Category: News

37% of all reported workplace injuries are due to a slip or a fall. As a business owner, you are responsible for ensuring the safety of your employees, guests and visitors by implementing the right precautions where needed. But how do you do that? And how do you identify these risks and put into place a way to minimise them?

What are the main causes of slips, trips and falls?

A risk assessment will help you to determine the areas in your workplace that pose the most significant problem. However, commonly, some of the most noted reasons for these types of accidents are:

• Uneven flooring.
• Unsuitable flooring.
• Wet/slippery flooring.
• Poor lighting.
• Poor housekeeping.

Addressing any number of these risk areas can significantly reduce injury in your workplace. And one of the ways to do so is through the appropriate use of signs in the workplace. Providing information to employees as to best practices and the right safety measures helps them to stay on top of hazards before they become more prominent.

What signs are available?

The sign type and design you choose will depend on the exact risk. However, there are a number of different options which, used alone or with others, will create a logical structure to your workplace safety.

Warning Slippery Surface Logo Sign

This warning sign alerts visitors to the possibility of a slippery surface. It is designed to make them aware of the possible need to change footwear or be cautious of each step.

Warning Trip Hazard Logo Sign

In the event of a possible trip hazard, this sign can be used to ensure visitors and employees have the information they need to prevent injury.

Anti-Slip Floor Signs

For temporary slipping hazards, the other option is a lightweight floor stand. These robust, plastic signs can be displayed as and when needed, in a variety of locations to give clear information to passers-by.

Lasting Impressions is passionate about providing high-quality safety signs, tailored to each environment. Our range is there to help you improve safety in the workplace while keeping in line with current regulations. Reducing slips, trips and falls will minimise the strain on your business, both financially and in terms of productivity. If you would like more information about our range of General Safety Signs, get in contact with the team here today.

Whether you own a large outdoor space or manage one publicly, having the right tools to manage its maintenance is important. It allows you to regulate the movement of animals and their owners, reducing the amount of waste and protecting the landscape from damage. And, while most people will be fully aware of their requirements when using this space, having the right signs will give peace of mind and reassurance that the right information is being shared.

Types of dog walking signs available

The type of sign needed for your outdoor environment will depend on any restrictions, requirements or previous activity that has taken place there. With all health & safety specifications, it’s important to do a risk assessment and identify any hazards that may occur. Perhaps a hidden area of your outdoor park is regularly used for dogs to foul in. Or maybe you find that dogs let off of their leads in another area put them at a greater risk of an accident. Knowing this information will ensure you provide and display the right signs in the right locations. The main dog signs available include:

• • Keep Dogs On A Lead

Even in the most dog-friendly parks, there may still be areas where it is safer for a dog to be kept on its lead. This could be due to the proximity to the main road, access to somebody else’s property or to give respite to park users who aren’t as dog-orientated. Clear instructional signs are the best way to get this message across. Place them on entrance ways and areas where dog walkers are likely to gain access to your space.

• • No Dogs In This Area

There will be places in your area where you wish to restrict access by dogs and their owners. This could be near restaurants, play areas or picnic corners. In these environments, you may consider hanging a ‘No Dogs In This Area’ sign in the entranceway or surrounding area. Some areas are more specific and state the area of restriction – for example, a playground area. Alternatively, they can just have a firm message to eliminate the presence of dogs in any given space.

• • Clean It Up

You would expect a responsible dog owner to take care of their pet’s waste and remove it from your site. However, some would rather turn a blind eye and walk away. This is where Clean It Up signs come into play. They offer a handy reminder that visitors are responsible for their animal’s waste and that it should be removed and properly disposed of. With many of these signs, there is space to personalize them with a maximum penalty message too, reinforcing the restriction to all users.

• • Guide Dog

There are some environments where general dogs won’t be admitted but guide dogs will. This is for the safety of the walker and is information that needs to be signposted clearly. In doing so, you prevent confusion and allow people to use your space freely.

• • Dogs Allowed

And, in some environments, dogs are welcomed in as part of the family. In this setting, a Dogs Allowed sign will inform owners and allow them to enjoy added amenities without worrying about their pet.

No matter what restrictions your outdoor space has or what information needs to be passed on to users of your facility, the right sign helps you to do this in a clear, concise way. Here at Lasting Impressions, we design and manufacture safety signs for all needs. If you would like more information about our dog signs, get in contact with our team here today.

