The Importance of PPE

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is a vital part of working on a construction site, quarry, or in a potentially hazardous area. Even though the cause of the issue and prevention, if necessary, takes priority, if there is even a slight risk of injury or damage to health on a site, workers must be informed about the importance of Personal Protective Equipment and when to use it.  

It can be easy to slip into bad habits and forget about the importance of Personal Protective Equipment signage. However, this post can be a great opportunity to refresh your health and safety and restart on the right foot.  Particularly during the remaining cold winter months, it’s very important to provide as safe a working environment for employees as you can, meaning safety signage is essential.

Why Do We Need Personal Protective Equipment  Signage

Personal Protective Equipment signage can be crucial to ensuring that workers are protected from:

  • Falling objects,
  • Slips
  • hazardous chemicals.
Minimum PPE

Signage can simply remind the necessary people to consider the right personal protective equipment if there is any risk to their health onsite. Not only can lack of protection equipment increase risk dramatically and potentially cause injury, but it can also create a lot of legal issues for the business owner/responsible person.

Examples Of Personal Protective Equipment  Signage

Below are some examples of Stocksigns’ wide range of Personal Protective Equipment signage:

Stocksigns Site Safety Boards

Site Safety Boards

These are a great way to contain all of your rules/instructions in one place. This  makes it more convenient for site users and easier to enforce safety. Site Safety Boards can include warning, hazard, prohibition and Personal Protective Equipment signs.

Regulations Signs

Regulations Signs

This can be a great reminder to both site users and the public of the legal ramifications of not using the correct equipment and taking the necessary steps to stay safe onsite.

Stocksigns Photoluminescent fire safety fire exit sign

Photoluminescent Signs

Sometimes, conditions or lighting onsite can be poor, meaning you’ll need a sign with its own light source. Photoluminescent material will charge in ambient light, and glow whenever visibility is poor. This keeps the sign visible at all times to maximise safety.

Prohibition PPE Signs

Prohibition PPE Signs

These can help to stop anyone entering site who is not wearing the correct equipment. Additionally they can act as a reminder for site users to check their equipment.

Stocksigns offer a wide range of Personal Protective Equipment  signs to help you protect yourself, and others onsite. You can check out the range here. If you’d prefer to have a browse of our products, you can view the shop here.

It’s no secret that any workplace, especially ones where workers are operating machinery, working at a height, and tackling extreme weather conditions, can present safety concerns. Particularly, working on a quarry can be incredibly dangerous, and potential risks need to be spotted and averted. Below are some of the most common causes of accidents within the quarry industry. It’s important to remember that awareness of potential risks can prevent injury, and save lives.

1. Slips & Trips on the Same Level

An article from HSE shows that there are three key aspects in preventing trips and slips:

  • Suitable Walkways
  • Design & Maintenance
  • Housekeeping

It’s incredibly important to identify areas of walkways which may create issues. Whether it’s loose surface, wet floor, or an obstruction, workers need to be made aware with clear and concise messages. See below the range of signs that you can use to create a safer environment for workers. For example, temporary signs can be used for rain or ice in a walkway, whereas permanent signs can be used for loose surfaces or poor lighting.

Stocksigns offer a wide range of slip hazard signs to help make workers more aware of potential danger and improve quarry safety.

2. Falls from a Height

17% of all serious injuries and fatalities in the quarry/aggregate industry occur as a result of falling from a height. There are many causes of this, but the most prominent ones are workers climbing onto loaded vehicles and inspecting silos. It is strongly recommended by MPA that clear signage is placed at the entrance to any site (and within site) to advise against climbing onto high ledges such as loaded vehicles and improve quarry safety.

Signage can also help to ensure workers are wearing appropriate clothing for working at height. Site safety signs can advise workers to wear helmets, safety footwear and even harnesses if necessary. This should help to ensure everyone onsite complies with safe practices when working in dangerous areas and minimise falls.

Stocksigns can provide a number of various site safety and height hazard signs to suit the needs of quarry workers.

To browse our range of site safety signs, visit our “Construction Site Safety Notices” section.

To browse our selection of height hazard signs, visit our “Scaffolding Signs” section.

3. Falling/moving Objects

Falling or moving objects cause 31% of the serious injuries and fatalities that occur within the quarry industry. Often this is due to workers not wearing the correct PPE such as safety helmets, or the site not having protective netting/overhead protection. Making workers aware of such risks will encourage the proper use of safety equipment, preventing major accidents in the workplace.

It’s also very important that any pedestrian areas are inaccessible if there is any risk of falling debris. Signage can be used to mark areas that shouldn’t be accessed by the general public, alongside barriers to ensure quarry safety.

