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These regulations state that every employer is legally obliged to carry out regular risk assessments relating to the health and safety of their employees. If any risks that are identified cannot be avoided or eliminated, then the law states that you must use effective safety signing to inform your staff and all visitors of the hazards.
A summary of the necessary steps to include in the risk assessment can be found below. For anyone who is unfamiliar with carrying out risk assessments, or unsure as to what exactly may constitute a hazard, then Sign Language can carry out the risk assessment for you, free of charge, as part of a site survey to identify your safety signage needs.
The Health and Safety Law Poster
The Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989 made it a legal requirement for all employers to display at least one copy of the Heath and Safety Law Poster. Sign Language can supply you with the latest version of the poster; to order simply proceed to the H & S Posters section of our on-line catalogue.
Management Of Health & Safety - Risk Assessment Guidelines
The compulsory sections of a risk assessment are:
Emergency escape routes and identification of fire-fighting equipment - to assess these you should start from the centre of the site or building, or the point furthest from a fire exit, and work towards the exit, noting changes in direction and levels. Fire exit signs should then be placed at all these points, as well as at regular points along the route so that a sign indicating the direction to take is always visible. Upon exiting the building or site, directions to the fire assembly point, or points, should be signed.
Fire exit doors themselves should have a sign that explains the method for opening, and internal fire doors should have signs to explain that they should be kept closed and/or clear as appropriate.
The location of all fire-fighting equipment, including extinguishers, hose reels and alarm/call points, should be clearly marked with signage.
- Building/site entrances and general areas - At the entrances to sites, and areas within sites where more general safety policies apply, signs should be used to provide details of these policies, for example 'No smoking' or 'This is a safety helmet area'.
First Aid equipment and facilities should also be adequately signed throughout the site.
- Machinery hazards - Signs to warn of hazards and actions to be taken, such as ensuring guards are in place and identification of emergency stop buttons, must be placed on the machine, or if not possible as close to the machine or control panel.
Signs indicating the use of protective clothing, equipment and action to be taken must also be placed on or close by the machine.
- Obstacles and dangerous locations - Where there is a risk of persons colliding with obstacles, such as columns, posts, or low headroom; of persons tripping or falling, or of objects falling from above, then there must be appropriate safety signage warning of this.
- Pedestrian and traffic routes - Traffic routes for both vehicles and pedestrians through the site must be clearly identified with appropriate signage to ensure the protection of employees, contractors and visitors.
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Sign Language can perform the Heath and Safety Risk Assessment for you as part of a site survey to assess your signage requirements. Should you then place an order for the required signage through us we will not make any charge for this service. To arrange a site survey, call us on 0114 2853173 and ask for Paul, or email info@sign-language.co.uk
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