Prohibition Signs

Prohibition Signs communicate actions or behaviours that are not permitted because they could create danger or increase an existing risk.

From construction sites and factories to warehouses, workshops, schools and commercial premises, clear prohibition signage helps employees, contractors and visitors understand important restrictions before carrying out an unsafe action.

Our range of Prohibition Safety Signs includes No Entry, Do Not Touch, Do Not Use, No Mobile Phones, No Photography, machinery restrictions and other prohibited-action notices.

Choose from a selection of sizes and materials suitable for different workplace environments.

What Are Prohibition Safety Signs?

A prohibition sign communicates an action that must not be carried out.

Common examples include:

• No Smoking
• No Entry
• No Unauthorised Access
• Do Not Touch
• Do Not Operate
• Do Not Remove Guards
• No Pedestrian Access
• No Mobile Phones
• No Naked Flames

These signs are commonly used where an unsafe action could expose employees, visitors or contractors to a hazard.

What Colour Are Prohibition Signs?

Recognised prohibition safety signs generally feature a black pictogram on a white background, surrounded by a red circular border and diagonal red bar.

The familiar design helps distinguish a prohibited action from other types of workplace safety information.

Under the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, the red portion of a standard prohibition sign should occupy at least 35% of the sign area.

Where an appropriate recognised pictogram exists, using it can help communicate the instruction quickly and consistently.

Types of Prohibition Signs

Different working environments require different restrictions.

Choosing the correct sign starts with identifying the behaviour that needs to be prevented.

No Entry & Restricted Access Signs

No Entry and Restricted Access Signs help communicate where people are not permitted to enter.

They can be suitable for:

• Construction sites
• Plant rooms
• Warehouses
• Industrial premises
• Maintenance areas
• Restricted work zones
• Commercial buildings

Where access is permitted to certain employees or contractors, a No Unauthorised Access sign may communicate the restriction more accurately than a blanket No Entry notice.

Explore our dedicated No Entry Signs collection for a wider selection of access-control signage.

Machinery Prohibition Signs

Machinery-related prohibition signs help reinforce instructions intended to prevent unsafe equipment use.

Examples include:

• Do Not Operate
• Do Not Remove Guards
• Do Not Clean Machinery
• Do Not Oil Machinery
• Do Not Use Unless Guards Are in Position
• Do Not Touch

These notices can be useful around production equipment, workshops, industrial machinery and maintenance areas.

However, signage must support appropriate machine guarding, isolation procedures, training and safe systems of work rather than replace them.

Do Not Touch Signs

Do Not Touch Signs communicate that particular equipment, surfaces or objects must not be handled.

They may be appropriate around machinery, electrical equipment, maintenance areas and other locations where touching something could expose a person to danger.

Where a specific hazard exists, additional warning signage may be appropriate.

No Mobile Phones Signs

No Mobile Phones Signs communicate restrictions on mobile phone use.

They may be used where phones could cause distraction, interfere with workplace procedures or conflict with an established site restriction.

Examples include:

• Production areas
• Restricted operational environments
• Vehicle operating areas
• Sensitive workplaces
• Controlled facilities

Choose wording that accurately describes the restriction.

A No Mobile Phones sign is different from a Switch Off Mobile Phones instruction, so select the message that reflects your site rules.

No Photography & Camera Signs

No Photography and Camera Prohibited Signs communicate restrictions on taking photographs or recording images.

They can be useful in commercial and industrial environments where photography is restricted for operational, confidentiality or other legitimate reasons.

Options may include:

• No Photography
• Cameras Prohibited
• Camera Phones Prohibited
• No Video Recording

Position the notice before visitors enter the relevant restricted area.

No Smoking & Naked Flames Signs

No Smoking and No Naked Flames Signs communicate restrictions involving smoking, ignition sources and fire safety.

These may be relevant in workplaces, storage areas, industrial premises and other environments where smoking or naked flames are prohibited.

For a more comprehensive selection, visit our dedicated No Smoking Signs collection.

Pedestrian & Vehicle Prohibition Signs

Workplaces with vehicle movements may need signs restricting access to particular routes.

Examples include:

• No Pedestrians
• No Vehicles
• No Forklift Trucks
• Forklift Trucks Prohibited
• No Unauthorised Vehicles

Choose the message according to who or what is prohibited.

