Warehouses can be busy yet dangerous workplaces where a lot is going on. Many workers are moving about, there’s heavy equipment around, machinery, high shelving and so much more which can be potentially hazardous. Although you've already had training and gone through safety procedures, safety signs can be just as important. Here’s why warehouse safety signs can be important for your safety.
We’ll cover:
Prohibition Warehouse Signs
The red prohibitive signs you might find scattered throughout the warehouse prohibits behaviour which is likely to increase or cause danger. Examples include:
- No smoking.
- No admittance. Authorised personnel only.
- Forklift trucks prohibited.
- Do not climb racking.
- Do not operate.
- In the event of fire, do not use this lift.
Prohibitive signs like the ones above can be common in warehouses. For example, a simple red sign can keep you aware of where you can and can’t operate a type of equipment of machinery.
Mandatory Actions
Mandatory signs are blue signs which prescribe specific behaviour to help keep everyone safe. Examples include:
- Hard hat must be worn at all times.
- Ear protection must be worn in this area.
- Eye protection must be worn.
- High visibility clothing must be worn in this area.
- Protective equipment must be worn when operating this machine.
- Keep area clear at all times.
While prohibitive signs stop you from doing a specific action in the warehouse, mandatory signs show what you need to do, or what action is required in a specific area of the warehouse. These signs can remind you when and where PPE is needed, for example.
Hazard/Warning Signs
Yellow and black triangle hazard or warning signs are placed where there’s any danger in the warehouse. Some common warehouse examples include:
- Danger: flammable material.
- Danger: electrical hazard.
- Caution: forklift trucks operating.
- Caution: hazardous area.
- Warning: confined space.
- Caution: this equipment starts and stops automatically.
These signs are designed to protect and warn everyone from the possible dangers of a specific area or machinery. This is beneficial if you’re unaware of any potential hazards in a particular area of the warehouse.
Safety Information
Safety signs in green give you useful information on how to stay safe throughout the warehouse. Some common examples you need to be aware of include:
- Fire exit.
- In case of fire break glass.
- Fire or emergency assembly point.
- Emergency telephone.
- First aid kit here.
- Refuge point.
Green safety signs provide the instructions to follow in the case of a possible emergency. They tell you which direction to go in if there’s ever an emergency in the warehouse to remove confusion. They can explain where first aid kits are location too.
When it comes to fire safety, you’ll find that they can be a combination of prohibitive and safety signs that act as both warnings as well as safety measures on what to do.
Why Having Safety Signs in the Warehouse is Important
Although your behaviour in the warehouse is a big way of staying safe by following the rules, having safety signs implemented in relevant areas and actually understanding what they mean can also keep you safe in the warehouse.
Safety signs are also important to:
- Show escape routes.
- Prohibit actions.
- Warn of specific health risks.
- Keep everyone in the workplace safe.
Find Out More About Warehouse Safety
Now that you know how importance safety signs in the warehouse can be and what they mean, it’s time to improve the rest of the working conditions in the warehouse too. From what to look out for to the type of footwear you need to avoid injuries, download our free in-depth guide on Warehouse Safety Standards for everything you need to know.