re supposed to be used to get the best results. It helps to explain the individual hazards, the reasons why certain measures are put into place and to gain an understanding from them as to whether any issues haven’t been addressed.

A safety sign audit should give you a better understanding of how well your business is handling the challenges posed to it with the right signage. If you would like support or advice on carrying one out or identifying signs for different hazards, please get in touch with the team here today.

Safety in the workplace is incredibly important, whether you run a high-risk business or just want to make employees feel comfortable. Over the years, closed-circuit television or CCTV has continued to increase in popularity. Technology has become more available and, even the smallest businesses and premises, can now afford to have CCTV installed around the workplace. But, when does this become essential? And, are there any legal requirements that state you must have it installed? Read our latest guide to discover more.

What is CCTV

Also known as video surveillance, CCTV is a system of networks with cameras and recording equipment. It is used to monitor a building and its surroundings 24/7 with recorded images and audio available for download as needed. They are known as ‘closed circuit’ systems, as they operate independently from other receivers and offer a private means of monitoring. Generally, these systems make use of high-end surveillance cameras that feature lenses designed to improve the image quality, even in low-light conditions or at night time.

Why Is it Important for Business?

Reports have shown that having a CCTV system fitted on business premises can reduce certain types of crime. Many business owners, especially those with smaller or private companies, cannot afford the loss or damage that can come from a burglary or theft. The financial implications this entails, as well as the threat to downtime and the impact it can have on the mental health of employees, can be devastating. Private CCTV systems have risen in popularity as a result with private cameras said to outnumber public cameras by as much as 70 to 1.

Having one of these systems in place can:

• Help you to ‘witness’ a crime for yourself.
• Provide evidence during a court case to strengthen the fight for a conviction.
• Make it easier to identify the individuals who caused the damage.
• Provide eyes on ‘hidden’ areas around the property.
• Be used more widely as a neighbourhood crime deterrent too.
• Provides a view of your property when it is empty.
• Provide a means of monitoring a property that is cheaper than hiring security staff.
• Helps to reduce the risk of fraudulent insurance claims.
• Offers a level of protection for your employees.

CCTV can also be used to monitor employees if required. For example, if you believe someone to be stealing from or not following the proper rules while you’re not on-site, this monitoring system can be used to prove or disprove your case. There are a multitude of reasons why you may choose to install a CCTV system.

Do I Need to Have It?

There are many legal requirements you need to follow when starting a business. And, if you’re doing so out of your pocket or with limited funds, paying out for a CCTV system may be one of those costs you’re wondering if you can eliminate. In the UK and to date, there are no legal regulations in place that state that you have to have a surveillance system in place. The choice is entirely up to you as to whether you feel like this is a vital addition to the business or whether you can afford to leave it for a while.

If you do choose to have CCTV installed, you must make sure that you follow the data protection laws and use the system only for the purpose it was intended. You will need to register your details with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and pay a data protection fee unless you are exempt.

And, on top of this, you will need to:

• Implement a system to control who has access to the recordings.
• Use safety signs appropriately to tell people that they are being recorded.

How to Install it Safely in the Workplace

If you decide that CCTV surveillance is essential in the workplace, you will need to:

• Make sure all employees and visitors are alerted to the fact that they are being recorded.
• Ensure that cameras are not installed in private areas of the workplace where there is an expectation of privacy, such as toilets or changing rooms.
• Provide access to anyone who requests footage from your cameras within one month.
• Appoint a dedicated person within the business who is responsible for the management, storage and review of the footage taken.

It also pays to make sure you stick within other legal guidelines and take into account the risks associated with installing CCTV.

Think about:

• Will the installation of CCTV cause damage to employee trust? This can be overcome by training sessions to explain the implementation of these systems and guidance on the benefits it will offer, such as more job security.
• Whether your system will become an infringement on GDPR. You will need to maintain high levels of security around the personal data that is collected and should only be kept for a designated period. Actions must be taken to prevent unauthorised access and safety signs must be used to make sure employees and visitors are fully aware.
• Is CCTV surveillance in any way overly intrusive? Be aware of the Human Rights Act 1998 and make sure that none of the cameras or footage extracted could be violating the privacy of your employees.

How Can Safety Signs Help?

As we’ve mentioned above, you need to make sure that everyone is aware that they are being monitored. Safety signs are an effective way to do this, giving clear and legible information to both visitors and employees. The implementation of ISO 7010 has ensured that the logos, colours and messages used on modern-day signs can be read and understood universally, eliminating the risk of miscommunication.

At Lasting Impressions, we have a wide selection of CCTV related signs to help you with this. From our CCTV in Operation Security Sign and our CCTV Images Are Being Recorded Security Sign with fillable fields for contact information and management title. We have a variety of choices to suit your business, in both landscape and portrait, as well as numerous sizes and both self-adhesive vinyl and 1mm rigid plastic.