To view our range of building site hazard signs, visit our “Construction Hazard Signs” section.

To view our range of PPE signs, visit our “Personal Protective Equipment Signs” section.

4. Contact with Moving Machinery

Injury caused by contact with moving machinery is often due to failure to isolate all sources of energy correctly. Risk assessments and worker education help to greatly reduce incidents onsite – as machinery operators will know the exact procedures to follow in the event of potential danger.

In dangerous situations, it is vital that workers keep calm and follow instructions to prevent further risks. Signage can help drastically with this, if areas with machinery are clearly marked, and state the procedures concisely.

Incidents within the industry have shown that a push on guidance and education can greatly improve quarry safety within all areas, with moving machinery being no exception. In fact, with machinery being one of the more complex aspects of quarry work, it’s one of the most important parts.

To view Stocksigns’ collection of machinery warning signs, visit our “Machinery Hazard Signs” section.

5. Workplace Transport

Workplace transport poses a risk to not only site workers, but also pedestrians, as every year pedestrians can be seriously injured or even killed by vehicles on a mineral products site.

The importance of correct signage on these sites is huge, to both allow the work to be done properly and prevent harm to a worker or pedestrian. Stocksigns offer a wide range of vehicular hazard signage to warn people of the potential risks both onsite and off.

A risk assessment and corresponding safety measures are simple to carry out, and yet have a great impact on site safety. A clear outline of areas where pedestrians should not enter, and hazard signs stating the potential risks are vital.

To browse our selection of safety signs for building site vehicles, visit our “Vehicle Warning Signs” section.

There are over 54,000 non-fatal injuries to construction workers each year; 25% of which are caused by slips, trips or falls on the same level and 12% are from being struck by a moving (flying/falling) object (HSE.gov). In particular, snow and ice can multiply the risks of working on a construction site. Ladders, scaffolding and entries/exits to sites can become extremely dangerous if the proper precautions aren’t taken.

Increasing awareness amongst workers of all immediate risks is a vital part of reducing the number of accidents and minimising the dangers onsite. If workers are aware of those dangers, they are more likely to take the proper precautions with their equipment and in the areas which they tread when navigating the site.

How can you make workers more aware?

Hazard and safety signage is a legal requirement on any construction site due to the nature of the equipment used and hazardous areas of work. This means the importance of ice and snow signage is rapidly growing as the weather gets colder. Whether it’s to warn workers of potential falling icicles, or black ice on walkways/roads around site, there are many reasons to ensure workers know what to look for and how to avoid falling victim to the harsh winter conditions.

Most ice-related accidents, as you might expect, occur on outdoor surfaces. This means that the roads around site are as important as the site itself when it comes to hazard signage. Car parks, driveways and walkways are among the riskiest areas of a site, where workers are travelling to and from their vehicles. However, around 8% of ice slips/falls occur indoors due to ice being tracked inside by footwear. (Bongarde.com)

Stocksigns offer a vast array of both fixed and temporary winter hazard signage, including slips, trips and falls signs, which are available to buy online or over the phone.

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Interested in using LED safety signs? Visit our sister company Messagemaker Displays.

How do photoluminescent signs work?

Photoluminescent fire sign

Photoluminescence occurs when a material absorbs photons (light energy) and then emits them back when the light source is removed i.e. in the dark, creating a noticeable lighting effect. Photoluminescent safety signs are designed to absorb photons from ambient light and then re-emit them in darkened conditions.

With a internal lifespan of up to 25 years they can also save money by not using electricity. Being maintenance free there is no need for costly regular testing regimes associated with ensuring the correct functionality of electrical signs. We have extended the use of photoluminescent material beyond fire safety signs with many other health and safety signs including hazard signs, prohibition signs, chemical safety signs, first aid signs and custom signage requirements. We have also created floor signs and tapes to aid your wayfinding during emergency evacuations.

 

 

 

Cost savings with photoluminescent signage

In addition to their cost effectiveness, eco-friendly safety signs are also more reliable than traditional exit signs due to increased visibility due to their natural ability to glow in the dark. Free from light bulbs they are the optimal signage solution in the event of emergency situations that result from structural shock falling debris. Using eco-friendly photoluminescence signs alongside your electrical fire exit signs  is a cost effective way to help a companies’ journey to ‘go green’.

