Hazards At Work

Slips and trips and falls can be the most dangerous risk when working. In fact, they are the most common cause of injury at work. Slips, trips and falls cause over one third of injuries at work, and account for over half of injuries in workplaces with public access. This makes hazard signage a vital part of any workplace.

 

Minimising The Hazard

As with most risks at work, the priority should be to minimise or completely remove them. However there are often circumstances where a potentially dangerous situation can’t be avoided, and signage needs to be used to warn workers of the risks. HSE have listed the steps that should be taken in order to initially analyse and attempt to minimise the risk:

 

  • Prevent floors from getting wet or contaminated in the first place.
  • Have procedures in place for both routine and responsive cleaning.
  • If a spillage does happen, clean it up quickly.
  • If floors are left wet after cleaning, stop anyone walking on them until they are dry and use the right cleaning methods and products.
  • Look out for trip hazards, such as uneven floors or trailing cables, and encourage good housekeeping by your workers.
  • Make sure workers wear footwear that is suitable for the environment they are working in.
  • Make sure your flooring is suitable, or floors likely to get wet are of a type that does not become unduly slippery.

 

If the above steps can’t be taken for one reason or another, steps need to be taken to advise workers of hazardous surfaces, electricity or fire risks, dangerous chemicals or various other potential dangers.

 

If you want to learn even more about safety signage, including what they mean and how to identify them. You can take a look at our other blog post Safety Signs – What is the Importance of them?

 

Pictograms

Hazard pictograms, for example, alert us to the presence of a hazardous chemical.  The pictograms help us to know that the chemicals we are using might cause harm to people or the environment. One or more pictograms may appear on the labelling of a single chemical. This ensures that users know the dangers of using it, and what the outcomes can be if not used properly.

 

Making The Best Use Of Your Hazard Signage

Hazard signage can be a great way to enforce safety and make sure care is taken when completing certain tasks. Accidents can very easily be avoided onsite with proper use of hazard signage. The signs should be placed in a clear, obvious area that makes them easily visible to anyone onsite.

 

Click here to check out our vast range of Hazard Warning Signs!

On Wednesday 26th September, a team from Redhill-based signage company Stocksigns joined forces with staff and partners at Gatwick Airport, to take part in a sponsored walk showcasing the pedestrian routes that surround the airport.

Over 40 people donned their trainers and set off to discover lakes, walking trails, tunnels and underpasses all whilst helping raise valuable funds for the Gatwick TravelCare charity. The charity assists over 2,000 passengers with travel-related problems each year. With a knowledgeable team, many of whom are volunteers, TravelCare are on hand to ensure that passenger journeys through the airport are smooth, enjoyable and any problems are resolved as quickly as possible.

David Harbison, Stocksigns Senior Project Development Manager worked with Sara Marchant, Accessibility Manager at Gatwick Airport  to arrange the event.
“Having worked closely with Gatwick over the past 6 years, Stocksigns were delighted to be able to support Sara raise the profile of the many walking trails that surround the airport. I am sure many of the staff and passengers may be surprised to know that they could access such beautiful green space within a 5 minute walk of the terminal buildings” said David.

“Although the route may be a hidden gem for some, many are already in the ‘know’ as our team discovered when they met cyclists, runners and picnickers while completing the walk. One innovative taxi driver was waiting for his passenger to arrive while enjoying a spot of fishing by the lake – which we all agreed was a fantastic way to pass the time!”

Stocksigns Managing Director, Danny Adamson added “As a company we appreciate that regular walking can help both mental and physical health, and as such we introduced the Friday walking club.  So when the opportunity came to work on this joint initiative with one of our key customers it was the perfect fit for us.”

“The walk raised over £250 and we would like to thank everyone that took part on the day”.

Many businesses operate CCTV, some wholly inside their own premises and some outside.
However, if you operate CCTV, in the eyes of the law you are collecting personal data and that means you need to comply with the Data Protection Act, or from May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). This is because images of people captured by CCTV are personal data.