For more information about installing CCTV safely in the workplace or to speak to a member of our team, please do get in contact here today.

Lifts provide easy access to various levels within your business. Whether reserved for use by employees or open to the public, there are legal regulations in the UK to help mitigate the risks involved. And, as the business owner or appointed responsible person, it’s vital that you understand these conditions and take the necessary actions to make sure you abide by them. Keeping visitors and employees safe at all times is of the utmost importance. In this guide, we’ll walk you through UK law and how to make sure your lifts are the safest they can be.

Difference Between Passenger and Workplace Lifts

There are two types of lifts to consider when assessing safety – lifts used in the workplace and passenger lifts. Those used by employees to complete their job will need to meet the requirements of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER). These include mobile elevated working platforms and all relevant equipment used to lift people to a height. Their use needs to be appropriately planned and supervised by someone who is deemed to be ‘competent’ and must undergo regular examinations by a qualified technician to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Passenger lifts are those that have not been designed to be used by people at work. These include platform lifts that take customers to different floors, for example. They are vital to the running of your business and required to ensure that access is easy. And, therefore, it is the responsibility of the business to make sure they are properly maintained and safe for use at all times.

Legislations and Regulations for Passenger Lifts

There are several laws and regulations here in the UK that govern the use of lifts for the general public.

These include:

• LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) 1998.
• Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.
• Lift Regulations 2016.

LOLER

While the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations are designed to cover work-based lifting equipment., certain clauses in them apply to the management, maintenance and supply of lifts to the general public. Following these regulations, you need to ensure that the lifting equipment provided is strong, stable and suitable for use by the intended audience. It needs to be positioned and installed in a way that minimises any potential risks and must be used safely by every operator. The lift must also be subjected to regular examination and inspection to ensure it remains in good working order. This includes regular servicing and service reports to present, if required, as a means to show compliance.

Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008

These regulations apply to all machinery and lifting accessories. They sit alongside section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 puts the responsibility for safe design and construction on the manufacturer. The Supply of Machinery regulations put strict requirements for safety on every new item of machinery, including lifts, that are supplied. This includes ‘machines’ that aren’t powered by manual effort as well as many forms of lifting equipment.

To abide by these regulations, manufacturers must:

• Be thoroughly tested and meet the requirements for health and safety set out.
• Be accompanied by a technical file.
• Be fully assessed by a relevant body.
• Be issued with a Declaration of Conformity.
• Have a CE marking to show its compliance with other legal requirements.

Lift Regulations 2016

While these regulations apply to manufacturers and suppliers of lifts in the UK, they are a means for your business to identify a safe option for your business. It sets out the scope at which life should be designed, manufactured, installed and tested to ensure it sits in compliance with the regulations. It also explains the requirement for a Declaration of Conformity alongside a UKCA marking and information about the registered business. This regulation applies to both passenger and goods lifts.

The Importance of Servicing Your Lifts

As with any machinery in the workplace, having a structured servicing and maintenance schedule is vital for your lifts. While there are many systems in place to eliminate significant risks, poorly maintained lifts can still experience issues like electrical failure. In some instances, this can cause problems related to lighting, ventilation and door control. Well maintained and serviced lifts minimise these risks and help to extend its operational life and help reduce the risk of high-cost repairs in the future.

Most passenger lifts should be serviced twice per year. In high-use environments or by the manufacturer’s recommendations, you may need to increase this to 3 times a week to help optimise the running of your lift. Choosing an experienced company will ensure this is as thorough and complete as possible to eliminate significant risks.

Safety Signs and Lifts

As with risk reduction efforts across the workplace, safety signs can be effectively used to manage and mitigate potential hazards during the use of passenger lifts. For example, our Reduced Headroom signs act as a visual warning of a dropped ceiling within a loft, working to avoid heat-related injuries by all users. In the event of a fire and to prevent electrical shut-down and the related complications, our range of In Event of Fire, Avoid These Lifts provide a clear warning to direct people down the stairs instead. For potentially dangerous environments, we also stock ‘caution signs including ‘Unauthorised Access Prohibited’ and ‘Danger of Falling’ signs too. With universal logos, colours and messages under ISO 7010, these signs are recognised as being universally understandable. In fitting them in highly visible locations and next to the identified risk, you are making efforts to minimise the risk of injury.

Here at Lasting Impressions, we bring together a wide variety of safety signs to meet the needs of businesses and organisations alike. If you cannot find what you’re looking for or have any questions to ask, please get in contact with the team here today.

Car garages are bustling environments, full of machinery and high foot traffic. As such, they pose a unique range of hazards to both the employees and those visiting. As the owner or manager, it is your role to manage these risks and implement the right procedures to reduce the chance of accidents.

In this guide, we’ll delve into garage safety and how to find the right sign to minimise these risks too.

Why are Garages Dangerous?