Within any workplace, there are going to be risks. It’s part and parcel of running a business and having employees. However, it is the responsibility of the employer to take actions in order to minimise these. Mandatory safety signs are one such way this can be done effectively. Alongside other signs options including Fire Safety Signs and First Aid Signs, these designs pass across must-follow information to guests and employees. This blog will look at what signs fall into this category and how they should be used in different workplaces.

What are mandatory safety signs?

These blue and white signs have been designed to prescribe specific behaviours and/or give a specific direction. They are there to provide must-do information to visitors, guests and employees. Mandatory signs visually show the action that is required by all users in an attempt to minimise or eliminate the risk of injury. They form part of the four main types of safety signs and should be used in conjunction with these to offer clear guidance to anyone that enters your business.

What messages do they convey?

Depending on the industry in question, the precautions that need to be taken will differ. Mandatory signs are designed to meet all needs, with a variation of messages and designs available. Some examples of common options include:

• Use Hand Sanitiser – Informs people of the need to use proper hand washing/sanitising techniques in a designated location.
• Wear Ear Protectors – Informs people of the need to wear protective PPE for ears to prevent injury due to excessive noise.
• Eye Protection Must Be Worn – Informs people of the need to wear PPE for eyes to prevent injury from wayward flying particles or other threats in construction/manufacturing environments.
• Masks Must Be Work In This Area – Informs people of the need to wear masks in a designated area for the health & safety of everyone.

These are just a small selection of the types of mandatory signs available on the market. There are hundreds of options, all made to suit specific needs within a workplace.

How to establish if your business needs mandatory signs

As with all safety sign use, you need to first establish where the hazards are within your workplace. A risk assessment is the best way to do this. It allows you to take a walking tour of the premises, speak to employees and understand the locations where risk is high. These are the spots where safety signs come in handy. Our tips for this are:

• Identify the points of hazard or risk in an area.
• Establish whether there is a way to eliminate this risk entirely.
• If not, establish how this risk can be significantly reduced. This may be through a change in process, greater access to PPE or safety signs.
• If using signs, make sure to establish the clearest way to get a message across. Too many signs will have information crossing over and cause people to become confused. This will hinder any attempt to improve safety.
• Choose signs that are clear, abide by the ISO 7010 and can be installed on the surface required.
• Re-address your risk assessment regularly. Situations in workplaces are constantly evolving and you need to ensure the information you have isn’t out of date.

For more information on how mandatory safety signs can improve your workplace, get in contact with our team here today.

Reports from the HSE show that a staggering 79,000 workers suffered from work-related ill-health within the construction industry. Between 2018 and 2019, there were 30 fatal injuries with 49% being related to a fall from height, 14% due to being trapped and 11% due to being struck by a moving vehicle. Construction sites present a whole host of hazards that are unique to their environment. And, for this reason, it is vital that action is taken to minimise the risk of injury.

This blog will look at the ways in which safety signs are used to improve health and safety in these settings.

What regulations control signs and signals on construction sites?

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 was put in place to cover all workplaces, sites and premises. It is the regulations set out here that govern the need for safety signs on construction sites. Their use should always be in an attempt to reduce the risk of employees and others. The regulations state:

• Signs must be clear and legible
• Signs should be used to identify actions that are prohibited
• Signs should be used to safeguard dangerous activity and actions that must be followed
• Signs should be used to warn of specific hazards
• Signs should be used to direct individuals towards fire exits/equipment or fire-aid equipment
• The number of signs should be controlled so as not to cause confusion

While there are no direct rules regarding the number of or type of safety sign you need to have in place on construction sites, it is vital that information about risks are communicated. This information should be freely available and accessible to all workers. You also have a responsibility to protect the safety of all your employees, and safety signs help you do just that.

Hazards presented on construction sites

The most common hazards and risks presented in these unique settings are:

• Falls from height
• Impact from moving objects (vehicles, machinery etc)
• Slips, trips and falls
• Excessive noise
• Manual handling
• Supportive equipment collapse
• Electricity

In all of these settings, the right safety signs can be used to alert workers of the proper avoidance techniques.

Construction site safety signs

Safety signs work for a number of reasons. Firstly, they have a uniformed design as set out by EN ISO 7010. This improves comprehension and ensures information is clearly shared. Secondly, they act as a consistent reminder without the need for additional manual labour. Signs reinforce specific messages throughout the worker’s day, reminding them of the right actions they should be taken. Thirdly, safety signs are designed to be highly visible and hardwearing. This minimises excessive replacement costs and ensures they can be read, even in low light conditions.

