BS EN ISO 7010 safety signs: categories, colours and what UK factories need

Walk through almost any UK factory and you will see safety signs on walls, doors, machines and floors. Many follow BS EN ISO 7010, the standard that registers the graphical symbols used for safety identification.

Getting signage right is not a cosmetic exercise. Signs are one of the simplest ways to communicate a hazard or an instruction to employees, contractors and visitors, and the law expects them to be used where a risk cannot be controlled by other means.

What BS EN ISO 7010 covers

ISO 7010 is an international standard that registers safety signs for use in workplaces and public spaces. The BS EN prefix shows it has been adopted as a European standard and published in the UK by BSI.

The standard does not tell you where to put every sign. It sets out the approved symbols, each with its own reference number, along with the meaning and the design principles behind them. The colours and geometric shapes come from related ISO standards that it draws on.

The benefit is consistency. A symbol for a fire exit or a first aid post should be recognisable to a worker, a visiting engineer or a delivery driver, whatever their first language.

The sign categories

Safety signs fall into a small number of categories. Each has a defined colour and shape, which lets people judge the type of message before they read any text.

Prohibition signs: tell people not to do something, such as no smoking or no access. Red circle with a diagonal bar, black symbol on white.
Mandatory signs: tell people they must do something, such as wear ear protection or safety footwear. Blue circle with a white symbol.
Warning signs: alert people to a hazard, such as a forklift route or hot surface. Yellow triangle with a black border and symbol.
Safe condition signs: show exits, first aid and emergency equipment. Green rectangle or square with a white symbol.
Fire safety signs: show the location of fire equipment such as extinguishers and call points. Red rectangle or square with a white symbol.

A supplementary text sign can sit beneath a symbol to add detail, for example the specific instruction or the area it applies to. Symbols should do the main work, with text as support.

What UK factories need to display

In Great Britain, the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 require employers to provide a safety sign where a significant risk remains after other control measures have been put in place. Signs are a back-up, not a substitute for guarding, safe systems of work or training.

The regulations set requirements for the signs themselves, and the HSE provides guidance on them. Northern Ireland has its own equivalent legislation, so sites there should check the local rules.

Typical needs on a manufacturing site include:

Fire exits, escape routes and assembly points
Fire extinguishers, call points and other firefighting equipment
First aid stations, eyewash stations and defibrillators
Personal protective equipment requirements at the entrance to relevant areas
Warnings for machinery, electrical equipment, moving vehicles and overhead loads
Prohibitions such as no smoking, no naked flames and no unauthorised entry

How to audit your signage

Start with a risk assessment. Signs should follow from the hazards you have identified, not the other way round.

Then walk the site as a newcomer would. Check that each sign is visible, well lit and positioned at the point of risk, not somewhere further along the route. Look for damaged, faded or obstructed signs, and for old designs that no longer match the current symbols.

Older sites often carry a mix of styles, including text-only signs and legacy designs. These can confuse people, so replace them with consistent symbols as part of routine maintenance.

Fire safety signs and photoluminescent materials

Escape route signs matter most when conditions are at their worst. Where lighting could fail or smoke could reduce visibility, consider emergency lighting and photoluminescent signs, and make sure your fire risk assessment reflects what is installed.

Whoever carries out your fire risk assessment should confirm that the signs on escape routes are adequate for the layout of your building.

Practical tips for managers

Name someone responsible for checking and replacing signs.
Use symbols from the current standard and avoid mixing styles in one area.
Keep signs clear of stock, racking and equipment.
Brief new starters and contractors on what the signs mean as part of induction.
Review signs after any change to layout, process or machinery.
Ask suppliers to confirm their signs are made to the relevant standard.

Signs work best as part of a wider safety culture. If people ignore them because they are out of date or overused, they lose their value.

What is BS EN ISO 7010?

It is a standard that registers the graphical symbols used on safety signs, giving each a reference and a defined meaning so they are recognised consistently across workplaces.

What do the colours on safety signs mean?

Red generally means prohibition or fire equipment, blue means a mandatory action, yellow means a warning, and green means a safe condition such as an exit or first aid point.

Is it a legal requirement to use ISO 7010 signs in the UK?

The law requires safety signs where significant risks remain after other controls. The standard is the widely used way to make signs clear and consistent, and the regulations set the legal duties. Check the current HSE guidance for the detail.

How often should factory safety signs be checked?

There is no single fixed interval. Include signs in routine inspections, check them after any change to the site or process, and replace any that are damaged, faded or obstructed.

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