Updated 4 November 2026
Choosing PPE signs begins with the protection selected for the work. Confirm the requirement before deciding which symbol or combined panel to order.
This guide follows HSE guidance for Great Britain. Northern Ireland has separate legislation.
Establish the requirement
HSE describes PPE as the last resort within the hierarchy of controls. Consider prevention and other controls before deciding what protective equipment is necessary.
A sign cannot make unsuitable equipment adequate. Have the responsible person confirm the protection, task and people covered by the assessment.
Distinguish equipment that looks similar
Eye protection, face protection and respiratory protection communicate different requirements. Avoid selecting a familiar icon simply because it resembles something already worn on site.
Check the approved instruction with whoever selects the PPE. HSE says equipment worn together must be compatible and workers need instruction and training in its use and limitations.
Define the scope
Record whether the requirement applies throughout an area, during a particular process or under specified conditions. Make that distinction clear in the working arrangements and sign wording.
For an illustrative process review, protection needed during a specific task should not be turned into an unexplained rule for every activity in the room. Equally, an assessed area requirement should not disappear from one entrance.
Match the location to the decision
Identify where people need the instruction before exposure. Check the intended approaches, including those used by visitors and contractors.
Confirm how people obtain and put on the required equipment. A sign at a boundary is incomplete communication if the actual arrangements leave users uncertain about what to wear.
Select the physical format
Use the recognised mandatory-sign format and appropriate supporting wording. Check whether a combined board leaves each instruction readable.
Describe distance, lighting, mounting surface and exposure to the supplier. Confirm the specification for the location rather than assuming one material suits the entire site.
Review the instruction after changes
Compare signs with revised assessments, equipment selections and work methods. Remove obsolete messages and explain unfamiliar signs.
Check both the sign and the provision it refers to. The instruction needs to remain consistent with equipment availability, training and supervision.
Sources: HSE: managing risk using PPE, HSE: PPE selection and use and HSE: safety signs.
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