Hazard & Warning Signs

Hazard & Warning Signs alert people to risks they may encounter in workplaces, construction sites and other environments.

From electrical equipment and moving vehicles to hazardous substances, fragile roofs, machinery and uneven surfaces, the right warning sign helps people recognise a hazard before they reach it.

Safety Sheep offers hazard and warning signs for businesses, contractors and organisations in a range of sizes and materials suitable for different indoor and outdoor environments.

What Are Hazard & Warning Signs?

Warning signs alert people to a hazard or potentially dangerous situation.

They're designed to attract attention before somebody reaches the hazard so that they have an opportunity to recognise the risk and act appropriately.

Common examples include warnings for:

• Electrical hazards
• Moving vehicles
• Forklift trucks
• Hazardous substances
• Flammable materials
• Corrosive substances
• Asbestos
• Fragile roofs
• Falling objects
• Deep water
• Slippery surfaces
• Machinery
• Overhead loads
• Construction hazards

The sign should identify the actual hazard rather than simply provide a vague warning.

What Do Warning Signs Look Like?

Recognised workplace warning signs typically use a yellow triangular design with a black border and black pictogram.

The distinctive colour and shape help people recognise quickly that they are approaching a hazard.

Text may also be included to clarify the particular risk, especially where additional information helps people understand what they're being warned about.

Hazard Signs vs Warning Signs

Customers frequently use hazard signs, warning signs and danger signs to describe similar products.

In practical terms, the purpose is to alert somebody to a hazard they need to be aware of.

For this reason, our Hazard & Warning Signs collection brings together a broad range of signs designed to warn people about workplace and site hazards.

Where a specialist type of hazard is involved, you can also browse our dedicated collections for more specific signage.

Electrical Hazard Signs

Electrical hazards can cause serious injury, making clear warning particularly important around electrical equipment and installations.

Typical electrical warnings include:

• Danger Electricity
• Danger of Death
• High Voltage
• Mains Voltage
• Overhead Cables
• Buried Cables
• Live Wires
• Electrical Hazard

Position signs where people can see the warning before coming into contact with the electrical hazard.

For a wider selection, browse our dedicated Electrical Safety Signs range.

Chemical Hazard Signs

Workplaces that use or store hazardous substances may need signs to warn people about risks such as:

• Corrosive substances
• Toxic materials
• Flammable liquids
• Explosive atmospheres
• Hazardous chemicals
• Gases
• Chemical storage areas

Workplace warning signage is different from the hazard labelling required on chemical products and containers.

A sign on the entrance to a chemical store doesn't replace appropriate product labels, safety data, storage arrangements, PPE or training.

Browse our Chemical Safety Signs for specialist chemical-related signage.

Machinery Warning Signs

Machinery can create hazards involving moving parts, crushing, entanglement, cutting and other risks.

Warning signs can help identify machinery hazards at the point where people may encounter them.

However, a warning sign doesn't make dangerous machinery safe.

Machine guarding, isolation procedures, training, maintenance and other appropriate controls remain essential.

Vehicle & Forklift Warning Signs

Vehicle movements are a common workplace hazard, particularly in:

• Warehouses
• Factories
• Distribution centres
• Construction sites
• Loading yards
• Farms
• Industrial premises

Warning signs can alert pedestrians and other road users to forklifts, lorries, reversing vehicles, construction traffic and other vehicle movements.

They should form part of wider traffic-management arrangements such as pedestrian segregation, suitable routes, crossings and site procedures.

Construction Hazard Signs

Construction sites can contain changing hazards including:

• Excavations
• Falling objects
• Moving plant
• Overhead work
• Electricity
• Fragile surfaces
• Uneven ground
• Demolition work
• Suspended loads

Warning signage should reflect the hazards actually present on the project.

As construction work progresses and risks change, signs may need to be moved, replaced or removed.

For site-specific products, browse our Construction Safety Signs.

Asbestos Warning Signs

Asbestos requires particularly careful management.

Warning signage may be appropriate where asbestos-containing materials or controlled asbestos work areas need to be identified.

However, an asbestos warning sign isn't an asbestos-management system.

Appropriate identification, assessment, management, controls and specialist procedures remain necessary according to the circumstances.

Farm & Countryside Warning Signs

Farms and rural premises can combine machinery, livestock, vehicles, chemicals, deep water, slurry stores and other hazards.

Warning signs can help workers, contractors, delivery drivers and visitors recognise these risks before entering an affected area.

Outdoor farm signs should also be selected with visibility, weather exposure and mounting conditions in mind.

Browse our dedicated Farm & Countryside Signs for specialist agricultural signage.

Hazard & Warning Signs for Warehouses

Warehouses can contain several different hazards within the same building.

Common warnings include:

• Forklift trucks
• Moving vehicles
• Overhead loads
• Battery charging
• Machinery
• Uneven surfaces
• Loading areas
• Electrical equipment

Position warning signs where people first encounter the risk rather than relying on a general warning at the opposite end of the building.