Your Obligations

As part of your obligations under the legislation, you must tell people that you are taking their personal data. The most effective way of doing this is by using prominently placed signs at the entrance to the area covered by CCTV and reinforcing this with further signs inside the area.

Clear and prominent signs are particularly important where the cameras themselves are very discreet, or in locations where people might not expect to be under surveillance. As a general rule, signs should be more prominent and frequent where it would otherwise be less obvious to people that they are on CCTV.

Clear and Visible Signage is Essential

Signs should be clearly visible and readable, contains details of the organisation operating the system, the purpose for using CCTV and who to contact about the scheme. You may not have to include all of those details where it is obvious to those being monitored, such as CCTV wholly within a workplace. If CCTV is installed within a shop, for example, it will be obvious that the shop is responsible, so you won’t need to include that on the signs.

Signs should be an appropriate size depending on context, so you’d expect signs to be bigger if they need to be viewed by car drivers or from a distance.

Apart from good signing, all staff should know what to do or who to contact if a member of the public makes an enquiry about the CCTV system. Systems in public spaces should have signs giving the name and contact details of the company, organisation or authority responsible.  Business owners should take care with this, because often cameras sited on premises might still capture the images of people walking by.

There is plenty of help available from the Information Commissioners Office on how to run a CCTV system lawfully, but it is often the issue of correct signing where businesses fall short.

The best way to ensure you are compliant is to talk to our team of dedicated account managers who can offer advice on the right signs for you.

Contact them today on 01737 774077.

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.

The winter weather in the UK is often variable and unpredictable, so it pays to be prepared in order to ensure the safety of your site or premises.Cold weather and icy conditions can make conditions on construction sites, car parks and open spaces hazardous.

The Department for Transport reported that in Great Britain in 2014, snow or ice was present on the road when 29 people lost their lives, 251 suffered serious injuries and 2,274 had minor injuries.

These figures highlight the importance of having the correct signage to help prevent the risks of accident and injury to employees and visitors. Below are some useful winter sign suggestions:

 

Traffic & Car Park signage

Winter car parks

Winter driving conditions can be hazardous for motorists. Ensure road closures and driving instructions are clear with these road signs.

All of our traffic signs conform to The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 No. 3113 design layouts. If you require CE certified signs for use on a public highway please call email our sales team for a quote on 01737 774077.

Shop Traffic & Car Park Signage now

 

Hazard SignageThin ice & rocks

Keep your building and work environment safe by warning of hazards caused by the weather. Thin ice and slippery surfaces need to be clearly marked to help prevent slips and falls.

Use Danger signs for a high level of risk, Warning signs for a medium level of risk and Caution signs for a low level of risk.

 

Shop Hazard Signage now

 

Slippery Floor Signs 

Cold and wet weather can leave floors slippery and dangerous. Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common accidents in any workplace so ensure you clearly mark the dangerous Frame collageareas with the following free standing frames:

  • Economy A boards – A polypropylene fluted lightweight display board. Double sided and easy to assemble. Can be folded flat and easy to clean. Size: 290mm x 590mm
  • Shield Durable Free-Standing signs – highly visible with a large printed display area. Highly stable – ideal for retails and consumer environments. Panel size: 450mm x 700mm
  • Light Weight Double-sided Free-Standing Signs – Aluminium rod frame. Folds flat for easy storage. Fits KM (300mm x 400mm) signs rigid plastic sign (not suitable for external use

You can discuss a variety of frame options with a member of our sales team. Call us on 01737 774072 or email us by clicking the button below:

Email the sales team now

 

Not what you’re looking for? Did you know that we can customise any sign you like. We can include your logo or warn of a specific danger. Check out our custom made signs page for more information.

As winter is coming…stock up on your ice and cold weather warning signs to get you through. Don’t forget that we can provide all the health and safety signage you will need in order to remain compliant, check out our shop here.