Here in the UK, the automotive industry is estimated to employ somewhere in the region of 100,000 people. With 75% of adults over 17 holding a full driving license and over 200,000 cars breaking down every year, it’s no surprise that mechanics are some of the busiest professionals within this industry. And, as such, car garages remain busy, hazardous and dangerous places.

The most common hazard posed here include:

• Manual handling.
• Slips, trips and falls.
• Use of machinery.
• Use of hazardous substances.

Manual Handling

Lifting and carrying heavy items, such as replacement car components or liquids are some of the most common non-fatal injuries recorded by the HSE. This includes using bodily force to push, pull or handle materials that may not just be heavy, but awkwardly shaped too.

Slips, Trips and Falls

One of the most common injuries in the workplace, slips, trips and falls are prominent in the motor vehicle repair industry. The most hazardous culprits are uneven flooring, spilt liquids, accessing raised storage areas and poor housekeeping.

Use of Machinery

Fitting and repairing different automobile components can result in serious injuries and, in some instances, fatalities. This includes things like vehicle jacks, cranes, air compressors, jump starts, car ramps and oil fluid extractors.

Use of Hazardous Substances

Consider flammable chemicals such as petrol, oils and cleaning chemicals. Without the right precautions, these can prevent fire hazards as well as increasing the risk of slipping if they are split and not cleaned instantly.

Why is a Risk Assessment Vital?

There are hazards in every working environment. And, car garages are no exception. Risk assessments are part of your legal obligations to workplace safety. They are a formal assessment of the working environment to help identify hazards, understand your ability to eliminate them and implement precautions to minimise these as much as possible. A well-carried out risk assessment has the potential to save lives, help avoid costs associated with poor risk management and help to reduce a company’s legal liability.

In garage environments, they help you to identify the risks and hazards that are unique to your specific environment. For example, larger-scale garages are likely to have more equipment and higher foot traffic to contend with. Smaller garages may not have so many people through the doors, but the compact foot space could make tripping, slipping and poor housekeeping more of a prominent risk. These assessments will help you to understand where in your garage the risks are most prominent as well as open up a conversation for discussion with your employees that empowers them to speak about their concerns.

How to Choose the Right Safety Sign?

Once you have carried out an appropriate risk assessment, you’ll have a better understanding of where the most prominent hazards are. Where possible, you should try to eliminate the risk quickly. For some environments, this will mean offering additional training or replacing unsafe machinery. In others, it may mean coming up with new methods to complete certain tasks. There are also many situations where it is impossible to remove the risk entirely. In these instances, you need to take preventative and protective measures to manage the chance of accidents. Consider actions such as providing PPE, additional training or utilising safety signs.

The right sign will guide what actions to take to prevent injury. In garages, they remind employees of previously taught behaviours and offer information to temporary visitors (such as your customers). There are warning, information and order signs for garages.

Warning Signs

Yellow warning signs for garages are yellow with a black triangle and clearly legible writing. As the name suggests, they warn the reader of a potential hazard.

Such examples that you may need to consider include:

• Warning Moving Vehicles Sign
• Caution Compressed Gas Sign
• Warning High-Pressure Tyre Inflation Sign
• Danger Battery Charging In Progress

Information Signs

Used to provide clear information to employees and customers, these signs provide information to help maintain good health and safety. They can be positioned close to the hazard or in highly visible locations to make sure as many people as possible have the opportunity to read them.

Examples to consider include:

• Customer Parking Sign
• MOT Viewing Area
• Safe Working Load 2.0 Tonnes Sign
• In The Interests Of Health & Safety Garage Sign

Order Signs

These signs provide a direct order, used to manage behaviours that could end in injury or accidents. They are generally red and white with a circle and a line through the explanative image. As part of your risk assessment, you’ll be able to identify the actions that will minimise risks. And, the right safety signs can be used to easily convey these orders/messages to employees and customers alike.

For example, you may wish to consider:

• Do Not Use Mobile Phones Sign
• No Entry Signs / Spraying In Progress
• No Smoking / No Naked Lights Sign

Using Safety Signs in a Garage

Once you have identified the best garage safety sign for your business, you need to consider how to use them appropriately. Make sure you don’t overwhelm a location with signs as messages can become complicated. Install them at eye height and in places where they’re unlikely to become blocked. And, implement a maintenance schedule that includes wiping the surface of your safety signs down to prevent the images and words from becoming covered by dirt.

At Lasting Impressions, we specialise in the design and manufacture of safety signs for every working environment. If you cannot find what you’re looking for, we also have a Design a Sign service for custom orders. And, our specialised team is always on hand to offer advice and recommendations. Get in contact today to make garage safety a priority for your business.