Hazard & Warning Signs for Factories

Manufacturing environments can contain machinery, electrical equipment, hazardous substances, hot surfaces, vehicles and production processes.

Specific warnings are generally more useful than vague Danger notices.

For example, a sign identifying a forklift hazard tells the viewer considerably more than a generic warning sign.

Choose signage that describes the actual hazard as clearly as possible.

Hazard & Warning Signs & UK Health and Safety

UK businesses shouldn't approach warning signage as a fixed shopping list.

The appropriate signs depend on the hazards identified in the workplace and the measures already used to control them.

Where a significant risk remains after appropriate controls have been put in place, safety signage can help communicate that remaining risk.

Warning signs should therefore support measures such as:

• Physical guarding
• Barriers
• Safe systems of work
• Traffic segregation
• Ventilation
• Maintenance
• Training
• Supervision
• PPE where appropriate

A warning sign communicates a hazard; it doesn't remove it.

Hazard Signs & BS EN ISO 7010

BS EN ISO 7010 provides standardised graphical symbols for safety signs.

Using recognised symbols helps make safety information consistent and easier to understand, particularly in workplaces used by employees, visitors and contractors.

However, ISO 7010 is a standard rather than UK legislation itself.

The appropriate sign should be selected according to the actual hazard, risk assessment and applicable requirements.

Where Should Warning Signs Be Positioned?

Position warning signs so people can see them before encountering the hazard.

Depending on the environment, suitable locations could include:

• Doors
• Gates
• Fencing
• Machinery
• Plant rooms
• Electrical cupboards
• Warehouse entrances
• Construction barriers
• Chemical stores
• Access routes
• Farm gates
• Loading areas

The sign should be close enough to relate clearly to the hazard without positioning the viewer in danger simply to read it.

Choosing the Right Warning Sign

Start by identifying the specific hazard.

Rather than automatically choosing a generic Danger or Warning sign, consider whether a more specific message is available.

For example:

Electrical hazard → use an appropriate electrical warning.

Forklift traffic → use a forklift or industrial vehicle warning.

Fragile roof → use a fragile roof warning.

Flammable material → use an appropriate flammable-material warning.

Deep water → use a deep-water warning.

Specific messages help people understand what they're approaching and what precautions may be necessary.

Choosing the Right Sign Size

Sign size depends on factors including:

• Viewing distance
• Mounting position
• Lighting
• Direction of approach
• Surrounding visual clutter
• Whether people approach on foot or in vehicles

A warning label on a machine viewed at close range can be smaller than a hazard sign that needs to be seen across a construction site or warehouse.

Make sure the sign can be recognised early enough to be useful.

Choosing a Material

Consider where the warning sign will be installed and the conditions it needs to withstand.

Indoor workplaces may require different materials from outdoor construction sites, farms and industrial yards.

Consider:

• Indoor or outdoor use
• Weather exposure
• UV exposure
• Moisture
• Cleaning
• Mounting surface
• Expected installation period
• Risk of impact

The sign should remain clear and legible throughout its intended use.

Temporary Hazard & Warning Signs

Some hazards are temporary.

Examples can include:

• Wet floors
• Maintenance work
• Temporary excavations
• Cleaning
• Construction activity
• Temporary electrical work
• Vehicle movements

Use appropriate temporary signage while the hazard exists and remove it when the warning is no longer relevant.

Leaving obsolete warnings in place can reduce the effectiveness of safety signage generally.

Don't Use Too Many Warning Signs

More warning signs don't automatically make a workplace safer.

Too many irrelevant or repetitive warnings can create visual clutter and make important messages easier to overlook.

Prioritise signs that:

• Relate to a genuine hazard
• Give useful information
• Are positioned at the right location
• Remain visible and legible
• Match current workplace conditions

Review signage when workplace layouts, equipment or working practices change.

Choosing Hazard & Warning Signs

Before ordering, consider:

1. What is the specific hazard?
2. Who could be exposed to it?
3. Can the hazard be eliminated or further controlled?
4. What residual risk remains?
5. Is there a recognised warning symbol for the hazard?
6. Would additional wording make the warning clearer?
7. Where will people first encounter the risk?
8. How far away must the sign be visible?
9. Will people approach on foot or in vehicles?
10. Is the sign for indoor or outdoor use?
11. What material suits the environment?
12. Could the hazard change or move?

This helps ensure the sign communicates a real hazard rather than simply adding another general warning to the workplace.

Made in Britain Hazard & Warning Signs

Safety Sheep Hazard & Warning Signs are Made in Britain for UK workplaces, construction sites, warehouses, factories, farms and commercial premises.

Choose from electrical, chemical, machinery, vehicle, construction and general hazard warnings in a range of sizes and materials.

For other types of workplace signage, explore our complete Safety Signs range.

Think Safety. Think Sheep.