The 2007 No smoking legislation brought about big change for businesses, however this legislation doesn’t cover e-cigarettes/vaping. As there is currently no legal requirement to ban or restrict the use of e-cigarette smoking, businesses are taking their own stance on whether to allow employees and customers to use e-cigarettes in the workplace or while out socialising. With new concerns from health officials regarding the dangers of e-cigarettes the debate  has intensified.e-cigarette

Southern Rail have introduced a network wide ban to prevent customers smoking
e- cigarettes on their trains or stations. Southern Rail’s ban follows decisions by Govia Thameslink Railway, Transport for London, Chiltern Railways, ScotRail, South West Trains and East Midlands Trains and MPs have been banned from using them in their offices at Westminster.

The Public Health Bill proposed by the Welsh government planned to make it illegal to use electronic cigarettes in the workplace, pubs, clubs and any other public enclosed areas in order to dissuade users in the same way as the ban on tobacco. However the proposal collapsed due to a lack of support and the ban will be dropped from the future public health bill legislation.

Malta, Belgium and Spain all have similar laws in place with regards to e-cigarettes but the rest of the UK currently have no plans to introduce any bans. However, advertising has been targeted with investigations in to TV adverts being carried out and a total ban on any advertisement on social media.

For businesses wishing to prohibit e-cigarettes being used on the premises, Stocksigns has four electronic cigarettes signs available, allowing different combinations of regular no smoking and electronic cigarette permissions. These signs give visitors and staff clear instructions on your company’s policy regarding smoking.

No Smoking/Electronic cigarettes allowed sign. Advises staff and visitors that they can they cannot smoke tobacco cigarettes but electronic cigarettes are permitted.

Electronic cigarettes allowed sign. Advises staff and visitors that it is permitted to smoke electronic cigarettes in that area

No smoking and no electronic cigarettes sign. This informs that neither tobacco or electronic cigarettes is permitted. This sign is idea for front of building areas.

No electronic cigarettes sign. This sign is ideal for internal areas of your building. This will inform all that smoking e-cigarettes and vaping is not permitted.

We often get asked by our customers ‘How do I know how many signs my building needs?’Although there is no hard and fast answer to this, customers must make sure that their building signage is compliant with current the current health and safety legislation.

The number of signs required by a business is dependent on certain factors such as the size of the building, the use of the building and the number of employees and visitors If your building is a commercial premise then you are legally required to undertake a fire risk assessment to allow you to identify any hazards or risks in the building. You can undertake the assessment yourself (if you have expertise or the time to investigate the legal requirements) or you can appoint a fire safety officer. This assessment will allow you to identify fire hazards, identify people who are at risk, devise an emergency plan and evaluate and reduce risks. The fire risk assessment will help you in determining how many signs you require for your building.

 

How big is the building?

This may be an obvious factor, the larger the building the more signs may be required. How many entrance and exit points does your building have? This will determine how many fire exit signs will be required for example there needs to be a fire exit sign above every doorway where there is more than one exit point. There also needs to be a fire door sign for every fire door in the building.

How complicated is the internal design of the building? This will determine if you require wayfinding signage to help employees and visitors navigate their way around your building.

How is the building used?

The use of your building will also have an impact on the type of signage you require. Certain businesses will have more hazards associated with them for example in a factory environment. There is likely to be heavy machinery which will require hazard signs to highlight risks such as noise and fast moving parts. You will also require mandatory signs to advise what kind of personal protective equipment (PPE) is to be worn such as eye protection.

Is your building open to the general public? If so increased safety signage may be required to highlight risk and dangers to visitors. Increased way-finding signage may be required to safely and efficiently guide visitor traffic through the building.

Who will use the building?