Here in the UK, the hospitality industry ranks 4th largest, with over 3.2 million jobs through direct employment. For business owners in this sector, there is a wide range of unique demands when it comes to health and safety. Not only are you responsible for the well-being of your employees but you also need to manage the safety of guests, visitors and even contractors to your site. Necessary to the legal runnings of your business, hotel safety needs to be at the forefront of your priorities. This is why we have pulled together the following guide to help you identify the best means to keep everyone safe, happy and well during their stay.

The Importance of a Risk Assessment

To clearly understand what measures you need in place for the safety of employees and guests, a detailed risk assessment is vital. This process of evaluation allows you to identify, evaluate and implement measures to prioritise safety and health. It is an examination of all aspects of a hotel’s runnings and daily activity to identify what actions could cause harm, whether these risks can be eliminated or what preventative measures can be put into place.

While risk assessments form a vital part of all corporate health & safety, there is a unique demand for them in hotels. As well as considering those risks to employees (who can be trained and educated on how to prevent them), you also need to manage the hazards posed to guests. These temporary visitors will likely have limited knowledge of the runnings of your business or the unique procedures your management team have put into place. Therefore, the protective measures that you will need to implement as a result need to be less dependent on prior knowledge and more focused on providing clear, easy-to-digest and understandable directions.

To consider health and safety in a hotel, you must assess:

• Fire Safety.
• Housekeeping.
• Catering Safety.

Fire Safety

Here in the UK, two main legislations cover fire safety in the workplace – The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It requires you to keep your premises in line with the current standards and ensure that all employees are provided with adequate fire safety training. Hotels must carry out a fire risk assessment which ensures all necessary factors are taken into account, such as fire doors installed and used necessarily, trip hazards are minimised and appropriate measures are taken to eliminate hazardous situations.

Staff training is also vital when it comes to fire safety. All employees need to be made aware of how to identify and report fire risks. They should also have full training on where the existing fire escape routes are, where the nearest exit is and how to find the nearest assembly point. The Fire Safety Order in the UK states that there should be a responsible person in charge of fire safety compliance who may also act as the fire marshall during an evacuation. The right safety signs will help you to ensure that this evacuation route is clearly legible and understandable to all – employees and guests alike.

Consider the following fire safety signs:

• Fire Extinguisher ID Signs – To identify which fire extinguisher is available and what type of fire it is safe to use it with.
• Fire Action Signs – To provide information to passers-by as to what to do in the event of an emergency and what actions not to take.
• Fire Equipment Signs – To direct individuals towards the array of fire safety equipment available at your hotel.
• Fire Exit Signs – To help you visually create a safe and easy-to-follow evacuation route in the event of a fire.
• Assembly Point Signs – To make it easy to identify the nearest assembly point, in the event of an emergency.
• Fire Door Signs – To ensure fire doors are kept shut and not wedged open.
• Refuge Point Signs – To help those who are less able identify where to wait in the event of a fire.
• Door Safe Condition Signs – To help guests and employees know how to use a door safely.
• Glow In The Dark Signs – To ensure fire information is available even in the event of a blackout or power cut.

The right fire safety sign for your hotel will depend on the information you’ve pulled from your risk assessment.

Housekeeping

Trip and slip hazards are some of the most common in workplaces here in the UK. And, this risk becomes heightened in hotels where there is high foot traffic. Constant deliveries, luggage from guests and movement from goods around the hotel can increase the risk of bad housekeeping – especially when instructions are not clearly given. Equally, consider the hazards posed by your kitchen or catering environment – spills and food soils can increase the slipping risk significantly too.

Good housekeeping is easy to maintain with both clear training and safety signs. You want to make sure that there are dedicated places for waste and refuge, and that employees follow these procedures exactly. Regular training will help to reinforce this message while good visual signs will make it easy to digest this information at all times.

For example, you may want to consider:

• Place All Rubbish In Bins Provided General Sign – To ensure waste is disposed of appropriately.
• WRAP Recycling Signs – To help support your hotel recycling activities.
• General Recycling Signs – To continue supporting recycling activities.

Again, the right housekeeping signs for your hotel will depend on the risk assessment findings.

Catering Safety

Restaurants and catering environments pose a host of hazards that can be particularly dangerous to your employees. There is an increased risk of slips and trips due to liquids, fire hazards related to machinery, chemical hazards from cleaning materials and burns from hot foods. Be cautious You also need to be aware of overcrowding which is an easy scenario to find yourself in when you account for everyone from the chefs through to individual waiters.

Alongside more continuous training, catering safety signs are an effective way to manage these risks without putting people at risk.

For example, consider signs such as:

• Work Safely With Cookers & Ovens Sign
• Use Knives Safely
• Dangerous Machine Sign
• Caution Very Hot Water
• Oven Safety Sign
• Food Safety Checklist Sign
• Prevent Cross-Contamination Sign

Alongside these key points, it also pays to be aware of both car park safety and movement between floors (such as lift safety). At Lasting Impressions, we design and manufacture safety signs to suit all businesses, especially those within the hospitality industry. If you cannot find the sign you’re looking for, consider designing your own. Or, getting in contact with the team here to see if we can advise you in the right way too.