Construction safety signs are no exception. And they help to ensure a site is compliant with current health and safety regulations. Scaffold Signs act as reassurance as to the stability and safety of supportive equipment. Noise Hazard Signs remind workers of the need for protective ear equipment in specified locations. Temporary Traffic & Site Works Signs ensure guests, workers and employees understand where the use of machines or vehicles may present a significant risk. There are also more comprehensive Construction Safety Signs and Multi-Hazard Scaffold Banners that combine information, warnings, direction and first aid information all into one.

No matter your need, there are safety signs designed to suit. If you would like any help sourcing the right sign for a specific location, get in contact with our team here today.

If you take a moment to consider the number of surfaces you are likely to touch on a daily basis in the workplace, the number is sure to add up. In fact, studies show that we touch our faces an average of 16 times an hour. With germs including coronavirus spread easily through physical contact, we are being advised that regular and thorough hand washing is one of the best ways to minimise contamination.

For business owners, this presents a new challenge. How do you ensure employees follow the new guidance rigidly? How do you actively protect their health while reinforcing the importance of this simple task? One highly effective way is through the use of safety signs – particularly those tailored towards appropriate hand hygiene.

What are the current handwashing guidelines?

In truth, the guidelines for washing hands properly have been around for years. Those within the medical industry, for example, are required to ensure they use hand soaps and sanitisers appropriately to minimise the spread of germs. It is just in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that these recommendations are being highlighted more visibly to the general public.

Guidance from the Centres of Disease Control and Prevention states that you should wash your hands after you have been in a public place, touched items of surfaces frequently touched by others and before touching your eyes, nose or mouth. To do so properly, you should:

• Wet hands with cold or warm running water
• Apply soap and lather it between your hands, ensuring to cover the backs, all fingers and underneath nails.
• Hand washing should be continued for at least 20 seconds. The recommendations are to hum/sing ‘Happy Birthday’ fully 2 times to achieve this time frame
• Rinse your hands under warm or cold water
• Dry using a clean towel.

When handwashing facilities aren’t available, you should use a 60% min alcohol-based sanitiser. This shouldn’t replace hand washing and should only be used as an alternative in the interim.

How can hand washing signs help?

Consistent and repeat reminders are an effective way of ensuring compliance with new regulations. Safety signs such as our Prevent Coronavirus – Wash Your Hands or our Sanitise Your Hands should be placed in high contact areas. They act as a nudge, reminding people that the threat is very much still out there and that precautions should be taken seriously. They are available in 3 sizes to suit your needs and come in either a self-adhesive vinyl or 1mm rigid plastic – both of which can also be cleaned and sanitised easily.

We have a selection of handwashing signs designed to support the fight against coronavirus available on our website. If you have any questions or are interested in designing a bespoke sign for your business, get in contact with the team here at Lasting Impressions.

As we move into the second half of 2020, it’s clear that the threat of COVID-19 is still very much in play. More and more of us are going back to work and venturing out into the world. However, even these freedoms are met with restrictions tailored to keeping us safe. Social distancing signs are a custom-produced category for the Lasting Impressions team, developed to meet this very specific need. As of now, the recommendations still remain that we should try to maintain a 2-meter distance from anyone we don’t live with or who isn’t in our support bubble.

Returning to work brought back a degree of normalcy for many of us. However, it’s important that we don’t forget just how important the guidelines still are. In this blog, we’ll take a look at how you can improve safety between your colleagues through the use of social distancing signs.

Does my business need social distancing signs?

Any environment where multiple people from different households are forced to interact requires some degree of preparation to protect its workers. Whether you’re customer-facing or B2B, minimising person-to-person contact should still take precedence. One of the most effective ways of ensuring a new instruction is upheld is through constant reminding. And, this is where social distancing safety signs come into place.

It’s only human for us to gravitate towards our colleagues when returning to work. After all, for many of us, it has been 3 or 4 months since we last interacted with someone outside of our families. And building strong colleague relationships is the foundation to growing a business successfully. However, during this time of risk, business owners need to implement ways to nudge colleagues into remembering the need to stay distanced.

Signs such as our ‘Please Avoid Contact With Others’ are unobtrusive enough to maintain a friendly working environment while still being highly visible. Others such as the ‘Maximum Occupancy Of This Canteen’ sign help you to regulate communal areas and offer a practical way for employees to maintain this new in-work requirement.

How many signs do I need to put in place?