You must also consider the needs of employees and visitors who enter your building. As part of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) there must now be reasonable adjustments to buildings to assist disabled persons. This will range from braille and tactile signage to disabled refuge points. Age is another consideration. Schools will need age appropriate and easy to understand signage, we supply primary and secondary school signs in a range of colours.  Likewise consideration must be given to older generations and people suffering from dementia. We offering a range of 3D pictorial signs which use bold colours and strong images to produce highly recognisable door signs.

 

So how can you make sure you have the appropriate number of signs?

There are a number of methods you can use to ensure your building has the correct signage. Make sure you include signage in all aspects of your company risk assessments. Wherever a risk has been identified, ask yourself if a sign could help reduce risk, or significantly raise awareness of that risk.

Using building plans and drawings of your premises can provide a systematic method of determining the signage you require; similarly an audit of all the possible routes of access and working spaces can identify problem areas. Our previous post on the top 10 most common safety signs will give you a starting point.

For complete peace of mind we are able to offer a site survey service. We can give expert advice on your buildings specific signage needs to ensure that you are compliant with the latest legislation.

For more information please contact us on 01737 774077 or send us an email.

What makes a Wayfinding Project Work?

The key to making signage work is to involve your manufacturer from a very early phase in the planning process.

Stocksigns work with architects and principle contractors from the early design stages to try and avoid costly mistakes later on. As members of the HSSA, Stocksigns regularly carry out signage projects in both large and complex premises.

Including signage at the beginning of a project enables you to create a signage scheme that works hard for the investment. It enables development of signage that fulfils a number of functions; brand building, information, continuity, safety and way-finding all while displaying a sympathetic design to complement a premises’ overall ambience.

In today’s multilingual society, accurate, clear and engaging signage is even more important. Good clear signage should be instantly recognised, regardless of nationality, age or ability. Audiences should always be carefully considered and included in your brief with your signage contractor. Special thought should be given for DDA requirements; should Braille or products designed for Dementia patients be included?

Equally, if a building is littered with signs this can often be counter intuitive. Poorly conceived wayfinding actually hinders and confuses, while on an aesthetic level it’s important to complement the architecture.

Watch our video on wayfinding design tips

In order to find their way, people need to be able to see your wayfinding signage. Where are your signs to be viewed from? Make signs easy to see and easier still to read. Situate them at people’s eye line or in places they just can’t miss. Greater distances will need larger text sizes, but your choice of font and colours will also make a difference to viewing distances. Go for clear fonts with high contrasting colours for clarity. When planning your way-finding scheme it is best to physically walk the route, obstructions such as trees and other signage are often not marked on flat plans.

For more information please call our sales team 01737 77 40 72 or email on sales@stocksigns.co.uk

Stocksigns has been manufacturing signs for more than fifty years and in that time we have been able to advise our customers on the principles of sign design. Now the range of signage applications, together with the ever growing list of materials and manufacturing techniques available, means there are an infinate number of design factors to take into consideration. Rather than going into design elements in terms of colours and fonts, here are some simple steps that can be taken to help you with sign design and choice.

These steps can be divided into;

  • Step 1 Signage function
  • Step 2 Sign Check List
  • Step 3 Do’s and Don’ts
  • Step 4 Legislative requirements
  • Step 5 Environmental considerations

Step 1 Signage Functions.

What do you want your sign or signage to do? The types of sign function can be broadly devided into.

  • Information
  • Directional
  • Brand/Corporate Image
  • Company Culture/mission statements
  • Health & safety
  • Motivational
  • Advertising

Part of the design of your sign will depend on its intended use and function, but don’t forget a sign can be designed to carry out more than one job. Your directional and wayfinding signs can also carry your logo and be designed using your company colours and fonts, helping to build  corporate brand, while carrying out its primary task of guiding staff and visitors. Even health and safety signs can be branded, as long as your company details don’t impede the delivery of the safety message or render the sign non-compliant with  safety legislation.

Step 2 Sign Check List

This step is designed as a series of questions to consider while choosing and designing your signs. They provide a framework of elements to consider to make sure you get the sign you both want and need.