Helping your business to abide by UK laws and legislations, the right safety signs will help to convey important messages. They act as a reinforcement, backing up the training you have provided. And, when used appropriately, they can actively reduce the chance of accidents and injuries. Considering the best type of safety sign for your business should be based on a risk assessment. And, alongside choosing the right sign for your message, it is also vital that you take into account safety sign placement.

Why Is Placement So Important?

There’s no denying that having the right safety signs is the most important consideration. Taking into account the unique hazards in your workplace, you need signs that help to inform, advise and warn onlookers. They should be understandable to everyone – from the employees that you have the tools to train through to the general public. And, they need to pass on an easy-to-understand message that isn’t confused with other directions in the local area.

Ticking all of these boxes will put you on the best footing for reducing the risk of hazards and accidents in the workplace. But, if your signs cannot be seen or easily read, the message will get lost. This is why safety sign placement is so important. The right signs are great – but having them in a clear and easy-to-see location ensures the message gets across.

Things To Consider When Installing Safety Signs

Once your risk assessment has flagged up the messages you need to convey in different environments, you need to consider where to install these signs. Visually assess the surrounding area and ask yourself:

• Can these signs be easily seen, even in an emergency?
• Can they be placed at eye level?
• Are there any regular obstacles or obstructions that may prevent them from being read easily?
• How well illuminated does the current light situation keep these signs?
• Could the signs still be read and seen easily in low light conditions?
• How consistent is your cleaning schedule and will it be adjusted to accommodate your new safety signs?
• What surfaces do you need to install the sign on?
• How exposed will the sign be to elements such as harsh weather conditions or chemicals?
• Can all of the fonts on the signs be easily read from a distance?

Safety signs, while designed to be hardwearing, need to be properly maintained and used in the right environment. They should be easy to see, even if individuals are walking past them in a rush. And, there should be backup lighting considered to help during times of low light or power cuts.

Where Should You Place Your Safety Signs?

Safety sign placement is unique to every working environment. A risk assessment identifies where a hazard exists in the business. Safety signs provide the guidance to reduce or eliminate this.

Therefore, they should be:

• Installed close to the hazard in question.
• Make sense in the surrounding environment.
• Not be conflicting with other safety signs in the area.

Viewing Distance

You need to take into account how easily the font on the signs can be read. To do this, it pays to consider viewing distance. This is the recommended installation height to keep information clear. It relates to the size of the safety sign and the location in which they are fitted.

At Lasting Impressions we recommend the following viewing distances:

• For 300mm x 100mm signs – Up to 10m.
• For 450mm x 150mm signs – Up to 15m.
• For 600mm x 200mm signs – Up to 20m.

In regards to installation height, we recommend:

Above Doors – 2m – 2.5m from the floor level to the base of the sign.

Directional Wall Fixed Signs – 1.4m x 1.7m from the floor level to the base of the sign.

Safety Sign Materials

Taking into account what a safety sign is manufactured out of also helps to dictate where they can be installed.

Here at Lasting Impressions, we use 4 different materials:

• Self-adhesive Vinyl – These flexible gloss signs are best affixed to smooth, clean interior surfaces.
• 1mm Rigid Plastic – These rigid signs are ideal for external use.
• Photoluminescent Plastic – These glow-in-the-dark signs are perfect for low light conditions or environments where blackouts are commonplace.
• Alupanel – These aluminium composite signs are also suited to outdoor use.

Lighting

You need to have the right available lighting to ensure signs can be read. In most working environments and during the daytime, it is easy to assume that information can be readily absorbed and seen. However, during the evenings or even in an emergency, power cuts can cause issues. This may prevent information from being safely read and mean that the existing hazard is less able to be avoided.

There are two ways to prioritise lighting in low light conditions:

• Back-Up Lighting – Choose to have battery-powered or solar-powered lights that work, regardless of drops in mains electricity.
• Glow-In-The-Dark Signs – Alternatively, opt for photoluminescent signs that absorb the energy from natural light during the day. When the light drops, they emit a strong glow that makes the information easy to read and highlights the locations of signs at the same time.

How Lasting Impressions Can Help?

Here at Lasting Impressions, we are leaders in the design, manufacture and supply of quality safety signs for businesses. Our extensive range includes everything from fire safety signs and construction safety signs to workplace safety signs and first aid safety signs. We also provide the option to design your own sign, choosing the logos, colours and wording that best conveys your message. And, our specialist team is on hand to support you throughout your entire process, ensuring you have the right tools at your disposal.

If you would like to speak to one of us, cannot find the sign you’re looking for or simply need advice, please do get in contact with us here today.

