What Health and Safety Signs Are Required In A Warehouse?

When working in a warehouse, employees often find themselves in a dynamic environment where complex storage systems, machinery, and a range of hazardous materials can all pose dangers.

Clearly displayed warehouse health and safety signs are essential to ensuring that on-site workers are aware of the risks and know how to avoid accidents.

In this guide, we discuss the importance of warehouse signs and understanding their meanings, providing a brief overview of some mandatory warehouse safety signs.

The Importance of Health and Safety Signs for Warehouse Workers

Training your employees so they have a thorough understanding of warehouse signs and meanings is key to effectively communicating directions, safety processes, and potential risks.

Clear, well-placed signage can warn staff about hazardous substances, machinery, and areas, therefore preventing injuries and fatalities. It’s also an effective way to ensure that, should any accidents occur, your team know how to best react for an optimal outcome.

In fact, warehouse safety signs are mandatory for compliance with Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, which require companies to deploy signage in all scenarios where risk can’t be mitigated in other ways.

Types of Health and Safety Signs for Warehouses

Warehouse safety signs can be classified into several categories based on their main function:

• Prohibition signs feature a red circle, and are used to communicate things that aren’t allowed (e.g. ‘No Access to Unauthorised Persons’ or ‘No Smoking’).
• Mandatory signs, on the other hand, are marked with a blue circle, instructing workers on what must be done (e.g. ‘Foot protection must be worn’ and ‘Seek assistance with heavy loads’).
• Warning signs caution against potential hazards and are displayed as a yellow triangle (e.g. ‘Danger Automatic machinery’, ‘Caution Fork lift trucks in operation’, or ‘Caution High voltage’).
• Accidents and emergency signs – such as ‘Fire Exit’ or ‘First Aid’ – are normally displayed in a green rectangle. These are also most likely to be photoluminescent, so they can be easily spotted even if your warehouse loses power.

Mandatory Warehouse Safety Signs Checklist

Tick all these mandatory warehouse safety signs to ensure operational safety and compliance:

Emergency exit signs – in addition to the core ‘Fire Exit’ signage, this category includes exit route markers, assembly point designation, and instructions on how to open fire doors.

Fire safety equipment – clearly signpost extinguishers, fire hose reels, and alarm call points to guarantee optimal efficiency in the event of fire. ‘Fire Exit Keep Clear’ and ‘Do Not Use Lift in Case of Fire’ are also very useful signs to have.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) signs – this should include any essential personal cover workers should put on, from footwear and hand protection to eye, hearing, and head protection. Make sure to also highlight if high visibility clothing is necessary in any areas of your site.

Hazard signage – chemicals, flammable materials, slippery surfaces, electric current, overhead loads, and forklift trucks all fall under this category, and should be flagged to help employees avoid dangers.

Health and welfare stations – the location of your first aid box falls under here, alongside facilities such as an eyewash station, safe drinking water, and showers.

Storage, handling, and access instructions – whether that’s a stacking height limit or max load capacity, advice on using pallet trucks or not operating equipment without training, or keeping unauthorised personnel out of certain areas, these signs can help reduce risks and avoid accidents.

Warehouse Health and Safety Sign Tips

Simply having the correct safety signs – especially in busy environments like a warehouse – is often not enough. To stay compliant and protect your workers, you need to ensure signage is accessible for everyone on the team.

Sign placement and visibility best practice dictates you should position warehouse health and safety signs at average eye level (57-60 inches/145-152 cm), close to the hazard site or area which requires special instructions.

We also recommend ensuring that emergency exit signs and signage in dim areas are made from reflective or photoluminescent materials to ensure optimal visibility and safety.

Keep an eye out for wear and tear too – if any health and safety signs in your warehouse are damaged or fading, replace them as soon as possible.

Warehouse Safety with Label Source

Our selection of warehouse safety signs spans all categories, ensuring you have every sign you could possibly need on your site. What’s more, they’re all designed to meet UK health and safety standards, keeping your business compliant and your workers protected.

Need more advice on mandatory warehouse safety signs? Get in touch with our team, and we’d be happy to help.