Is the sign really necessary? An over use of signs can cause ‘sign blindness’. Try to avoid this by only creating the essential signs, and by making those you do create, work hard and do the job well.

Is it informative/give the right message? Different people interpret different things in different ways. Show your design to others for their opinion and interpretation. Have they read the sign in the way you intended? Adjust your text until you are sure that the message you want is being conveyed clearly.

Is the sign in the optimum position? Approach the proposed sign site from different directions. A site survey can help in this situation. From what distance does the sign need to be visiable from? Are there any obstructions to the view?

Longevity. How long do you need the sign to work for you? Most signage needs to be fixed permanently. Have you selected a material that will cope with the environmental pressures? Is the sign in a public place? Is there a lot of pedestrian traffic? Do you need something with high environmental resistance like vitreous enamel? Alternatively is the sign required for just a short time? If you are designing event signs you will probably want something that is cost effective and easy to put up and take down. Do you need to update the sign frequently? Room functions for example can often change, if so choose a solution that will offer you flexibility.

If you are using a sign system, does it fulfil all the requirements e.g. corporate identity, legisation, function and adaptability?

Step 3 Dos and Dont’s

This step is just some general advice and common sense but serves as a guide.

  • Don’t over kill – less is often more (again avoid sign blindness)
  • Do get a site survey from a reputable sign company if in any doubt about legislation or requirements.
  • Do it properly. No half harted effort i.e. plan the project, mistakes can be costly.
  • Do consider your employees and colleagues needs.
  • Do think about future developments – how easy will it be to add or update signs
  • Don’t use short cuts
  • Do try and achieve a uniform structure to the signage scheme – aim for consistancy through-out all your signs

Step 4 Legislative Requirements

Depending on the type or function of your sign there may be legislative obligations your sign needs to fulfil. Symbols used in safety signage are covered by The Health & Safety (Safety Signs and Signals Regulations) 1966 and BS EN ISO 7010. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and the Technical Buletin 24 of the Joint Mobility Unit (now part of the RNIB’s Access Consultancy Services) may need to be consulted when considering access through your building. Some exterior signage may need planning permission particularly if the sign is illuminated or of a large size. While we can’t apply for planning permission on your behalf, we can advise you on whether you are likely to need it.

Step 5 Environmental Considerations

In step 2 we touched very lightly on some environmental considerations. The most obvious of which are is the sign to be located indoors or outdoors? what’s more does the sign have to be visible at night time? does ilumination have to be a consideration? Vitreous Enamel signs can tolerate a number of different environmental factors, resulting in long-lasting, vibrant, non-fade quality signs regardless of weather conditions or busyness of location, making them ideal for wayfinding signage and street maps.

We hope that this simple guide will give you some ideas when choosing the type and style of the sign you require guide will help you when chosing the type and style of sign you require. For more help or information please contact our Sales Team on 01737 77 40 72 or sales@stocksigns.co.uk and we would be delighted to help you find the right sign design for you.

For a number of years Stocksigns has been working with the Care industry, developing signage specifically for this sector. One of the features of a care home should be to make residents feel at home rather than institutionalised.

Care home signage must be a balance of functionality and aesthetics. Signs must be designed so residents feel at home, yet give clear information or instruction. A challenge as they need to be created with an understanding of the residents’ capabilities. For example our Dementia signage is designed to help residents process the information as easily as possible. We use shape, colour and real images to communicate the message.

When creating a wayfinding signage scheme, a holistic approach must be adopted. Using consistency throughout the scheme will create familiarity for residents and help enforce the organisation’s brand. For one of our projects with Anchor Homes we worked closely with their design team, to produce aesthetically sympathetic signage, in keeping with the environment of West Hall, Anchor’s flagship property. For wayfinding signage tips, please read our blog post “What Makes a Wayfinding Project Work?“.

