Lasting Impressions

Category: News

  • Are safety signs really necessary?

    Are safety signs really necessary?

    When it comes to safety in the workplace, correct signage is essential. Unlike those used for decoration, these vital signs provide key information to all workers, guests, residents, visitors, etc. And, specifically for construction sites and other hazardous environments, they are also a legal requirement. In today’s blog, we’ll look at why safety signs are so essential.

    Preventing Injury

    One of the primary uses of safety signs is to prevent injury and accidents. By keeping key information to hand at all times, everyone is kept aware of the correct code of practice. This extends right across the sign spectrum, from fire exit signs through to quality control signs and even hotel signs.

    Ensuring Compliance

    It is important that your business stays compliant with all legal requirements. Many safety signs are designed to help you do just this, ensuring you are providing key information to all guests. They are also one of the most effective ways of guaranteeing that every worker on site follows your individual rules – something that can have an impact on various insurance policies too.

    Provide Direction

    There are various situations where a visitor to your workplace may find themselves unfamiliar with the layout. Equally, there is always the chance that (especially in larger buildings) where experienced staff may find themselves in an unfamiliar part of the building. In these instances, directional safety signs ensure that everyone is still able to vacate the premises in the event of an emergency.

    Legal Requirement

    As mentioned above, safety signs are a legal requirement for many working environments. Some of the most comprehensive legislations surrounding this includes the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals Regulation) 1996. This states that:

    ‘Safety signs and signals are required where, despite putting in place all other relevant measures, a significant risk to the health and safety of employees and others remains.’

    Safety signs are required is a risk assessment made under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 indicates that they are the most suitable method for reducing risks to employees. This applies to the whole of Great Britain, excluding Northern Ireland.

    Here at Lasting Impressions, we pride ourselves in offering one of the largest online collections of safety signs for all businesses. Get in touch today and let a member of our sales team work with you to ensure your work building is fully compliant and up to date with all current legislations and UK law requirements.

  • Which safety signs should your construction site display?

    Which safety signs should your construction site display?

    No matter where your construction site is located, there are specific regulations you need to follow in terms of signage. All workers, guests and visitors must have access to clear information which keeps them safe at all times. Therefore, it is important that you have the right construction site signs on display at all times. This blog post will list and explain some of the signs you may need.

    Fire Escape Route Signs

    If your site is small (such as a single house renovation) and there are clear escape routes, you may only need to have a simple fire exit sign above the relevant doorways. With larger sites, it may be necessary to create an escape route to the closest exit using directional signs to guide users. These will feature arrows pointing in the correct direction.

    Assembly Point Signs

    It is vital that you have safe points where individuals can assemble during a fire or emergency. This is where assembly point signs come in handy and form a vital role in your workplace.

    Fire Equipment Signs

    This form of signage directs the reader to the closest piece of fire equipment, whether this be a fire extinguisher, blanket or alarm.

    Fire Door Signs

    Ensure everyone knows which doors are fire doors and which can be used freely with fire door signs. These should be placed on every entry and exit door that complies with current legislation.

    PPE Requirement Signs

    Construction sites pose specific risks to the well-being of workers. Therefore, it is vital that you have signs informing employees of the relevant PPE (personal protective equipment) requirements. This includes noise hazard signs and multi-hazard scaffold banners.

    Temporary Traffic & Site Works Signs

    Organising traffic on a construction site is vital to ensuring the safety of every visitor. The right traffic signs will help you do just this, restricting access and directing vehicles down the safest route.

    General Building Site Signs

    Finally, specific to construction sites, there are many informative building site signs that you will need. This includes Site Entrance signs and Danger Men At Work Signs.

    Here at Lasting Impressions, we have a wide range of construction site signs available at the best online prices. Get in touch today if you need any further information.

  • HSE Stats on Injuries at Work – How Safe are the Nation’s Workplaces?

    HSE Stats on Injuries at Work – How Safe are the Nation’s Workplaces?

