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?
Does size matter when it comes to safety signs? No business buys health & safety signs as decorative items: they’re there to be noticed. Some businesses may be tempted to buy the cheapest possible signs in order to save money while still complying with legislation…but this is one area where size matters. It’s no good buying the cheapest and smallest safety signs if they’re too small to even be read. Ultimately, you want your mandatory signs to be visible from a distance to ensure safety at all times. Some signs are perfectly adequate in small sizes: for example, a warning sign relating to a small piece of machinery really needs only to be visible as this machinery is approached. However, some need to be larger: if you’re putting a “no entry” sign up on a car park exit, for example, you’ll need it to be legible from a distance in order to avoid collisions.
Safety on the farm: How signs can help agricultural workers Few areas are as dangerous as a farm. Agricultural operations often utilise vast amounts of land, dangerous chemicals and machinery. As such, safety is highly important and the right health & safety signs are crucial. Here are a few agricultural areas that always need to be well signalled.
Get Your Message Noticed The first and arguably most important point of any sign is to be noticed. This is especially true for health & safety signs, where being visible is the difference between whether an accident occurs or not. In short, being visible is everything. Of course, we’ve already discussed where to place a sign to ensure it’s seen, yet these notices do a lot themselves.
Why first aid signage is a necessity for your business If you’re a business owner, you’ll no doubt be aware that there are plenty of regulations regarding which signs are vital on your business premises. If you’re only a small business, some of these health & safety signs may seem irrelevant – do you really need a first aid sign or a no smoking sign, for example, if there are only two of you on the premises?
Stress can actually shrink your brain In any business environment – from corporate to retail – stress is the biggest threat to satisfactory health and safety provision. Chronic stress is not merely a pesky yet more or less benign response to a healthy workload; it is a persistent disorder that not only impairs a worker’s productivity and performance, but their perception as well.
The hidden dangers in car parks It’s not just fast-moving traffic that you have to watch out for when it comes to health and safety; even slow-moving and stationary vehicles in car parks come with plenty of risks attached. A car park is a surprisingly dangerous place with plenty of potential hazards, such as these…
How to avoid injury when lifting Unfortunately, no matter how many instructions are given in training or afterward, lifting injuries are still commonplace in warehouses and workplaces up and down the country. Incorrect lifting can seriously damage the neck and back, and if staff bite off more than they can chew, valuable stock can also be broken or put at risk.
Safety measures for businesses using forklift trucks Safety is paramount when operating a forklift, and while there are numerous health and safety regulations in place to ensure proper and secure use of machinery, there are plenty of ways you can make sure you’re safe around the workplace. Here are some important things to remember every time you use a forklift. You should check these every time you use a forklift, first starting with your personal equipment, before the forklift itself, the route, the load, and additional steps when completing your shift. y