On a personal note, Julian Rowlandson, Sales and Marketing Director at Stocksigns said “My parents live in a development similar to Anchor, which has made me very aware of the value residents put in it feeling like home. The work we have done with Anchor helps to do just that” For more information visit our website www.stocksigns.co.uk or contact us at sales@stocksigns.co.uk

The summer months and the holiday season are the ideal time to carry out a signage audit. Your business premises may be quieter, as staff jet off on their well earned breaks, often leaving car parks and buildings temporarily easier to access. Use this time and the increased access to assess your company signage, making sure signs are present, in good condition and correct to the latest legislation.

Also the summer can be a time when there maybe a need to increase security to your grounds or buildings. Building sites and disused quarries can seem attractive places to play, potentially with tragic consequences, so ensuring your boundary safety signs are all in place becomes critical.

Taking Stock of your Safety Signs

Take time to walk around your premises, it may take a couple of trips round if you have a large or complicated building layout. Note all your existing fire and safety signs. Do you have all the necessary signs covered by legislation? Through the course of the year things happen to your building, were signs replaced after that wall got repainted? Were your signs covered up when you had the last office move round? This photograph illustrates a common example. The fire alarm call points in this hotel were relocated during a refit. Unfortunately the sign has not been updated and the fire action notice now marks just a redundant blanking plate. On the flip side, you guessed it, the alarm call points were relocated but they have failed to install the correct fire equipment signage to mark its new location. Many people find that their fire signage is often in the wrong place, check your emergency escape signage is being displayed properly. If you are not sure whether you are completely covered legally get a site survey done to give you peace of mind.

While it isn’t yet a requirement to change all your existing safety signs to the new ISO 7010 versions, the advice is not to mix signage from different legislative standards. Best practice recommends, if changes or additions are needed, updating to the most recent standard.This photo shows a BS 5499 fire exit sign directly mounted next to a sign with symbols from the EEC directive 92/58, which could lead to confusion.

Care of your safety Signs

Safety signs over time can become dirty or damaged and several environmental factors can effect your signs. Signs in areas of high traffic can become dirty quickly. Make sure all signs are clean and clear and can be easily read, and cleaned where needed. If they are illegible and beyond cleaning replace where necessary.

For more information about safety signs or any other signage query please contact our sales team at sales@stocksigns.co.uk

Stocksigns has been manufacturing school signs for the education industry for more than 50 years. As a result we have built up a wealth of knowledge on how schools can make the best use of their signs. We have brought together the best blog posts aimed at schools in this article to remind schools and colleges how to use and choose the right signs for them.

We have also got one of the largest dedicated schools signs catalogues on the market. Click on the catalogue cover below to view our huge range.

The Sign Catalogue is now available. Please visit our “Catalogue Request” page to request a copy.

Insurance website confused.com have recently published the results of a road signs survey to test the nation’s understanding of road safety signs.

The research should some startling results;

An astonishing 93 per cent failed to recognise the traffic signs for “no vehicles except bikes being pushed”.

Meanwhile 83 per cent were unclear on the meaning of the common “Urban Clearway” sign, and 67 per cent were bamboozled by the “no waiting” sign.

Top five confusing road signs

Confused.com polled 2,000 people on which road signs they found the most confusing and the following five were voted the most perplexing.

Read more: http://www.confused.com/car-insurance/articles/brits-bamboozled-confused-by-road-signs#ixzz2MCVXuguD

Stocksigns has created a Pinterest page to help bring together some of the links to the industries best safety signs and general signage resources.

As we both publish our own signage information, and find the latest innovations and technologies within the industry, we will aggregate them together in our new page. Be sure to visit regularly or add it to your favourites to keep all your signage resources in one place. Also please send any signage information and resources that you would lik to be added to the page. You can contact me directly on jgodden@stocksigns.co.uk

Over the next few months we will see a further step in the adoption of a new standard for safety signs as BS ISO 7010 is soon to become BS EN ISO 7010. The change will see safety signs in the workplace move away from being an “International standard” (essentially a recommendation on best practice), to a European norm (meaning the contents of the standard must be written into UK and EU law).

