Construction sites can present changing hazards as work progresses. Clear safety signage helps communicate risks, site rules, access restrictions and required precautions to employees, contractors, delivery drivers, visitors and members of the public.

Our range of construction safety signs covers everything from individual hazard warnings and mandatory PPE instructions to site entrance signs, multi-message safety boards and banners.

The signs required for an individual site will depend on the work being carried out, the hazards present and the control measures identified through the site's risk assessment.

Construction Hazard & Warning Signs

Construction sites can contain hazards including moving vehicles, excavations, overhead loads, electrical equipment, falling objects and hazardous substances.

Construction hazard and warning signs help draw attention to these risks before someone enters or approaches the hazardous area.

Choose signage appropriate to the actual hazard and position it where people have enough time to recognise the warning and take the necessary action.

Construction PPE & Mandatory Signs

Where particular personal protective equipment or safety procedures are required, mandatory signs provide clear instructions about the action people need to take.

Common construction PPE signs include:

• Hard hats must be worn
• High visibility clothing must be worn
• Safety footwear must be worn
• Eye protection must be worn
• Hearing protection must be worn
• PPE must be worn
• Safety harnesses must be worn

Position mandatory PPE signs before people enter the area where the requirement applies.

Construction Access & Keep Out Signs

Controlling who enters a construction site is an important part of site management.

Access signage can help communicate restrictions at gates, boundaries, pedestrian entrances and controlled work areas.

Depending on the restriction, appropriate messages may include No Entry, Keep Out, No Unauthorised Access, Authorised Personnel Only or instructions requiring visitors to report to the site office.

The wording should accurately describe the restriction rather than using No Entry as a catch-all message.

Construction Site Safety Boards

Multi-message construction site safety boards combine several important instructions and warnings on one sign.

They are particularly useful at site entrances, where workers and visitors may need to understand PPE requirements, access restrictions, principal hazards and emergency information before proceeding onto the site.

Site safety boards should reflect the actual requirements of the site rather than displaying warnings or instructions that do not apply.

Construction Site Safety Banners

Safety banners provide highly visible safety messages across fencing, hoarding and temporary site boundaries.

They can be useful for communicating PPE requirements, vehicle warnings, access restrictions and general site-safety information over greater distances than smaller individual signs.

Choose a banner suitable for the mounting location and expected weather exposure.

Construction Site Safety Sign Packs

For sites requiring several common safety messages, construction sign packs provide a convenient way to purchase groups of signs together.

Our site safety packs contain combinations of commonly used construction warnings, mandatory instructions and access messages.

Always check that the individual signs within a pack are appropriate for your site and the hazards identified there.

Construction Fire Safety & Emergency Signs

Construction sites also need appropriate arrangements for emergencies.

Depending on the site and stage of construction, signage may be required to identify fire points, extinguishers, escape routes, assembly points and first aid facilities.

Temporary site layouts can change as construction progresses, so emergency signage should be reviewed when routes, facilities or work areas change.

Choosing the Right Construction Safety Signs

Start with the hazards, restrictions and safety procedures identified for the site rather than selecting signs simply because they are commonly associated with construction.

Consider:

• What hazard, instruction or restriction needs to be communicated
• Who needs to see the sign
• Viewing distance
• Sign position
• Indoor or outdoor use
• Temporary or long-term installation
• Mounting surface
• Lighting and visibility
• Whether the site layout is likely to change

Signs should support other safety measures and should not be used as a substitute for eliminating or adequately controlling a hazard where this is reasonably practicable.

Understanding Construction Safety Sign Colours

Different types of safety signs use recognised colours and shapes to communicate different types of information.

Red prohibition signs indicate actions that are prohibited.

Blue mandatory signs indicate actions or precautions that must be followed.

Yellow warning signs draw attention to hazards or potential danger.

Green safe-condition signs identify first aid, emergency escape and other safe-condition information.

Using consistent, recognisable safety signage helps workers and visitors understand the type of message being communicated.

Construction Safety Signs & BS EN ISO 7010

BS EN ISO 7010 provides standardised graphical symbols for safety signage. Recognised symbols can help provide consistent safety information, particularly on sites where workers, contractors and visitors may have different levels of familiarity with the premises.

Where applicable, choose safety signs using recognised symbols and formats appropriate to the message being communicated.

The signs needed on an individual construction site should be determined by the hazards, work activities, site arrangements and relevant risk assessments rather than by a standard list of signs for every site.

Choosing Your Construction Sign Material

Construction signage may need to withstand dust, moisture, changing weather and frequent site activity, so selecting an appropriate material is important.

Self-adhesive vinyl is useful for clean, smooth surfaces and suitable temporary or indoor applications.

Correx is a lightweight option particularly suited to temporary construction signage and short-to-medium-term site use.

Rigid plastic provides a durable solution for general site signage.

Aluminium composite provides a strong, weather-resistant option for longer-term outdoor installations and exposed locations.

Consider how long the sign will be required, where it will be installed and how exposed it will be when choosing the material.

Made in Britain Construction Safety Signs

The Sign Shed manufactures signs in Yorkshire and is a registered member of Made in Britain.

Choose from individual construction warning signs, mandatory PPE signs, access signs, site safety boards, banners and multi-sign packs in a range of sizes and materials.

Bulk discounts are available for larger construction projects and businesses requiring multiple signs across one or more sites.