    HSE stats on injuries at work – how safe are the nation’s workplaces?

    Certain workplaces can be dangerous places. Even with the right safety systems in place, accidents can and do still happen. There are so many types of injury that can happen in the workplace, but the most common include:

    Slips, trips and falls – These account for almost a third of all workplace injuries and they can result in broken bones, cuts, sprains, pulled muscles and back injuries. They are caused by wet or oily surfaces, loose flooring or flooring with incorrect traction, obstructed views, uncovered cables, poor lighting, uneven surfaces or drawers not being closed properly.

    Moving machinery – Machinery that doesn’t have the proper guards is another safety hazard. Body parts or clothing can get stuck in the moving parts of the machine and the results can be catastrophic. The majority of accidents occur in businesses where machinery is used to cut, shape, bore or form material when using systems that move such as pulleys, belts, rods, couplings or flywheels or any other machine that can move or rotate.

    Transport and vehicles – Where employees need to operate equipment or drive large trucks or vehicles there is always the potential for accidents such as becoming stuck or being run over by a moving vehicle, falling out of the vehicle or being struck by falling objects.

    Fire and explosion – Unexpected fires can occur in the workplace, specifically in an industry where a fault in electrics or gas lines can cause this type of workplace accident.

    Repetitive stress – Musculoskeletal injuries can occur from repetitive work and these form the largest segment of workplace injuries.

    Workplace Injury Statistics

    Between 2017 and 2018, the Health and Safety Executive recorded:

    • 1.4 million people who suffer from an illness related to their work
    • 2,595 deaths from mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos in 2016
    • 144 deaths in the workplace
    • 555,000 workplace injuries as reported by the Labour Force Survey
    • 71,062 injuries recorded under RIDDOR legislation

    The total cost of injuries and ill health from working conditions at the present time between 2016 and 2017 was £15 billion.

    There are lots of steps that employers can take to reduce the occurrence of workplace injuries and illnesses. One of these strategies is through suitable signage. Placing safety signs around the workplace and particularly in high risk areas is one of the best ways to draw people’s attention to the risks, no matter how small they may seem. It can also encourage employees to take greater care, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries in the workplace.

  • Are you Legally Obligated to have Safety Signs?

    Are you Legally Obligated to have Safety Signs?

    Whether you are legally obligated to display safety signs will depend on the nature of your business and the level of risk that it presents. To determine what safety signs your business will need, it is important that you undertake a detailed risk assessment to properly highlight any hazards in the workplace. As a minimum, every place of work should display fire safety signs under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This is because visitors and employees need to know the location of emergency exits and escape routes in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, businesses should also display a ‘No Smoking’ sign under the Smoke-Free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006. Best practice would suggest that you also clearly display first aid signs and CCTV in operation signs where it is used.

    As a general rule, the higher the risk in the workplace, the more signs will need to be displayed. A high-risk business would need to display signs to notify employees and visitors of the dangers as they move their way around a building. This could, for example, be in a factory that manufactures goods, a laboratory or an industrial site that handles chemicals.

    Business owners should be fully aware of the risks that are present on their premises and the signs that you need will become apparent as you complete the risk assessment. These assessments should take place on a regular basis because nothing remains the same forever; working practices change, chemicals that you handle could become more or less risky or you could add a new piece of equipment to your existing building that requires caution.

    You are not legally obliged to display a sign unless it goes some way to helping reduce the risk or the risk is negligible. As a result, this can sometimes lead to confusion as to whether a sign is needed or not. Signs that are recommended include those outlined above as well as a UK Health and Safety Legislation Poster. Current guidelines for the use of safety signs are covered by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1995.

    There are four types of signs, prohibition and fire, mandatory, caution and safe condition. It will be up to the business owner to determine which ones are most applicable and how risky the workplace is. Current guidance from the Health and Safety Executive provides comprehensive information on what signs you need to display depending on your business and all organisations should be familiar with these.