ISO 7010 has been developed to provide consistency in design across the EU. The new designs have now been phased in and all our signs follow The Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1966 and conform to BS ISO 7010 where applicable.

How does ISO 7010 effect my safety signs?

You may have noticed some design changes to the symbols whereas others will look virtually unchanged. Whilst the new symbols will be replacing the old designs, some Health and Safety guidance recommends that the two different types of signage, BS 5499 and EN ISO 7010 should not be mixed in the workplace, so you may want to change your current signage to comply, although for the present both designs will still meet your safety obligations. When looking to purchase new signage, ensure they meet with the new EN ISO 7010 standards.

Door Signs

Door signs can be customised with your logo or your corporate fonts. They create a unified design throughout the whole building and door signs help reinforce your company or brand values. We can offer you a huge variety of internal signs in materials including metal, plastics, glass and layered effects. Many have matching interior panels, signposts and external signs. Call us to discuss your ideas, and we can help guide you towards the best solution for your building. Visit our You Tube channel for more films about gettingthe nest from you signs.

Stocksigns’ sister company Messagemaker has completed a high profile project at JD Sports flagship store.

Messagemaker have created a full colour display and looping video content is designed to capture the attention of passers-by on both sides of the street, helping to promote the JD Sports brand 24/7 while drawing attention to current promotions and offers.

Messagemaker stepped in to assist JD Sports who were looking to maximise brand awareness and boost the store’s presence at this prime shopping location during one of their busiest trading periods. The installation, including the initial site survey and system training, was completed in just six weeks.

Read more

Directories and wayfinding sign systems aim to make navigation around unfamiliar grounds and buildings as simple as possible. These signs are often the first point of contact a customer has with your company and first impressions count.

This short film is a “How to” guide to creating the best designs for directories and wayfinding signs.

Stocksigns has been manufacturing street name plates for many years. Over this time we have seen not only the style of signs change but also some of the roads’ actual names change. So we thought we would take a look at how some streets have gained their names.

According to the BBC, The City of London contains no roads. There are plenty of streets, squares and alleys, but traditionally not a single road. The reason for the historic anomaly is because the word ‘road’ was not coined until the late 16th Century, after nearly all the thoroughfares in the ancient City had already been named.

Before the 19th century, street names were typically generic and descriptive, usually named after the goods sold in them e.g. Bread Street. After this it became commonplace for streets to bear the name of renowned figures from British history. But while it is obvious where some streets derive their names, others have been corrupted over the centuries and have altogether less obvious roots. Just for fun we have listed some of the London road names and their origins. To find out more about London’s historic roads visit http://www.londononline.co.uk/streetorigins/.

Godliman Street, (EC4)  

It is not easy to account for the origin of the name as applied to this street, but “Godelmynges” were a kind of cordwain made from the skin of a young animal, this name being apparently derived from Godalming, where the trade of tanning is still carried on (Lib. Albus, I. 231, and III. 323).

From: ‘Globe Yard – Gofairlane’, A Dictionary of London (1918). URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63143  

Cannon Street, (EC4)

A corruption of Canwick, or Candlewick Street, which took its name from being the abode of candle-makers. In this street also, many weavers of woollen cloth were settled in business, having been brought from Flanders by Edward III, and their meetings were held in the churchyard of St. Lawrence Poultney. (Reference: Smith’s Streets of London, p. 381)

Leadenhall Street, (EC3)

So called from “Leaden Hall,” a large and ponderous-looking mansion inhabited about the year 1309 by Sir Hugh Neville. In 1408 it was purchased by Whittington, Lord Mayor of London, who presented it to the Corporation. (Reference: Jesse’s London, vol. II, p. 341)

Downing Street, (SW1)

Derives its name from Sir George Downing, Secretary to the Treasury in the reign of Charles II. Here stands the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, conferred by George II on his favourite minister, Sir Robert Walpole, and on his successors in that high office for ever. (Reference: Jesse’s London, vol. I, p. 165)

Stocksigns  manufactures high quality street nameplates for many councils and boroughs. Signs can be manufactured using a variety of materials and techniques. Using traditional sign making techniques such as die pressed metal or vitreous enamel, not only look good, but are often the most long lasting solutions.  Contact our Sales Team for more information.

