Got CCTV - do you need a sign - the law Faced with the threat of criminal activity such as burglary and vandalism, increasing numbers of property owners and businesses are installing CCTV systems to provide a constant watchful eye over their homes or premises. CCTV can act as a deterrent, warning would-be criminals that their actions will be monitored and recorded, and can provide the police with vital evidence to assist in the arrest and prosecution of offenders. However, it is worth knowing that anyone who installs CCTV may have legal responsibilities to display warning signs that are easily seen.
Slippery When Wet Customer Hazards Highly visible ‘Caution: Wet Floor’ signs are frequently seen in public areas such as shops, schools and local authority buildings, even during the daytime when customer footfall is high. In an ideal world, businesses would delay cleaning until after working hours in order to ensure that members of the public are not required to walk over potentially slippery floors but this is not always possible.
Get your signs professionally translated If you type ‘mistranslated signs’ into your search engine, you will discover a wealth of – often amusing – examples of safety signs, street signs and other types of signage from around the world that have mistranslated information. Things like instructions and warnings have been rendered into English so poorly that their original meaning is lost.
Get your business motivated with signs Many people have a negative impression of this idea – perhaps from seeing some examples of overblown posters packed with flowery or nonsensical phrases. Yet, whenever we are allowed a peep on TV inside the dressing rooms of top sports teams, there they are!
Safety signs for your pub As a pub landlord or landlady, you’ll know that your customers (and your employees) aren’t always as predictable as you’d like. Your pub is likely to be everything to you – your home, your business and a place where your socialise with friends. So you don’t just need signs to provide instructions, you also need signs to protect yourself, your pub and the general public. Here are a few to include: Hygiene signs You might assume that hygiene is a basic in a food preparation or drink serving environment, but surprisingly your employees might need the occasional prompt.
Why are safety signs coloured the way they are? When it comes to health and safety signs, you’ll no doubt notice that different types of signs have different shapes: triangular or diamond shapes for warning signs, round for prohibitive signs and so on. But have you stopped to think about the different colours that are used in safety signs and why they are actually used?
Is your signage in tune with your mood? Recent research has shown that so called ’emotionally intelligent’ signage is much more effective than signage that is not sensitive to human psychology. So how can you make your signs as emotionally intelligent as possible, and maximise their effects on the minds of people viewing them?
The study of signs in folklore The history of signs and signage is a complex and fascinating topic; from blue plaques indicating the homes of important historical and cultural figures, to significant street names and iconic symbols, signs play an important role in our cultural heritage.
The art of signcraft - making the perfect safety sign Since this blog started, we’ve talked a great deal about both the visual and functional effectiveness of signs. But what factors make a perfect sign? What attributes enable a sign to fulfill its purpose with the greatest possible level of efficiency?
Safety signs for homeowners We see signs everywhere. Some are providing warnings, some are giving directions and some are offering us instructions or presenting us with useful information. Your home might be the only ‘sign-free’ zone that you ever spend your time in, but have you ever stopped to think how breaking down the barrier and adding signs to your home could make your life safer and easier?