Research from the HSE has found that approximately 1,000 workplace accidents are caused by an electric shock or burn every year. And, an estimated 30 of these are fatal. In 2015/16, 1380 fatalities or injuries were reported as a cause of electrical fires. The use of electricity is something that we are all heavily exposed to every single day. Few businesses can operate without devices, machinery and equipment powered by electricity. And, this is why electrical safety is so important. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know.

Why Is Electricity So Dangerous?

Because we use electricity every single day, it’s easy to become complacent with our knowledge of its dangers. Direct contact with electricity can cause serious damage to the human body. An electric shock may simply feel like a sizzle on the skin. Or, in worst-case scenarios, it can directly impact the natural workings of your lungs and heart. Electrical burns, heart attacks and interference with the nervous control system are all complications you can expect. There is also the secondary issue of accidents occurring because of electrical shocks. For example, if these happen while working at height, it increases the chance of falls, trips and slips.

The main reason why it becomes so dangerous in the workplace is that it cannot be avoided. Many essential workplace tasks are powered by electricity. This is why employers must take the necessary precautions to significantly minimise or eliminate the hazards linked to electricity usage. The good news is that these precautions are simple and can be implemented quickly.

UK Regulations For Electrical Safety In The Workplace

There are several laws and legislation in place to protect employees from electrical-based injuries. Some are relevant to specific environments – such as those where exposure to highly explosive materials is commonplace. Others cover every working setting, from the office through to agricultural businesses.

The Electricity at Work Regulations

Established in 1989, The Electricity at Work Regulations legislation applies to all aspects of electricity use in the workplace. It states that there are numerous responsibilities for employers, employees and self-employed individuals to help actively reduce the risk of danger. These duties include:

• Having electrical installations that are designed to reduce risk.
• Having a regular and reliable maintenance schedule to keep electrical equipment in good working order.
• Enlisting the support of professional NICEIC approved electrical surveyors to carry out any required works.
• Ensure that any electrical equipment used in extreme weather, temperatures or corrosive conditions is properly constructed and suitable for the application.
• Ensure that all employees have the relevant training, information, experience and supervision to use the electrical equipment properly.

Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations

Replacing the Low Voltage Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1989, this legislation sets up the need for all electrical equipment to be safe for use. It applies to all electrical equipment that will be connected to the mains electrical supply. All items for use between 50-1000 volts (AC) or 75-1500 volts (DC) must be constructed in accordance with good engineering practices. It must conform to the existing regulatory safety objectives.

For the employer to abide by these regulations, they should choose electrical equipment with the UKCA mark.

Electrical Risk Assessments

With all hazards in the workplace, the employer must make sure an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out. Focusing on the electrical equipment present, it needs to:

• Identify each individual risk.
• Establish who could be harmed.
• Establish how likely the injury/accident is likely to occur.
• Identify whether the risk can be eliminated.
• If not, find and establish a measure that can be used to reduce the risk.

This assessment can take place as part of the comprehensive health & safety risk review. However, you need to consider electrical hazards individually as the measures required to reduce them will be unique.

Managing Electrical Safety In The Workplace

Understanding the risk associated with electrical equipment is one thing. Now you need to implement measures into your workplace that actively reduce the chance of accidents.

Here are our recommendations on how to get started with ensuring your electrical equipment is safe for use.

1. Carry Out A Risk Assessment. This should include developing and implementing measures to either eliminate or reduce the risk at hand.
2. Assess All Electrical Equipment To Ensure Its Suitability. Items that present a hazard should only be used for their intended purpose.
3. Make Sure The Environment Is Safe. Damp/wet environments, for example, pose unique hazards. You may need to consider reduced voltage machinery or using air-powered devices instead. If explosive materials are in the vicinity, there are also additional measures that need to be implemented.
4. Implement A Maintenance And Servicing Programme For All Electrical Installations. This will ensure each item is in full working order.
5. Identify The Type Of Electrical Supply You Have. You can do this with the support of a professional electrician. And, this information will help to ensure the equipment you use is suitable for use with your electricity supply.
6. Provide Full Training To Employees. This should be done regularly and updated with the latest advice to keep everyone safe.
7. Provide PPE, Where Required. You should also ensure all employees know how to use/wear this equipment and its purpose.
8. Install Relevant Electrical Safety Signs. These provide clear, concise and exact information to employees and temporary visitors to help identify hazards and promote safe working practices.

How Electrical Safety Signs Can Help To Reduce Accidents

Pre-emptive measures are always a better option than waiting for an accident to happen. Providing in-depth training is the best way to ensure all employees have the tools and knowledge needed to safely work with electricity. And, alongside these, the right safety signs provide prompts throughout the day to help reinforce the message.

Electrical warning signs help to identify areas where there is a risk of electrical danger. Those manufactured here at Lasting Impressions abide by ISO 7010, using universally recognisable logos and colours to ensure the message is clear. Your risk assessment will identify the locations throughout your workplace where visual prompts would reduce the risk of injury. This is where you should consider installing a safety sign.

