(implementing the EEC Safety Signs
Directive (Council Directive 92/58/EEC (OJ No. 245, 26.8.92, p. 23))
The Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996
(“the Regulations”) came into force on 1st April 19961.
This document aims to highlight some of the key parts of the
Regulations as they apply to fire-safety signage and is broken down into the following sections:
Throughout, references to the pertinent legislation have been included as footnotes. The reader is referred to the full text of the
Regulations (available
here from the
Government’s Official UK legislation site) for full details.
The Regulations bring into force the EEC Safety Signs Directive
(Council Directive 92/58/EEC (OJ No. 245, 26.8.92, p. 23)) on the provision and use of safety signs at work. The purpose
of the Directive is to encourage the standardisation of safety signs
throughout the member states of the European Union so that safety signs,
wherever they are seen throughout the European Union, have the same meaning.
The Regulations were made in Great Britain under powers granted to
the Secretary of State under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
1974.
Broadly speaking, the Regulations apply to all employers and places
of work in Great Britain2.
The Regulations require that permanent signs are provided and
maintained for location and identification of emergency escape
routes3 and fire-fighting equipment4.
These signs must feature the current symbols5
(e.g. running-man
icon, fire-extinguisher-and-flames icon, etc.). Older types are not
compliant and must be replaced.
Schedule 1 details the specific requirements for such signage in
considerable detail. The reader is referred there for more complete
information.
The Regulations also require6
every employer to ensure that:
- comprehensible and relevant information on the measures to be
taken in connection with safety signs is provided to each of his
employees.
- each of his employees receives suitable and sufficient
instruction and training in the meaning of safety signs and the
measures to be taken in connection with safety signs.
A breach of the Regulations is an offence under the Health and Safety
at Work etc. Act 19747. Offences
under this act carry penalties extending up to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2
years and/or an unlimited fine7.
The Regulations have been law since the 1st April 19961
and therefore a failure to comply with the requirements of the Regulations is a
breach of the law.
The reader is referred to our guidance sheet
on ensuring compliance with these regulations, as they apply to
fire-safety signage. Additionally, more information on this subject can be found from the
Government’s Health & Safety Executive in their
section on
the regulations.
Click
here for the full text of the legislation, available from the
Government’s Official UK legislation site.
Should you wish for any further information under this subject, please feel free to contact us.
-
Section 1 of
The Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996.
-
Section 3 of
The Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996.
-
Section 4, Paragraphs (3) & (4)(a) and
Schedule 1, Part I, paragraph 2.1.1 of
The Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996.
-
Section 4, Paragraphs (3) & (4)(a);
Schedule 1, Part I, paragraph 2.1.1 & Part IV of
The Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996.
Note that the Regulations additionally provide that a ‘safety
Colour’ of sufficient size compliant with the Regulations’
requirements may be used as an alternative.
-
Section 4, Paragraphs (3) & (4)(a) and
Schedule 1, Part II, paragraphs 3.4 & 3.5 of
The Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996.
-
Section 5 of
The Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996.
- Section 33 of the Health and Safety at
Work etc. Act 1974.
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