  • Safety Signs FAQ

    Safety Signs FAQ

    This blog post will discuss the most common questions our clients and customers have asked. If you have any questions about safety signs, check out the content below to see if we can help.

    How can I make my workplace safer?

    We have a range of safety signs with different formats and sizes for different workplace situations, including catering, electrical warning signs, farm signs and more. You can check out our workplace safety signs here.

    What materials are available?

    Some of our materials include self-adhesive vinyl and 1mm rigid plastic.

    How much is delivery?

    Free delivery is provided to online orders over £25 (excluding VAT), while orders under £25, with economy services, will cost £1.95 in delivery costs. You can find a list of all delivery costs here.

    Do your fire safety signs comply with regulations?

    All of our fire safety signs comply with BS 5499-2:1986 – fire safety signs, notice and graphic symbols. Our fire safety signs are also made following the health and safety regulations 1996 and, where applicable, they abide with EN ISO 7010:2012.

    Where are your signs made?

    Our safety signs are manufactured by us here in the UK.

    Are there different types of signs?

    Yes. There are four main types of signs, including prohibition signs, warning signs, mandatory signs and emergency escape/fire-aid signs.

    Can I use the same sign for every industry?

    No. Different environments present different hazards, which mean you will need a different safety sign. Four main industries in the UK require safety signs, including construction, healthcare, retail and office-based.

    What are health and safety signs?

    Health and safety signs provide information, instruction or guidance about health and safety in the workplace.

    What makes up a safety sign?

    There are four main components of a safety sign, including colour, shape, text and pictogram.

    Contact us

    If you have a question that was not addressed above, feel free to contact a member of our dedicated team today. We are always happy to help with questions you might have.

  • What to think about when creating your own sign

    What to think about when creating your own sign

    When creating your sign, there are a few factors you need to consider before jumping right into the creation. This blog post contains helpful tips on things you need to consider when designing a sign. We discuss elements such as the location, spelling and the design itself.

    What is your message?

    Before you start on the physical sign, you should know what message you want to convey is. Write down some ideas; work on which font, colours and design you want. Ultimately, you should design your sign first; work on measurements and the overall purpose of this sign before jumping into creating it.

    Location

    Where will your sign be located once it is complete? When designing your sign, you should take into consideration where it will be put. Will it be located in a busy street or beside a road? The location of your sign will determine what colours, fonts and message you will be choosing and if it is right for that location.

    Spot on Spelling

    You don’t want to end up on a ‘top five signs that have gone wrong’ so make sure your spelling is spot on. Even if you are 100% sure you have spelt everything right, make sure you get a second opinion and someone to proofread your sign.

    Sometimes, we can look at something for so long that we don’t see the mistake we have made.

    Punctuation

    On the subject of spelling, you should also make sure your punctuation is in the right place. A misplaced comma or apostrophe can change the entire meaning of a word or sentence, so make sure all your punctuation is in the right place. As suggested in the first tip, ask for a second opinion to proofread your sign.

    Colour

    The colour of your sign is an essential factor to consider, as you want to make sure it matches your brand, need or overall aim of the sign. You have to consider the background colour as well as the colour of the text. You should aim to make your sign noticeable for the right reasons, and that starts with the right colours.

    We have the signs

    If designing a sign seems like too much work, or you do not have the time to create your own sign, we have a collection of safety signs that get the job done. Take a look through our extensive collection of safety signs that have been crafted to a high-standard and abide by British Standards.

  • Top 5 signs that have gone wrong

    Top 5 signs that have gone wrong

    Mistakes happen, but unfortunately, some are so obvious that they are hard not to notice. Luckily, mistakes can end in funny results, and we have searched far and wide to find some funny safety signs. We’ve also included some simply funny signs; you’ll have to take a read to see what we mean.

    Source: http://www.safetycareblog.com/2010/07/funny-safety-signs.html

    We love how this sign is concerned about the animal’s health, the visitors, however, not so much.