For example, Main Switch Sign, Danger High Voltage and Danger Live Wires signs can all be used – either individually or in unison – to identify various hazards around the workplace. Temporary signs, like the Electric Fence Sign or Men Working On Electrical Circuits Line, provide guidance to non-employees. And all of our professional safety signs can be fitted both inside and out, depending on the hazards identified during your risk assessment. For more information or advice about implementing electrical safety signs into your workplace, please do get in contact with us here today.

Here in the UK, safety signs form a key role in the management of risk and hazards in the workplace. Understanding the different types and when they should be used is vital. Safe Condition signs are just one such type, but one that is used by a vast array of different industries. And, therefore, you must understand what they are and where they may be beneficial around the workplace. That’s what we’ll delve into in this guide here today.

What Are Safe Condition Signs?

Safe condition signs display the actions that can be taken to keep the reader and surrounding people safe during a certain situation. They can normally be followed to find safety – whether that be in the form of an escape route or an item of safety equipment. A number of these signs form part of your fire safety actions at work, providing clear directions to individuals in the event of a fire or alternative emergency. They are specifically designed to be bright, bold and easy to read from a distance – used during times of panic to help calm a situation and identify a solution at hand.

Here at Lasting Impressions, we have a wide range of safe condition signs that conform to EN ISO 7010:2012 and fit in with your business requirements easily.

How To Spot A Safe Condition Sign?

As we mentioned above, safe condition signs are designed to be highly visible. They are always green with a white pictogram that follows ISO 7010 standards. Many also feature a white border around the outside to help highlight their presence to onlookers. This colour combination has been chosen for its high contrast – ensuring that the desired message is conveyed to the reader.

Safe condition signs are largely used for fire safety. However, there are a multitude of designs available outside of these. On our website, we have a wide range of styles to choose from. Let’s take a look at some of these now:

Safe Water Condition Signs

In certain environments, such as hotels and the hospitality industry, guests must identify where fresh, safe drinking water is located. Our Drinking Water Signs perform this role easily, while Mains Water Tap signs act as identification for engineers or repair professionals. You can also find Emergency Eye Wash signs that indicate the water is safe and clean enough for first aid use as well as Emergency Stop signs for more pressing situations.

Emergency Contact Condition Signs

In the event of an emergency where other professionals are needed, the Emergency Telephone Sign highlights devices that are directly linked to the services. If you have a more direct contact route, we also have Emergency Call Point Signs that can be situated next to panic buttons or direct response buttons.

Gas Safety Condition Signs

Being able to quickly turn off a gas supply can prevent an explosion or fire. The Main Switch Sign or Gas Shut Off Control Valve sign can both be used for this purpose, directing people to the right switch to reduce the risk of more service accidents.

In Case Of Emergency Condition Signs

Some fire alarms or fire safety equipment is kept locked away behind glass cabinets to prevent it from being inappropriately used outside of an emergency. Signs such as the In Case Of Fire Break Glass For Key sign or In Case Of Fire Break Glass Bolt To Open signs provide this vital information to anyone walking past in an easy to digest format.

Door Safe Condition Signs

Following UK law, commercial properties must have fire doors installed wherever they are deemed to protect in the event of a fire. For example, if you have a storeroom with flammable or hazardous goods, there will need to be a fire door. If you have multiple storeys within a property, you will need fire doors to barricade the stairwells. Fire doors are vital and there are numerous different types on the market to meet individual needs.

Door safe condition signs guide as to how to open a particular door in the event of a fire. For example, the Push Bar To Open Sign or Push Pad To Open Sign gives clear direction during times of panic or worry. You will also find options such as our This Door Is For Emergency Use Only Sign or the This Way Out Square Signs.

All of the signs listed above should be used in line with your other safety measures and as a means to reduce risk or hazards in the workplace.

Finding The Right Safe Condition Signs For Your Workplace

So, how do you know which safe condition signs your workplace needs? Before installing any signs or safety measures in the workplace, you must undertake a detailed risk assessment. This will identify all hazards and potential areas for injury around the workplace and help you decide on how to minimise the possibility of these happening. Where possible, you should always try to fully eliminate the hazard. However, when this would adversely impact your business or productivity, you must find means to significantly reduce it – which can be done through safety signs.

Once your risk assessment has been completed, it will flag up areas where these helpful signs can come in handy. And, from here, you will be able to determine which safe condition signs work best in your business. Always remember:

• Never overcrowd your signs as this can create a confusing message
• Aim to work with other trained professionals during the design and install of your signs to help identify any issues
• Opt for safe condition signs that are manufactured in the right material for your location
• Make sure you take into account viewing distance during installation to ensure the message can be read

How Can Lasting Impressions Help?