What size signs should I use? – Viewing Distances For Signs

We are often asked by customers what size sign they should be using, particularly with regard to safety signs. The truth is there is no hard and fast rule for size of sign and viewing distances. Currently there is no legislation covering this aspect of safety signs and symbols, and common sense has to be used to make a judgement. The viewing distance for signs is dependant on many factors.

  • Ambient Light Conditions
  • Obstructions
  • Height of the sign
  • The colours of the sign design
  • The style and size of the fonts used

However to help in choosing the right signs and make more of an informed decision, the following illustrations will serve as a guide. If you would still like some assistance call our sales team on 01737 77 40 72, or alternatively a site survey of your premises by one of our team, can give you peace of mind, ensuring you have the right signs for your building.

Where you must absolutely NOT use Vitreous Enamel Signs

If You Care about Your Signage – Don’t use Vitreous Enamel Signs (VE)

1. When you don’t want your signs to last a long time.
Why? –  Vitreous Enamel is notorious for its vastly extended life over other materials. They will look as good as new even after 40 years, making them an ideal long term signage solution.

2. When there is NO chance of any corrosion
Why?  – Vitreous Enamel’s glass-like properties protect the whole sign so that it is safe from attack from corrosion. That’s why they are specified for marine environments because they can resist attack from salt. Applications range from oil platforms to the logo’s on ships’ funnels.

3. When chemicals such as acids and alkalis are not going to be a threat.
Why? –  Vitreous Enamel has amazing resistance to most chemicals, including solvents. This makes them ideal for corrosive, industrial, or severe atmospheres.

4. When the finish and aesthetics of your signs are unimportant to you.
Why? – Vitreous Enamel’s lustrous surface appearance, “relief effect” of the enamel layers and the wide range of colours and designs available mean that Vitreous Enamel Signs are very pleasing to the eye. Because of this they are frequently used for decoration, especially in pubs, restaurants and hotels and used as a specialist medium for many artists.

5. When your sign will never be subject to mechanical abrasion.
Why? – Vitreous Enamel has the advantage of being virtually scratch proof compared with other materials, giving it  great robustness. This is one of the reasons why vitreous enamel is often specified for wayfinding lecterns in busy cities where there is a high level of vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

6. When you are keen to be involved in regular sign maintenance.
Why? – Vitreous Enamel’s hard surface makes the signs very easy to keep clean, restoring the original brightness with a wipe. This quality has made vitreous enamel the preferred choice for electricity pylon identity plates where access is notoriously difficult.

7. When you don’t mind the colours in your sign fading.
Why? – Vitreous Enamel’s colourfastness ensures the sign looks as bright after many years as it did when first manufactured. Examples of vitreous enamel advertising signs dating from the 18oos still look as vibrant as when they were first displayed.

8. When there is no danger of a graffiti assault on your signs.
Why?  – Any graffiti on Vitreous Enamel signs can be removed with a solvent cleaner. Vitreous Enamel signs are often the first choice for councils, particularly for park and recreation ground signage.

9. When you don’t have to worry about extremes of temperature.
Why? –  Vitreous Enamel can withstand a very wide variation in temperature, and is very fire resistant, which is why it is specified in London Underground stations.

10. When you have no interest in life time cost of your signs.
Why? – Vitreous Enamel Sign’s durability, longevity and brightness makes this material extremely cost effective over time. Their long life often means that vitreous enamels signs pay for themselves over and over again during long term projects.

So here in a nutshell are reasons for NOT using Vitreous Enamel Signs.