 

Reduce your carbon footprint

Fire exit

Going green and being environmentally friendly is a hot topic for businesses. As well as being cost effective and functional there are additional environmental benefits of using photoluminescent signs.Many companies are committed to recycling and purchasing non-toxic supplies, but still work in buildings whose materials, electrical systems and waste systems have been in place long before being “eco” became the business buzz word of the moment and before the economic benefits of being green were truly understood. Different companies will have different factors to consider when improving their green credentials. For example, a solicitors firm will have different concerns than a construction site. Electrical fire safety signs are environmentally unfriendly due to their never-ending demand for electricity. Being lit 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, they also contribute to driving up companies’ fuel costs. Therefore by using photoluminescent signs brings both an economical and an environmental benefit. Often recognised as best practice in the UK, photoluminescent sign systems have also been adopted throughout the EU and USA.

 

How to use your photoluminescent signs

For your signs to be effective they will require initial activation from a good light source – this can be natural or artificial. Check out our video below to get the most out of your signs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMU_oxGwcbk

 

 

Whether you manage a pay & display car park, a customer, employee or visitor car park there are a number of areas you have to consider. Using our experience of working with customers we’ve pulled together some handy tips so you get it right first timeOffer_Teaser_Car_Park

1) Directions
You need to consider wayfinding in your car park under all elements including rain and darkness. Often directions on the ground can easily be missed under these circumstances as drivers have so much to concentrate on. Therefore it is important to include directional and informative signage at the height for drivers to easily see where they need to be going.

2) Disabled / parent and child bays
It is likely that you will have disabled parking and potentially parent and child parking, it is important to ensure these are clearly marked. It will help to reduce the number of drivers utilising these spaces.

3) Speed Limits

Car parks are dangerous places with pedestrians and drivers all in the same place, meaning they need to be managed appropriately. It is important to encourage drivers to drive at a safe speed, our speed limit signs are a cheaper alternative to road signs, as your car park signage doesn’t need to comply with highway specifications.

4) Advertising
Signs do not have to be just about information and penalties, they are also a great opportunity to advertise your brand. Simply including your logo on wayfinding signage is essentially free advertising. Stocksigns can adapt any of our standard signs to suit your requirements.

5) Security
In 2014 over 69,000 cars were stolen in the UK, and is a constant concern for many drivers. Even if you are not liable for the loss or damage of vehicles in your car park, you want users of your car park to feel that their vehicle is secure. Whether you have CCTV or not, CCTV and security signage can go a long way to put car park users at ease and deter criminals.

6) Car Park Information
It is a legal requirement to display your opening times and charges, our team of experts can advise on these bespoke signs.While not legally required it’s important to ensure that your car park’s entrance is easily identifiable so you don’t miss out on revenue.

Hopefully our 6 points will help you to audit or plan your car park, if you do have any questions about your signage requirements call our team of
experts on 01737 774 072.

To help you keep your car park safe we’re offering 20% off the list price of all standard traffic signs until 22nd July 2016. to take advantage of this special offer quote BLOG625

Lauren Sutton,
Sales Assistant Manager

Terms & conditions: Use code BLOG625 at the online checkout or over the phone. Discounts only available on list price standard items within out traffic and car parks range until 22nd July 2016. not valid in conjunction with any other offer and only valid once.

There has been much talk recently about signs pollution, the proliferation of signs all over our town and countryside, from high street to motorway, from factory to farm. Which not only can blight our landscape or built environment, but also cause confusion by virtue of the sign’s own cluttering promiscuity.

Does this apply to health and safety signs?

Not so, in our view. First, the very purpose of properly located and appropriate safety signage is to protect staff and visitors on your premises, when all other means to mitigate a risk has been considered an actioned. In this case “familiarity does NOT breed contempt – rather the continual and consistent viability of such safety aids increases awareness and comprehension of the potential dangers and the means of avoiding or evading them. This is not just a negative “do not” approach as is evident from essential use of fire and emergency exit signs in their various forms.

Secondly, the key to effective health and safety signage starts with the comprehensive assessment of the risks in a workplace and, where these can not be avoided, the selection of the most appropriate signs – which in many cases, separate safety messages can be incorporated in one multi-purpose sign, so quite legitimately saving space and money.

Safety Signs Training

A further crucial ingredient is the general level of safety awareness that is developed within your organisation, and in particular, the education and training of staff with respect to safety signs. Here, there are a number of aides, such as pocket guides (for example, these can be included in an induction pack) and the Health and Safety Law Poster that are in any event a legal requirement to display.

In all these areas Stocksigns can help, although ultimately, of course the responsibility lies with you. Our advice, a combination of physical surveys and the wide range of signs on offer, will eliminate the over-use of signs, but protect the organisation, and its employees and visitors, which after all, is the whole point.