As leaders in the design and manufacture of quality safety signs for your business, Lasting Impressions is here to make sure you actively reduce the risk of accidents in the workplace. We have a highly skilled and experienced team on hand to provide guidance and advice, with the backing of over 250,000 signs in stock and 48 hour delivery times on many of our products. If you would like to speak to one of us today or have any questions, please do get in contact with us here.

For many businesses, the vehicles they have on-site or used by their employees are incredibly important. Perhaps they help staff members get to office space, ensuring productivity can be maintained regardless of location. Perhaps they help goods be delivered to the end customer while continuing the high levels of customer service your brand has become known for. Or, maybe they help your trained engineers get to each of their jobs quickly and efficiently. Whatever role vehicles play in your business, it is important to take their safety and security into consideration when opting for on-site signs. In this guide, we’ll cover what you need to know when choosing the right Vehicle Safety Sign for your business.

What Are Vehicle Security Signs?

As the name suggests, vehicle security signs are used to reduce the risk of theft or damage on vehicles. Under ISO 7010, they are designed to be highly visible with strongly contrasting colours and information that can be easily read. If your business is reliant on vehicles in any way, shape or form, they should be a consideration within your safety measures.

These signs are used to advise:

• Whether a vehicle has been left empty overnight, to discourage break-ins
• Potential thieves know that CCTV footage is in use within a certain vehicle
• Police and law enforcement that a vehicle may have potentially been stolen
• Employees or drivers not to leave any valuables inside the vehicle

Our range of vehicle security signs is manufactured from self-adhesive vinyl and printed with a yellow and black design.

Where Are They Used?

Due to the information that they provide, vehicle security signs should be placed inside or on the vehicle itself. This ensures that the relevant information is available at all times – no matter where the vehicle has been placed or parked. Because of the highly contrasting colour pallet used, they remain visible in most lower light conditions. And, the simple text-based design ensures that information is not confusing.

These signs are simple but can be highly effective. This is especially true when they are used alongside other security methods, including CCTV and additional floodlighting.

Are They Mandatory?

In the UK, there are certain safety signs required by law to keep a business compliant with current legislation. To date, vehicle security signs aren’t one of these. They are an optional solution for any corporate premises looking to optimise the safety of their vehicles overnight and when left unattended. While these signs aren’t mandatory, they are a cost-effective way to help reduce the risk of thefts and break-ins.

How To Choose The Right Vehicle Security Sign For Your Business

Before selecting any safety sign for your business, you must carry out a risk assessment. This detailed analysis of your workplace should identify where risks and hazards are present. You can then take this information and work out what measures you can put in place to eliminate or significantly reduce the risk in question. This could mean swapping to new machinery, implementing a new process structure or – as in this instance – using safety signs.

Before you purchase any vehicle safety signs, you need to perform a risk assessment. If the vehicles in your possession aren’t properly protected, it can cost your business significantly. Research from Verizon Connect reveals that fleet-based businesses lose out on an estimated £12,250 per year from stolen vehicles or equipment costs. Businesses with more than 100 vehicles could see these losses go as high as £21,000 in some situations. Lack of tracking or an inability to immobilise vehicles are two key reasons why many of these vehicles are never recovered. While you may not be in a position to invest in extreme tracking technology or added in-vehicle technology, safety signs exist as an effective deterrent.

Different Types Of Vehicle Security Style

Here at Lasting Impressions, we have several options available in this category. These include:

• No Tools Or Items Of Value Stored In-Vehicle Overnight
• No Power Tools Kept In-Vehicle Overnight
• Valuable Items Removed From Vehicle Overnight Sign
• CCTV Operating In This Vehicle Sign
• If This Vehicle Is Being Driven Between (Hours) Sign
• Do Not Leave Laptops ETC On Display In-Vehicle Sign
• Remove All Valuables And Lock Vehicles When Leaving Sign

Thankfully, the names of each of these signs are self-explanatory. Each one conveys a unique message that can be easily read by passers-by. Our signs come in two different sizes – 200 x 150mm and 300mm x 200mm so you can choose the most suitable option for your vehicle.

Make sure that you position these signs in clear view for all to see. The ideal positioning would be on a clean and dry dashboard.

How Can Lasting Impressions Help?

We are industry experts and leaders in the design, manufacture and supply of quality safety signs for every business. Over the years, we have developed a keen understanding of the many different hazards and risks presented in different businesses. Our range of vehicle security signs has been designed through this experience to ensure that there are options for all vehicles and company types. Whether you have 10 vehicles in your fleet or 10,000, the right deterrent safety signs can reduce the risk of your most vital equipment being stolen or broken.

All of our Vehicle Security Signs can be viewed online via our website, where you will also find a multitude of other safety signs for your business. We also have a Design A Sign service, giving you the flexibility to customise a design to fit your exacting needs. If you cannot find the sign you’re looking for, have a question or simply need to speak to a member of our team, please do get in contact here today.