    Source: http://funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/1801722/Stupid/

    Fingers crossed this one isn’t actually real! The sign itself warns you about how sharp the edges of the sign is, it’s a great warning, but so irrelevant. If you look closely enough, you will see that this sign has the warning ‘also, the bridge is out ahead’, written at the bottom. Thank goodness it warned you about the sharp edges of the sign though.

    Source: http://esl-educate-school-learn.blogspot.com/2015/11/funny-language-mistakes-part-4.html

    Another funny spelling mistake on our list, this one still gets the message across, but begs this question – how was this allowed?!

    Source: http://pixabay.com/photos/bear-bear-cub-nature-3694104/

    We wanted to end this list of 5 signs that have gone wrong, with a sign that is equally funny and cute. Not exactly a sign that has gone wrong, but one that is funny due to the circumstances. The sign initially says, ‘keep off, fish pass’. This bear didn’t get the message as he can’t keep off this sign!

    We hope this blog post has brought a smile to your face and brightened your day. Sometimes all you need is a little laugh to cheer yourself up. See if you can find safety sign mistakes in your area.

    If you want reliable safety signs with no mistakes, you can take a look through our collection of fire safety signs, constructions site signs, workplace safety signs and more.

  • Do you need to display CCTV recording signs?

    Do you need to display CCTV recording signs?

    There are certain industries where the activities of personnel have to be recorded for legal and regulatory purposes. Or there are others where CCTV needs to be used for safety and security reasons. Any footage which is recorded should only be used for its intended purpose. During investigations or when there’s an incident, the footage can be reviewed by the relevant people such as the police or investigators.

    If you are a business owner, it may be in your best interests to install CCTV to protect your property and it is an effective way to enhance security. However, if you implement a system in your workplace which involves the use of CCTV you must comply with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

    Regulations are in place that state that surveillance systems should be used in the right way. A Code of Practice has been developed to protect the privacy of members of the public. This includes the requirement of businesses to display correct signage to notify all relevant individuals that they are being recorded for security and/or safety reasons.

    The use of CCTV and security signs always have the potential to reduce theft or criminal activity on your property. If you are recording footage you must notify employees and members of the public, they are being recorded.

    Benefits

    When you prominently display CCTV signs this is a clear deterrent for criminals. There are lots of benefits associated with good signage including:

    If people don’t see the CCTV cameras, they will notice the signs. Signage is designed to get noticed so if your business is being targeted by criminals, signage that is prominently displayed acts as a preventative measure in that their image could be captured on CCTV and used against them in criminal proceedings.

    Signage also demonstrates that a business is well protected. When a CCTV camera is in operation, it can capture important details that can be used as evidence. Using a CCTV system with signage is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to pursuing criminal activity and demonstrating that your business is well protected.

    CCTV signs don’t just deter theft, it also prevents other crimes too such as criminal damage or vandalism.

    What may appear to be a simple solution can be one of the most effective safeguards that you can have for your business. Signage doesn’t just ensure that you comply with legal requirements, it also acts as a strong deterrent too.

  • Which Fire Safety Signs do you need?

    Which Fire Safety Signs do you need?

    The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 provide guidance on the different types of fire safety signs that business owners should use around their premises. The regulations cover many different elements of signage and in particular how information can be communicated to employees and visitors. This would include, for example, acoustic signals such as fire alarms and spoken instructions, illuminated notices and the usual warning and prohibition signs.

    If you own or manage any type of commercial premises, fire safety signs are obligatory. While a fire exit sign is perhaps one of the most common safety signs that you will see, there are lots of different types of sign that will depend on how your business operates. Specifically, the signs that you use will be governed by both the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Health and Safety legislation mentioned above.