As with the recommendations surrounding signage in the workplace, there is no set number of visual additions you need to implement. However, it is important to do a risk assessment to identify the areas of concern. The HSE have a number of templates available to download on their website that can help you do just this. Pay attention to the areas around your building that traditionally become congested or where colleagues tend to socialise. Also, note the walking routes around your building – where two paths cross over, is there space to distance appropriately? Our COVID Workplace Directional Signs can help you build in One-Way systems and No Entry layouts that protect your employees at all times.

If you would like more information about our new Coronavirus Social Distancing Signs. Additionally, you can browse the range on our website or contact a member of our experienced team today.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are the UK government agency responsible for regulating and enforcing workplace health, safety and welfare. The information available on their website relates to businesses from all different industries and has been compiled to help companies keep legally compliant at all times. The HSE presents information on safety signs, including what employees must do and the existing regulations they must follow.

Safety sign requirements for employers

According to the HSE’s website, employers must take the following 3 precautions when using safety signs to control risk in the workplace.

1. Make use of road traffic signs to regulate road traffic and protect pedestrians.
2. Keep all safety signs in good condition at all times.
3. Ensure employees understand the information on unfamiliar safety signs and are aware of the actions they should take in different settings.

The Health & Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

The key law governing the use of safety signs in the workplace is detailed on the HSE’s website for the use of employers and duty holders. This regulation sets out what must be done to comply with a focus on safety signs and signals. Within this, the main specifications include:

• Safety signs must be used where, in spite of other safety measures being in place, there is still a significant risk of hazard.
• Safety signs must be clear and legible at all times.
• They should be used to identify prohibited actions, such as restricted access.
• They should also be used to give guidance on safeguards such as wearing PPE.
• They should be used to warn of a potential hazard such as excessive noise.
• They should be used to direct individuals towards fire exits or first aid equipment.
• Employers should be cautious not to use too many signs resulting in confusion.

These regulations are set in place through a UK law and are recognised across the EU.

This means that, when working with international employees, they are likely to understand the message put across.

BS EN ISO 7010:2020

Set in place to standardize the look of safety signs, BS EN ISO 7010:2929 is an international standard. It is used across the EU and recognised in all governing bodies. The standard applies to manufacturers who produce signs and symbols as well as health & safety advisors, manager and fire advisory services.

It was created to ensure the symbols used on safety signs can be internationally recognised, ensuring clarity and consistency. This should be regardless of native language, culture or the setting in which they are used. There are 2 further standards that work to create a uniformed sign design here in the UK. These are:

• ISO 3864-1 – Refers to the shape and colour of safety signs.
• ISO 3864-3 – Refers to the graphical symbols used in safety signs.

When purchasing a sign for your workplace, it is advised that you purchase from manufacturers who abide by these standards. Here at Lasting Impressions, we have a wide range of safety signs that conform with both the recommendations from the HSE and BS EN ISO 7010:2020. Browse the website, design a bespoke sign or contact us today for more information.

As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure employees work in an environment where hazards are minimised and their safety is prioritised. The Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999 dictate that you must identify the hazards, understand the risk posed and take actions to minimise this. To do so, we recommend you perform a risk assessment covering the 5 points specified by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

These are:

• Identify the hazards

Take a walk around your workplace and visually identify the hazards posed. These can be as simple as wires that haven’t been securely fastened and could cause trips through to exposure to chemicals in specific environments. Talk to your employees and ask for their opinion – remember they are the people who spend the most time in these settings so will have an in-depth understanding of risks.

It’s also worth reading the guidance available on the HSE’s website and speak to any trade associations for their professional opinion. If you work with specialist equipment or use chemicals on a regular basis, many of these come with the manufacturer’s instructions. These will highlight the potential risks along with suggestions on how to minimise them. Consider long-term hazards too such as extended exposure or technological difficulties.

• Decide who might be harmed and how

Once you’ve written down the potential hazards faced in the workplace, you need to identify who is most at risk. Think in terms of people groupings, such as the elderly, young or pregnant women. These people are particularly at risk in many scenarios. Understanding the circumstances that cause certain people to be at risk will give a clearer understanding of how this harm can occur. And, therefore, how best to minimise the risk too.

• Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions

Once hazards have been identified, come up with the ways in which the risk can be minimised. Think about whether the hazard can be eliminated entirely and how? In many situations, the risk is posed by factors that are essential to business life. Here, you’ll need to consider what actions can be taken to minimise the risk as much as possible.