A specific No Pedestrians sign may be more informative than a general No Entry notice where the route remains open to authorised vehicles.

Where Are Prohibition Signs Used?

Construction Sites

Construction sites can contain hazardous working areas, moving machinery, restricted routes and temporary access arrangements.

Prohibition signs can reinforce restrictions around excavations, equipment, operational areas and site entrances.

Factories & Manufacturing

Manufacturing premises may need signs prohibiting unsafe machinery operation, removal of guards, unauthorised access or other activities identified through risk assessment.

Warehouses & Distribution Centres

Warehouses can use prohibition signage to communicate restrictions around vehicle routes, racking, loading areas, equipment and pedestrian access.

Workshops & Garages

Workshops may require notices such as Do Not Operate, Do Not Touch and Do Not Remove Guards.

Signs should be positioned where the instruction is relevant and easily visible.

Commercial Premises

Offices, schools, shops and other commercial buildings can use prohibition signs to identify restricted operational areas and communicate appropriate workplace rules.

Are Prohibition Signs a Legal Requirement in the UK?

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 establish requirements for workplace safety signs.

Appropriate safety signage is required where a significant risk remains after other relevant measures have been put in place and that risk cannot be adequately controlled by other means.

This doesn't mean every workplace must display every type of prohibition sign.

The appropriate signs depend on the hazards, working activities, site layout and findings of the relevant risk assessment.

A prohibition sign should reinforce appropriate safety measures, not substitute for them.

Prohibition Signs & BS EN ISO 7010

BS EN ISO 7010 provides standardised graphical symbols for safety signage, including recognised prohibition pictograms.

Using suitable recognised symbols can help communicate safety instructions consistently across workplaces.

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

Businesses should select signs according to the actual hazard and required instruction.

Prohibition Signs vs Warning Signs

These two sign categories communicate different information.

A Prohibition Sign tells somebody what they must not do.

For example: Do Not Touch.

A Warning Sign alerts somebody to a hazard.

For example: Danger – Electricity.

Both may be appropriate in the same working environment where the risk assessment identifies a need for them.

Prohibition Signs vs Mandatory Signs

Mandatory signs communicate an action that must be carried out.

For example, Wear Eye Protection.

Prohibition signs communicate an action that must not be carried out.

For example, Do Not Operate.

Using the correct sign category helps people understand whether the message is a restriction, warning or required action.

Choosing the Right Prohibition Sign

Before ordering, consider:

1. What action needs to be prohibited?
2. What risk is the sign intended to address?
3. Who needs to understand the instruction?
4. Where will the prohibited action potentially occur?
5. Is an appropriate recognised pictogram available?
6. Does the sign need additional wording?
7. What viewing distance is required?
8. Will it be displayed indoors or outdoors?
9. Which material is appropriate?
10. Are additional physical or organisational controls required?

Choose a clear, specific instruction rather than relying on a generic sign where more precise wording would be useful.

Where Should Prohibition Signs Be Positioned?

Position signs where people can see the restriction before carrying out the prohibited action.

Common locations include:

• Doors
• Gates
• Machinery
• Equipment
• Site entrances
• Barriers
• Restricted work areas
• Warehouse routes
• Plant rooms
• Maintenance zones

Make sure signs remain visible and aren't hidden behind stored materials, equipment or open doors.

Choosing the Right Prohibition Sign Material

The best material depends on the location and expected conditions.

Self-adhesive signs can provide a practical solution for suitable smooth surfaces.

Rigid plastic is suitable for many general workplace applications.

More substantial materials, including aluminium composite where available, can be useful for longer-term or outdoor installations.

Choose the size and material according to viewing distance, exposure and mounting requirements.

Avoid Prohibition Sign Overload

Displaying too many signs in one location can make important instructions harder to identify.

Prioritise the restrictions that apply at the specific location.

Where several site-wide instructions need to be communicated together, a suitable multi-message safety board may provide a clearer solution.

Made in Britain Prohibition Safety Signs

Safety Sheep supplies Made in Britain Prohibition Signs for UK businesses, construction sites, factories, warehouses, workshops and commercial premises.

Our range includes access restrictions, machinery prohibition signs, No Mobile Phones, No Photography, Do Not Touch, Do Not Use and other workplace safety notices.

Choose from a selection of sizes and materials, with bulk savings available for businesses and trade customers.

Think Safety. Think Sheep.