    You will need to be familiar with the five main types of fire safety signs that are applicable in the UK;

    • Safety signs (Fire Action Notice) that detail what you should do in the event of a fire.
    • Safety signs that identify fire escape routes, doors and where to assemble.
    • Safety signs identifying the location of equipment such as extinguishers.
    • Warning signs such as ‘Danger’.
    • Prohibition signs such as ‘No Smoking’

    A fire safety sign should also be luminescent so that they can be clearly seen if staff or visitors need to navigate their way out of the premises if the lighting fails. The signs that you need will depend on the layout of the building, how it is used and what equipment is available. A fire risk assessment will identify the different signs that you need.

    The most common fire safety signs include:

    • Fire Action Notice – A notification that alerts visitors and staff of the steps they need to take if they discover a fire.
    • Fire Exits – If a commercial property is relatively small you don’t need a fire exit sign. If it’s obvious where the nearest exit is, fire exit signs are not necessary. For larger or more complex buildings, these signs are crucial. For large buildings, it is important to include directional signs that staff or visitors can follow using the safest exit route out of the building.
    • Fire Fighting Equipment – If a fire does break out, it is important that staff know where fire fighting equipment is so fires can be tackled as quickly as possible.
    • Warning – These are yellow and black, and they are designed to draw attention to some form of danger, such as flammable gas, or liquids.
    • Prohibition – These are red and black and give clear information to staff and visitors to help prevent the accidental start of a fire.

    Understanding fire safety signs is important so you can keep staff and visitors safe at all times.

  • 4 Most Common Warehouse Hazards

    4 Most Common Warehouse Hazards

    Research from the HSE shows that 142 people in the UK died through work-related accidents in 2020/21 – an increase of 29 from the previous year. Warehouse related injuries, such as those caused by falling from a height, being struck with a moving vehicle/object, being trapped by something collapsing or overturning or contact with moving machinery are some of the most common causes of these fatal incidents. These constantly moving and bustling environments raise a whole host of hazards that you, as the business owner, need to find ways to mitigate and manage.

    Understanding the most common types of warehouse hazards gives you a heads start on your personalised risk assessment. Let’s look at them here today.

    1. Moving Vehicles.

    Deliveries, both in and out of your warehouse, as well as cranes and other cargo-moving equipment, these all present a significant hazard to health. Collisions and other related incidents are often caused by:

    • Lack of knowledge.
    • Lack of training.
    • Distraction.
    • Improper PPE.

    All employees and visitors should be trained on the appropriate use and speed of these vehicles. Best practices, including alerting surrounding individuals of your plans and using movement sounds at all times, should be undertaken. Our range of Fork Lift & Vehicle Signs are there to help you maintain good vehicle use in your warehouse.

    1. Lifting and Handling.

    Warehouse employees are required to pack away goods, pick-and-pack for orders and re-organise stock to ensure the system works smoothly. This requires a significant degree of lifting and handling. With this, comes the risk of strain-related injuries and accidents when improper training has been given. Training on the safe use and maintenance of equipment as well as appropriate lifting techniques should be issued as standard. Safety signs, such as our Safe Manual Handling poster, are designed to give visual and textual advice to employees as they work, showing the recommended handling techniques.

    1. Working at Height.

    One of the key causes of injuries in the workplace, working at height can be unavoidable in certain environments. Particularly important with pallet work or during storage, full and regular training should be given to prevent individuals from falling and experiencing significant injuries. Signs such as the Work at Height poster provides information about ladder safety, mobile elevating platforms, scaffolding and fall arrest.

    1. PPE.

    Providing personal protective equipment to your employees is a legal requirement. And, this couldn’t be more important than in warehouse environments. Consider items like steel-toe cap boots to prevent injuries from falling items, protective gloves when working with abrasive packing materials for an extended period and ear protection for louder corners of the workplace. Signs such as the Danger Noise Hazard and Ear Protection Zone act as constant reminders to help reinforce this level of protection throughout your employees.

    Proper warehouse safety is essential in managing risk and reducing the impact of hazards. Safety signs are an effective way of doing this and one that is suited to warehouses in all different businesses. If you would like more information about our workplace safety signs, please do get in contact with the Lasting Impressions team today.