An example would be on a building site where working at height is essential to completing a project. Here, the use of PPE is a reasonable precaution to minimise the risk of specific hazards and protect the safety of employees. Or to combat the ever-present risk of fires in office buildings, ensuring that fire doors remain unblocked and easily accessible minimises the risk of accidents in the event of an emergency.

• Record findings and implement them

It’s important to make a record of the hazards and risks you’ve identified, along with the precautions suggested to minimise them. This process is normally collaborative and will need to be assessed later on down the line. Having an accurate recording of your risk assessment findings allows others to continue making informed decisions for your business.

There is no specified layout for this. Just ensure the information is clear, detailed and easily accessible by those who will need it.

• Review risk assessment and update, if necessary

As we mentioned above, risk assessments will need to be reviewed on a regular basis. This is to accommodate emerging technology, changing business direction and growing employee numbers. Set an appointed time frame for readdressing these issues and make sure the information recorded is updated in line with this.

If you would like more information about risk assessments or how safety signs can help to minimise hazards, contact the team at Lasting Impressions today.

Here in the UK, all safety signs are manufactured to abide by The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. By law, they are required to provide information to employees and visitors to minimise the risk of serious injury in a specified place. To ensure compliance and clear understanding, most signs fall into 4 groupings which are categorised by specific colours. This standardised requirement ensures that signs placed around a workplace can be easily read and instructions followed, without the need for excessive explaining or training.

Safety sign colours and their meanings

Red

We universally recognise the colour red as providing a prohibition. For this reason, it is used on prohibitory signs that are designed to highlight a dangerous situation. This may be a situation that poses a constant threat or one that could be caused without this key information. Generally, red signs feature a round, thick-bordered red circle with a diagonal line striking out an image of the hazard. Additional text is included on the sign to emphasise the warning.

Yellow

Yellow safety signs are used to warn readers that they need to take care or specific cautions in a given space. The yellow used here is bold and highly visible, being paired with black for a strong contrast. Most yellow signs use a triangle in the design, which is the universally accepted shape for warning. This has a black thick edge and a black image of the specified hazard within. As with prohibition signs, text is included to further emphasise the warning in question.

Blue

Blue signs are some of the most common options in workplaces and are known as mandatory signs. The information given specifies a behaviour or action that must occur to minimise the risk of injury or hazards in a specified area. This includes signs that dictate the use of eye protection for safety or the need for a fire door to be kept shut at all times.

Green

Green signs are used for safety and pass on vital information that will keep users safe in the event of an emergency. Think fire exit signs or those used to highlight the location of a first aid box. They are normally rectangular and feature white text and images to emphasise their purpose.

It is your responsibility, as a business owner, to ensure that safety signs are placed appropriately throughout your property. We can help here at Lasting Impressions, with our wide range of Fire Safety Signs.

This blog post will outline the four main types of safety signs as per the UK regulations. Safety signs are vital for your workplace as they can add a sense of peace of mind for your employees, and will aid in keeping your employees safe.

Safety signs will provide orders, instructions, information and guidance on codes of conduct around your building. Professional signs will offer information clearly and boldly, making it easy for anyone to understand, which is essential during an emergency.

It is essential that you understand what signs are needed for your workplace. Nearly every workplace will need safety signs, so make sure you know the different types of safety signs available. These four main types of signs are following the health and safety regulations of 1996.

Prohibition signs

Prohibition signs prohibit certain behaviours that may increase the chances of a hazard. Prohibition signs include access signs, general prohibition signs, machinery prohibition signs and prohibition logo signs. Prohibition logo signs can include keep off scaffolding logo sign, no admittance logo signs or no children logo sign; all of these signs are clear and easy to understand.

Warning Signs

Warning signs provide a warning about a specific hazard or danger that could affect the surrounding area. General warning signs are included in this category and refer to caution wet floor signs, danger drop signs and beware obstacle signs, to name a few.

Mandatory Signs

Mandatory signs inform works, customers, visitors and other individuals that this area requires specific behaviour that must be adhered to. Mandatory signs can include machinery and general mandatory signs; for example, use hand sanitiser, use guard or guards must be in position before starting. Other signs can include mandatory ear protection signs, eye and face protection signs, footwear signs, head protection signs and more.

Emergency Escape/Fire-Aid Signs

These signs provide information about emergency exits, rescue facilities or where first aid is located. Emergency escape/fire-aid signs can refer to danger fire risk signs, L.P.G. highly flammable signs and more.

Contact us

If you have any questions about our safety signs, feel free to contact a member of our Lasting Impressions team today. We are always happy to help with questions you might have.